Exercise 4 – Used Car

Used Car – Exercise 4 Our issue is that we need a new vehicle because ours was wrecked and the rental car we were given to use after the wreck by the insurance company is about to expire, leaving us no mode of transportation. We are looking into buying a used vehicle from an advertisement in the local paper. We weren’t sure if the vehicle was still available so we have called the owner and inquired. We do not know who we are buying the car from but we are interested in purchasing the Volkswagen Jetta because of the advertisement in our local newspaper. Just from reading the car ad; we deem that the car fits all our needs and we need to get in touch with the owner fast in order to make sure they don’t sell it to someone else. In order not to have all our eggs in one basket, we have another vehicle prospect that can be purchased, but it’s an older 1995 Jeep Cherokee for $3,800. 00. We are hoping to get the Jetta for less than the Cherokee, or somewhere within our budget, but if we can’t, we can always buy Cherokee for less. The issues that are most important are trying to come up with a deal that will satisfy thefinancial limitations we have while getting something that is worthwhile and will give us a return on our investment. The issues that are less important are probably taking a vacation at this point if it means losing out on a car that will be beneficial for us. The issues linked are trying to find a replacement soon as we will have to return the rental since the insurance company will no longer pay forit. Another linked issue is finding a vehicle within our price range so we don’t have to take out a car loan that will most likely yield high interest. Issues that are not linked are the two different kinds of vehicles, the Jetta and the Cherokee. Our interest on purchasing this vehicle is to acquire a means of transportation and fulfill an urgent necessity with a tight budget, because right now we are renting a car, and our lease agreement is about to expire. We do not plan to renew the lease because it is getting too expensive for us; therefore, time pressure and monetary price are two important factors in our interest. To accomplish our goal of getting the transportation we need, we intend to spend a minimum of $3,500. 0, depending on the vehicle’s conditions; however, we are considering to pay for this car up to $4,100. 00 as settlement, with at least six month warranty from the seller, and if the negotiation fails, our best alternative(BETNA) will be to purchase a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee, listed for $3,800. 00; despite its high mileage, the Jeeps is a US made vehicle of low maintenance and easy fix, with a good reputati on in the vehicle market. Our preferred settlement would ideally be to purchase the Jetta since it seems it would fit into what we need for our job at this time. We are willing to trade off on possibly a couple of hundred dollars but we must see what the car needs, it could possiblly need new tires, brakes or other things where we could ask for some leeway to try to save ourselves some money. By calling and getting to know the seller of the Jetta we realize that the other person isn’t just trying to get rid of the car just for the sake of getting rid of it. They are selling this vehicle because they are in need of something else too. We are trying to access were they are coming from, but they aren’t giving us much to go on, other than they need to sell the car. This party is required to be involved in this process, they are the ones selling the car and if we can get it for less than they are asking, then it will require them to negotiate with us. At this point, we don’t have too much information about other party; we just know they have a vehicle they are trying to sell and we assume it is in order to purchase a newer vehicle. The issues they have will probably be trying to get the most money out of the Jetta they are trying to sell while we try to lower their asking prices and come to a mutual understanding. We feel that that priority for the seller is that they may have another vehicle in mind to purchase, or something that they need to purchase rather quickly and they will probably need to sell the Jetta as soon as possible in order to make the other purchase. Our Interest is to get the most reliable vehicle that will service our needs for the least amount of money and at this point we’ve had no past relationships, if we settle on this deal we’ll just need the title of the car signed over to us. No further relationships are really needed but would be beneficial in case we have any issues with the car and questions may arise. We pretend to use collaborative strategy, because we believe that we may need the seller in the future, whenever our financial situation gets better; however, we don’t want to lose money either, we want both parties to make something and establish from this point on a relationship. We believe that we could work together in the near future and this deal could come in to play in the future; however, we’re thinking that the other team may use a competitive strategy and try to make more money. Our research consisted of looking up the Kelly Blue Book Value on the car and getting an idea as to what the car is actually worth. We also wanted to see what the cost of the exhaust system since that component of the car means we will have to shell out more money soon, so we need to make sure that we get that out of the car cost to be able to pay for that expense in the future. We feel the other party has their interest in mind, they ultimately want what they want for their vehicle, but if we could throw in some elements to get the cost down, we will do so. Our tactics at first was to just get a feel for where they were and the urgency in which they needed to get rid of their car. We added in the element of being a single mother of 4 children and getting to work to pay for their food, having a safe vehicle for them to be in and a vehicle that would not cost so much to use. Our first negotiation took place face to face. We threw out the first offer and they countered, that is where our negotiations began. We had a few phone calls from the owner to meet up, but they failed due to other obligations. We decided communicating via email would be our best option. Since we knew we had another vehicle option we decided to start low and work them towards our goal. Getting the first offer out was critical to start the expectations. We started at $ 3,500,and gradually got higher. Since we were trying to accommodate money for a trip and a car we provided them details that weren’t true and we ended up getting the vehicle for $4,700. 00, a few hundred dollars more than we hoped to pay. We were trying to get the car and still take our trip that was planned in advance. But, by having to spend a few hundred more for the Jetta then we originally planned it cost us our trip. We had to choose what was more important; our trip, or having a reliable car and having a reliable car in order to be able to go to work, live and function in life was the route we chose.

Retail Management Essay

Bobcat India Limited revolutionized footwear selling in India. The company hit upon the idea of reaching customers through exclusive retail stores way back in 1932 and set up its own outlets, which numbered around 1,200. it was no mean task setting up such a large network of retail outlets, especially when 90% of them were owned and operated by the company, the rest being dealer-owned and operated. This chain store format identity has been a strong differentiating factor in the Indian retail sector, being the first of its kind. Combined with the high quality of the footwear, the brand soon had top-of-the-mind recall and stayed there for many years. Until a few years ago, the name ‘Bobcat’ Was synonymous with organized retailing in India, the only one of its kind. The Chain Store Format The Bobcat chain store format had its own credo a signature store-design with exclusive signage and windows in order to facilitate easy association in the minds of the Indian consumers. At present there are only two major categories of store in the Bobcat Chain Store format: a) Bobcat Family Stores b) Bobcat Bazaar a) Bobcat Family Stores These are sub-divided into two formats again, based on the size of the stores. They are: I) Super Stores, generally more than 5,000 sq.ft. catering to customers in the footwear category. II) High-street stores that are anywhere between 500 and 1,500 sq.ft., found in busy shopping areas. b) Bobcat Bazaar Bobcat Bazaar stores sell the company’s planned economy product lines and market- down merchandise round the year. Known as R-pair stores, their performance depends heavily upon the availability of marked-down merchandise. Such markdowns are done on products that have suffered quality accidents, are shop-soiled, lines that are closed-out etc. Recent Format Developments New retail formats have begun to supersede conventional ones. Independent big-box multi-brand department stores have started selling footwear as a category, especially in metros and cities. Malls are another new shopping format that is growing rapidly in the metros. Many upcoming footwear retailers are obtaining space inside the malls as mall partners to take advantage of the ready footfalls available. For the existing independent Bobcat stores it is expensive now to run campaigns and promotions to attain the required footfalls and expected conversions. Merchandising in Bobcat Family Stores The exclusivity of the ‘Bobcat’ brand to the Bobcat retail stores was the differentiating factor for customers until recently. However, a few years ago the company decided to sell Bobcat branded goods through its channel sales wing called Bobcat Wholesale. Hitherto, the wholesale channel had a different brand for itself called BSC. This wholesale channel supplies merchandise to footwear retailers across India through its authorized distributors. The brand Bobcat has now been extended to this wholesale channel too, which means that Bobcat branded goods are available in every other local footwear store. The exclusivity of the brand to its own outlets has come to an end. And, even as the sales of the wholesale division remain stagnant, what compelling reasons can a customer have to visit a Bobcat Store now? A peculiar feature of the Bobcat store was its odd price points: Rs 149.95, 199.95, etc. Merchandise Presentation and Visual Merchandising Bobcat pioneered the concept of show window displays in India with a style that was unique to the company. It was professionally managed, with an exclusive team handling the motif and the design. Every month the direction to decorate the show windows were given by a mailer prepared by special decorators. Sales personnel in each store were trained to be window decorators too. Recently, these windows had to be done away with because the company thought that they should follow the contemporary practice of free-access retailing, where all merchandise pairs are displayed in open shelves to enable customers to help themselves. Remember, in India footwear is always tried on a footstool and bought after considerable service extended by the salesperson personally. Free-access retailing may work when there is adequate space inside a store to move around. The effect of such ‘pigeon-hole’ free access is that they give an impression that they are Bobcat’s R-Pair outlets. What can now entice the customer into entering a bobcat store? Customer Service Though Bobcat faces tough manpower challenges (the store sales personnel and managers have separate labour unions), the sales personeel who are on its permanent rolls are trained in selling footwear. However, there is a large proportion of untrained temporary hands. Further, salespersons do not wear any uniform and hence customers can hardly identify them. There is as yet no loyalty programme to create customer stickiness to any store or the brand, and most of the stores are not connected by a central information system or ERP (enterprise-wide resource planning) as the organization has its limitations when it comes to investing in such initiatives. Organized retail companies need to have non-negotiable standards of customer service or they will lose customers to its competitors. The company is now losing its market share despite its strong position in categories like men’s footwear, children’s uniform shoes, etc. However, the number of stores it has around the country is around the same, at 1,200. The company now needs to put together a plan for both its survival and growth on a war footing. The top Management is revisiting its strategies in every functional area to turn the company around.

Lying and Justice Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Lying and Justice - Coursework Example The justice system depends on the truth that has to be subjected to a legal search. In contrast, lying is a grave violation of the justice. Legally, lying is one form of obstruction of justice. Anyone who lies to the authorities upon questioning during the investigation of the criminal activities is liable to obstruction of justice. Liars violate the social justice. The people who give false information to the court or the investigators are liable for perjury. Perjury is a serious crime because the trust and credibility are significant foundations of the justice system (Ho, 2008). In essence, lying is a crime against justice, and the violator compromises grand juries, public officials, the authority of court systems, and governing bodies. The jury can detect the element of lies when the testimony conflicts directly with verifiable information. In cases where the witnesses might unintentionally offer falsehoods in good faith, the prosecutors must prove the intention to mislead the justice system. The inveterate liars violate the virtue of justice. Justice is overwhelming virtue of societies and individuals. Thus, the liars contravene the virtue of

The Impact Of Economic Growth, Political And Economic Systems On The Essay

The Impact Of Economic Growth, Political And Economic Systems On The Internalization Of An Organization - Essay Example Collective growth is the major slogan put forward by globalization. The concept of business has been changed from the domestic spectrum to the international spectrum as a result of globalization. It should be noted that many of the prominent organizations in the world were struggling to develop properly because of the lack of opportunities for expansion in the domestic market. For example, before the introduction of globalization American coffee maker Starbucks was struggling to expand properly since they had coffee shops virtually in every corner of America. In other words, American market was highly saturated for Starbucks before the introduction of globalization. However, globalization helped Starbucks immensely in expanding their business beyond the boundaries of America. Internationalization of a business or an organization depends on many factors such as the political, economic and cultural factors in the target country. Suitable business climate is essential in the target coun try, for an organization to think about offshoring their business to that particular country. For example, no organization would think about establishing a business in Syria at present because of the huge political problems going on there. Same way, only few organizations may think about expanding their business to underdeveloped countries such as Ethiopia or Somalia. On the other hand majority of the organizations are looking for opportunities in Asian countries or BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries because of the huge economic developments in those countries. In short, political and economic climates in a particular country play an important role controlling its ability to attract foreign direct investments. This paper analyses the impact of economic growth, political and economic systems on the internalization of an organization. What impact does a country's political and economic system have on its economic development?   China is often cited as th e best example to prove how well one country can utilize the possibilities of globalization to stimulate economic growth. It should be noted that China was the number one critic of globalization initially. They believed that some hidden agenda is behind the introduction of globalization by capitalist countries. They argued that globalization is an attempt to loot the wealth of poor countries. Overholt, (2005) pointed out that China opposed the â€Å"global economic order, political order and the major global institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank before the reforms started in China† (p.3). According to Hersh & Schmidt (2000), China like socialist countries perceived globalization as the continuation of capitalism (p.3). However, they quickly realized the possibilities of global trade and globalization and started to make immense changes in its political and economic systems to attract foreign direct investments. It should not be forgotten that Deng Xiao Peng was the architect of modern China even though Mao Zedong is believed to be the father of modern China. Mao was adamant so that he never deviated from the policies of communism. He never allowed foreign organizations to invest in China and private capital in any form was unacceptable to him. On the other hand, Deng welcomed foreign capital and private capital with both hands. He has realized the fact that China cannot develop properly with the help of internal resources alone. Being the most heavily populated country in the world, internal resources of China were insufficient to meet the needs of the people. Chinese government was struggling to ensure proper living standards to its citizens

Stage 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Stage 2 - Essay Example One of the requirements of this response is that the database must be regularly updated upon arrival of a new customer. Employees should also provide time and day when they can offer the best to customers. This process of linking customers and employee is facilitated by Myra just by a click of button leading to direct contact of top management and clients. Donald H. Sheldon (2006) notes that, â€Å"No role that is important to ensure success of a master scheduling than that of top management.† In conclusion, UMUC haircut is transforming organization input to output using business processes to develop a scheduling system. Waite (2008) observed that this conversion leads to effective and efficient customer needs satisfaction. In addition to this, UMUC haircut customers can be sent personalized messages using phone number and notified on the availability of the service. According to Turaban, Volonino and Wood (2013), the use of recent technology such as tablets and ipads has contributed to fast reporting process and cost cutting of expenses broadband. This will highly contribute to the reduction of customer delays in premises resulting to attraction of more customers thus leading to a competitive

Meat Production Business in Ukraine Research Paper

Meat Production Business in Ukraine - Research Paper Example This paper considers Ukrainian meat market. It outlines such aspects as poultry, pork, beef, etc. In case of threats of new entrance, it can be asserted that the meat processing industry has faced a very few challenges from the relative nations and other industry. This research study seems to be analytical in nature since its objective lay in investigating the loopholes prevailing in the meat sector in Ukrainian market and recommending measures that will address the same. A research philosophy refers to the preferred approach, which applied by the researcher in search of knowledge, establishing the nature of the problem and its context. Here, the existence of the problem, knowledge, values and reason has been clearly delineated (Beck, 2003). This research will be based on a positivism type of paradigm. This is the school of contemplation, which advocates for reality and objectivity (Caulley, 2007). The purpose of a research based on positivism is to find causal liaison between variables through deductive reasoning to estimate probabilities and make predictions. The problem of shortage in supply of red meat in Ukrainian market is identified to be quite real and likewise demand real answers. The only framework, which can ensure the same, is positivism approach. Through objectivity, which is duly considered to be an indispensable component of positivism, valid answers can be derived from the research (Ellingson, 2007). If compared with other research philosophies and paradigms such as realism and interpretivism, positivism clearly offers the flexibility and the clarity of procedures based on which this particular type of research can be conducted efficiently.

Women in the Black Church Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Women in the Black Church - Research Paper Example n the African American Churches men often took over the leadership positions while women held themselves responsible for all the rest of the major roles. Name it and it was there. May it be the schooling arena or any other social or domestic service; women were always there to play their part. This was primarily in line with the spiritual inspiration that these women had associated with the contemporary churches. It was however strictly observed that women did not occupy any key positions in the preaching activities in the church itself. Every time the church would gather only women would be observed paying all head to the sermons being said out by a man. Leadership was one aspect that women were never allowed to come closer to. This male empowerment has existed for years in spite of the fact that it was seemingly impossible without the critical involvement of the black women. (Green, 2003) The Civil rights movement in the US has often been traced back to the Black Church. The way the blacks were being deprived of their right to live like the whites and the racial discrimination that they were facing was all thought of to have bought out into the streets after being bought up in the black church first. This racial discrimination was also accompanied by social injustice. The crowded basements and offices were often thought to be the main areas where all the plans for the resistances were being made. The core idea behind the civil rights movement drifted the African Black away from the Divine thought and gave importance to the substantiality of this life. Every next step and every protest of the movement was often preceded by a sermon, a prayer or a religious song. It was in the wake of such circumstances that the black women realized the rights that they were being deprived off within the church itself. Women were generally denied the right to lead or preach in the Black Church. It had been a certain custom that men commanded the black church pulpits. Thus they

Team Work, Group Efficiency and Performance Essay

Team Work, Group Efficiency and Performance - Essay Example This research will begin with the definition of a team as a group of people working together in an organization. This definition is too general and does not do justice to the functioning of a team in an organizational setting. In purely organizational sense, team is defined as â€Å"a group of workers functioning together as a unit to complete a common goal or purpose†. It is best defined by West as â€Å"groups of people embedded on organizations, performing tasks that contribute to achieving the organization’s goals†. Teams work towards achieving the overall organizational objective and have the necessary resources, autonomy and authority to achieve those objectives. Team and teamwork in an organizational setting can be best understood by the following explanation by Woods and West. The following is a direct quote by Woods and West and has been used directly for better understanding: A team is a relatively small group of people working on a clearly defined, cha llenging task that is most efficiently completed by a group working together rather than individuals working alone or parallel; who have clear, shared, challenging, team level objectives derived directly from the task; who have to work closely and interdependently to achieve these objectives; whose members work in distinct roles within the team (though some roles may be duplicated); and who have the necessary authority, autonomy and resources to enable them to meet the team’s objectives.... They are different types of teams in an organization (Griffin & Moorhead, 2011) but they can be grouped into the following types based on their nature: Problem Solving Teams: These are the most common type of teams and in some cases are used temporarily. Problem solving teams brings together employees with different knowledge backgrounds in order to tackle a specific problem. These teams consist of highly talented and skilled individuals who are brought into the team in order to induce and bring about a specific change (Boone & Kurtz, 2011). Self Managed Work Teams: these are teams with groups of employees who have the skills as well as the authority to manage themselves. Many experts in the field argue that the employees in such teams are the most satisfied and motivated. This is because they have greater job control and task variety (Boone & Kurtz, 2011). Cross Functional Teams: Cross functional teams are the latest trends in the business world. Earlier, teams were formed on the ba sis of specific speciality or functionality. But in today’s dynamic business world this is not enough. Projects are more complex today and need employees with different skill sets and abilities to be working on the same project. Hence, cross functional teams have been formed which consists of individuals with varying skills, expertise and specialities working to achieve a common goal (Robbins, 2009). Virtual Teams: There is no need for teams to be geographically close as developments in communication technology have made it possible for team members to be geographically separated but still work as a single unit. Hence, virtual team is one wherein team members are

Negligence and tort law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Negligence and tort law - Essay Example Where no duty is owed there can be no liability The Structure of Negligence The definition of negligence in ordinary parlance is carelessness. Its strict legal analysis was given by Lord Wright in Lochgelly Iron and Coal Co vs. McMullan (1934): â€Å"†¦.negligence means more than heedless or careless conduct, whether in omission or commission: it properly connotes the complex concept of duty, breach and damage thereby suffered by the person to whom the duty was owed.† Negligence as a tort is that made up of a tripartite element structure: the defendant in being careless must have breached a duty, which results in damage and such damage mustn’t be too remote from the cause, (Feinman 2010, P. 34). To have breached a duty, the defendant must have owed it to the claimant and the defendant himself must have fallen below certain legal standards. The defendant’s actions must be tied to the legal injury suffered by the claimant such injury being worthy of compensati on. A judgement will be centred on these three concepts but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are separate and distinct, they overlap to a great extent. Virtually anyone can be capable of negligence: an occupier of premises, a driver, manufacturers and retailers. The â€Å"general conception of relations† that give rise to a duty of care is as, per Lord Atkins, between neighbours. â€Å"Persons who are so closely and directly affected by my act that I ought reasonably to have them in my contemplation as being affected when I am directing my mind to acts or omissions which are called in question.†-Lord Atkins, Donoghue vs. Stevenson (1932). The duty of care generally extends only to individuals directly harmed and whose interaction with the tortfeasor is reasonably foreseeable, (University of London 2005, P.14). The conceptual structure of negligence tort has been agreed among scholarly circles to encompass five basic elements: the existence of a duty of a care, breach of this duty, factual causation, remoteness and finally legal injury. Duty of Care Until the recent case of Caparo Industries vs. Dickman (1990), duty of care was established by applying Lord Atkin’s Neighbour test from Donoghue vs. Stevenson (1932) which was at the root of the fault principle in Common Law jurisdictions. Lord MacMillan set out a new category of delict not particularly based on negligence per se but on the implied warranty of fitness of product, (Eren 2007, Para. 4). In Caparo vs. Dickman, the formula currently determining the duty of care as used by courts was founded. In the test, three things must be established: whether the consequences of the defendant’s act were reasonably foreseeable, whether there is a relationship of proximity between the parties, physical or legal and whether in all the circumstances it was just fair and reasonable that the law should impose a duty. In the case, economic loss due to negligent misstatement by a co mpany accountants was held remote as there was no proximity between accountants and those who would rely on their reports, (Smith & Burns

Theories of Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Theories of Management - Essay Example All the way through, they must work out responsible leadership. Management’s work is to â€Å"fit† out of the many situations faced by organizations and prepare activity plans to resolve organizational troubles. But less understood is the reality that management must carry out more than supervision what already exists. They must also make new products and services and even re-create the organization from time to time. A significant fraction of management is creative work driven by innovative knowledge and information. Information technology can offer a powerful responsibility in redirecting and redesigning the organization. It is important to note that managerial roles and decisions diverge at diverse stages of the organization (Kenneth 1999, p.11). Through out the pervious few decades, in the whole world, the business area has sought to ascertain its environmental classification by putting together ecological and public impartiality matters addicted to its business str ategy plans and application. Food sector is mainly obvious right through farming and foodstuff structures, where foodstuff processors and vendors come into the view using communication of the lessons to be drained from the enlargement of the organic food division. The enlargement of organic food sector manufacturing has guided the business area to tackle the variety of conduct and to dissimilar scale green subjects in determining the course of this growth. For a number of business actors, the pressure of ‘green’ fears have been obvious in small and additional than terms of concern and declarations of intention, which are planned to cover present indefensible application. For others, in difference, it is imitate in the foodstuff manufacturing systems in conduct that hold up the manufacture of natural food, the expansion of ecological codes of application and other plans which stand for a innovative strategy trend (Lyons

Conserrvation of Natural Resources Essay Example for Free

Conserrvation of Natural Resources Essay Resources are features of environment that are important and value of to human in one form or the other. However, the advancement of modern civilization has had a great impact on our planets natural resources. So, conserving natural resources is very essential today. There are many ways that one can conserve natural resources. All you need to do is to look around and see what natural resources you are using and find out ways to limit your usage. Most of the people use natural gas to heat their water and their home. You can monitor how much you are using this resource to minimize its usage. For conservation of natural resources like natural gas, one can get tank less water heater as it reduces the usage of natural gas. The other way to save natural gas is the use of another energy source for instance hydro, solar or wind power are all healthy and great alternatives to conserving natural resources. In fact these energy sources are clean and healthy for environment. Moreover, these energy sources do not emit or produced harmful gases or toxin into our environment like that of the burning fossil fuels at the same time they are renewable as well as are not easy to deplete. Today, most of the people are finding many ways for conserving natural resources. One of the great option before is Hydro-power and solar power. Power can be generated from these sources and these are the best ways for natural resources conservation like fossil fuels. There is also way to conserve natural resource like trees. It can be conserve through recycling process. Many products come from the trees like papers, cups, cardboards and envelopes. By recycling these products you can reduce the number of trees cut down a year. One should make the most use of these paper products without being wasteful and then recycle them. This is one great way for conserving natural resources. Fossil fuels on Earth will not last forever; we need to conserve these fossil fuels. To conserve fossil fuels one can choose to buy a hybrid car. Some of these cars will run on electricity combined with using small amounts of gas. Some hybrid cars just run on electricity. Either way it is a great way for conserving natural resources when it is concern with fossil fuels.

Informed Consent Form Essay Example for Free

Informed Consent Form Essay The purpose of this research is to study the attitude of males towards police on campus. You will be asked questions which might make some people feel uncomfortable, while it may be pleasant for others. Should you wish to withdraw your participation you are free to do so at any time. The identity of participants will remain strictly confidential. It will be masked in all written reports and transcripts of tapes. All interviews will be taped and transcribed and only the investigator will have access to the tapes. After six months from the date of the interview each tape will be erased. This research project will not be published. I have read the above description of this research project and have a satisfactory understanding of what my participation will involve. The investigator has answered my questions regarding this project. I consent to take part in this investigation. If you have further questions regarding this research please feel free to contact (Your name) (Investigator) at (209) 830-9284.

How E Commerce Is Changing Consumer Buying Behaviour Marketing Essay

How E Commerce Is Changing Consumer Buying Behaviour Marketing Essay In Electronic Commerce, online purchasing is the process consumers go through when they decide to shop on the internet. Therefore, the internet has developed to a highly competitive market, where the competition over the consumer is fierce. In order to have an impact on and retain consumers, in a competitive market, Constantinides (2004) stated that the first step is to identify certain influencing aspects when purchasing online, these can be regarded as factors. The purpose of the research is primarily to identify and get insight into what main factors the online consumer takes into consideration when purchasing books online, as books are the most commonly bought product on the internet (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Online-Forschung e.V. [AGOF e.V.], 2007). Concise Review of the Related Literature This research suggests that consumers attitude toward Internet shopping first depends on the direct effects of relevant online shopping features (Davis, 1993). The core constructs of our framework are adapted from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by Davis (1989), an influential research model in the information systems field. Although this model is specifically tailored to understand the adoption of computer-based technologies on the job or in the workplace, it has proven to be suitable as a theoretical foundation for the adoption of e-commerce as well (Chen et al., 2002). Therefore, the TAM structures are employed as a foundation for our research framework. Online shopping features can be either consumers perceptions of functional and utilitarian dimensions, like ease of use and usefulness, or their perceptions of emotional and hedonic dimensions like enjoyment (Menon and Kahn, 2002). The internet has developed into a new distribution channel (Hollensen, 2004) and the evolution of this channel, e-commerce, has been identified by Smith and Rupp (2003) to be the most significant contribution of the information revolution. The number of internet users is constantly increasing which also signifies that online purchasing is increasing (Joines, et al., 2003). The rapid increase is explained by the growth in the use of broadband technology combined with a change in consumer behaviour (Oppenheim Ward, 2006). Using the internet to shop online has become one of the primary reasons to use the internet, combined with searching for products and finding information about them (Joines et al., 2003). Smith and Rupp (2003) also state that the consumers have never had access to so many suppliers and product/service opinions. By integrating Fishbeins attitudinal theoretical model (Fishbein 1967) and the expectation-confirmation model (Oliver 1980), we attempt to associate the three elements together and form a base model Model of Intention, Adoption, and Continuance (MIAC) (as depicted in Figure 2) for the development of an online consumer behaviour framework. (Purpose) (Implementation) (Persistence) Consumer Online Purchase Consumer Online Repurchase Consumer Online Purchase Intention Figure 2: Model of Purpose, Implementation, and Persistence Fishbeins attitudinal model has been widely used in the marketing context (Lilien et al 1992) and this paradigm provides researchers with a useful lens for examining the factors explaining consumer purchasing intention and adoption. According to this model, behaviour is predominantly determined by intention. Other factors like attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control are also shown to be related to an appropriate set of salient behavioural, normative, and control beliefs about the behaviour. However, Fishbeins model stops at the adoption level and does not capture other important factors that explain and predict consumer continuance behaviour (repurchase). The expectation-confirmation model (Oliver 1980), on the other hand, focuses on the post-purchase behaviour. It is a widely used model in the consumer behaviour literature, particularly in explaining consumer satisfaction and repeat purchase. Satisfaction is the central notion of this model and it is formed by the gap between expectation and perceived performance (Oliver 1980). The expectation-confirmation theory suggests that if the perceived performance meets ones expectation, confirmation is formed and consumers are satisfied. Bhattacherjee (2001) stated that satisfied users are more likely to continue the IS use. Thus, we point that adoption and continuance are connected to each other through several mediating and moderating factors such as trust and satisfaction. The research articles appear in a variety of journals and conference proceedings in the fields of information systems, marketing, management, and psychology. A review of these articles indicates that researchers mostly draw theories from classical consumer behaviour research, such as behavioural learning (Skinner, 1938), personality research (Folkes 1988), information processing (Bettman 1979), and attitude models (Fishbein 1967). There are still significant differences between offline and online consumer behaviour that warrant a distinguishing conceptualization. For example, Vijayasarathy (2001) integrated the web specific factors (online shopping aid) into the theory of reasoned action (TRA) to better explain consumer online shopping behaviour. Song and Zahedi (2001) built on the model of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and examined the effects of website design on the adoption of Internet shopping. Donal Rogan (2007) explains the relationship between consumer behaviour and marketing strategy and states that strategy is about increasing the probability and frequency of buyer behaviour. Requirements for succeeding in doing this are to know the consumer and understand the consumers needs and wants. Chisnall (1995) points out that human needs and motives are inextricably linked and that the relationship between them is so very close that it becomes difficult to identify the precise difference which may characterize them. Buyers characteristics are important theories from Kotler and Armstrong (2007) and it explains the way that the consumer interprets and receives stimuli from advertisements. The decisions of consumers are influenced by a number of individual characteristics that are linked to the consumers specific needs. (Kotler Armstrong, 2007) A review of online consumer research reveals that the scope of published studies is rather broad, the studies appear relatively fragmented with contradictory results, and only very few prior studies (e.g., Jarvenpaa and Todd 1996, Koufaris et al 2001) have attempted to systematically review and develop a framework for the research of this important research area. Aims and Objectives of Study To develop a valid and reliable measure of motivations and costs associated with online information search and purchase behaviour; To provide a systematic and exhaustive review of online consumer behaviour research; To test the ability of the measure to identify the impact that specific motivations and costs have on apparel search and purchase decisions among Internet shoppers worldwide; To identify important constructs that are specific to the context of online purchasing; to propose an integrated framework that enhances our understanding of the underlying driving factors of online consumer behaviour; To evaluate the potential of the Internet as an efficient and effective medium to disseminate information to enhance brand/product awareness, evaluations, and purchase intentions in the global marketplace; To provide directions for future research in this area. Research Questions How does the level of computer and Internet experience of the target group relate to the level of Internet purchases? What main factors affect the online consumer when considering and making a purchase over the internet? How do these factors influence the consumer when purchasing books online? What kind of segments can be found within the identified consumers when purchasing books online? What is the connection with the identified factors and consumer segment groups? A Structured Research Approach Prior literature provides us with a rich foundation on which to build a research framework for the study of online consumer behaviour. As suggested by Douglas et al. (1994), strong theoretical and conceptual frameworks can be developed through an integration of constructs from different research traditions and disciplines. In the current study, we review the prior literature of online consumer behaviour and analyze the theories and the underpinning factors. A systematic and structured approach in search and review is strongly recommended in writing sound IS literature reviews (Webster and Watson 2002). In this study, we conducted an exhaustive and systematic electronic search using ProQuest, Social Science Citation Index, IEEE Xplore, and other bibliographic sources with keywords such as online shopping, Internet shopping and online consumer purchasing behaviour. In addition to the search for referred journal articles, we included three IS-related conference proceedings (AMCIS, HICSS, ICIS) in our literature search and analysis. Research Methodology To answer the purpose of the thesis, both primary and secondary data had to be collected. Primary data is data collected especially to answer the purpose and research questions of the current research. This data must be gathered by the researcher of the research at hand and can be done by observation, interviews or questionnaires. Secondary data is data that has been collected earlier, to fulfil the purpose of some other research. This data can be gathered from books, articles, reports and many others sources. (Saunders et al., 2007) Direct Observation Observation is a research technique that is often implicit in the data-gathering approach and observation is something we cannot fail to do as people, we are all expert observers (Hackley, 2003). Furthermore, participant observation will be chosen as it puts the researcher where the action is enabling them to experience the lives of informants, one option is to observe consumers behaviour and their purchase decision in online store (Meiselman et al., 2000). An observational approach provides a clearer representation of the decision process that consumers proceed through rather than the consumers perceptions of that process (Douglas and Wind, 1978), thus providing the researcher with the ability to uncover unconscious consumer actions. Survey The greatest use of questionnaire is made by survey as strategy. However, both experiment and case studies research strategies can make use of these techniques (Oppenheim, 1992). Some authors reserve it exclusively for surveys where the person answering the question actually records their own answers and other authors use it as a more general term to inclusively for survey interview hat administered either face to face or by telephone. (Kervin 1999) In addition, questionnaire can be used as a general term to include all techniques of data collection in which each person is asked to respond to the same set of questions in a predetermined order. (DeVaus, 1996) Interview An interview is a purposeful discussion between two or more people (Kahn and Cannel 1957). The use of interviews can help to gather valid and reliable data that relevant to the research questions and objectives. Sampling Sampling techniques provides arrange of methods that enable to reduce the amount of data need to collect by considering only data from a sub groups rather than all possible cases or elements. Sampling also save times and give over view of population. Researcher Kervin (1999) argues that using sampling enables a higher overall accuracy than a census. Methods of Data Analysis During the dissertation both the quantitative and qualitative data will require analysis. In order to analyze the data collected through the survey and the focus group, several strategies were used. The aim was to give a descriptive analysis of the consumer behaviour in online shopping. The tables, charts and pie charts were interpreted as made up the foundation for the focus group discussion. The method of analysis to be followed is that proposed by Dey, Miles and Huberman: Comprehend and manage it. Merge related data drawn from different transcript and notes. Identify key themes or pattern from it for further exploration. Develop and / or test hypotheses based on these apparent patterns or relationships. Draw and verify conclusions. (Dey, 1993; Miles and Huberman, 1994) Moral Issue of Research Consumers were firstly observed without interruption, allowing their natural behaviour will be recorded. Only once they complete their actual purchase decision, the researcher will approach them. Those shoppers who will picked up a product to purchase were intercepted as they walk away from the cabinet and will be asked to answer a few short questions regarding their purchase choice. Research Timetable Weeks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Internet Research Literature Review Research Design Methodology Data Sources Data Collection Data Analysis Writing up Draft Editing Final Document Binding Document References Arbeitsgemeinschaft Online-Forschung e.V. [AGOF e.V.], 2007. Bettman, J. R. (1979) An information Processing Theory of Consumer Choice, Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley. Bhattacherjee, A. (2001) Understanding Information Systems Continuance: An Expectation Confirmation Model, MIS Quarterly, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 351-370. Chen, L., Gillenson, M.L. and Sherrell, D.L. (2002), Enticing online consumers: an extended technology acceptance perspective, Information Management, Vol. 39 No. 8, pp. 705-19. Chisnall, M. P. (1995) Consumer Behaviour, 3rd Edition, Maidenhead, McGraw Hill Companies. Constantinides, E. (2004) Influencing the online consumers behaviour: the Web experience, Internet Research 14: 2, 111-126. Davis, F.D. (1989), Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology, MIS Quarterly, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 319-40. Davis, F.D. (1993), User acceptance of information technology: system characteristics, user perceptions and behavioural impacts, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, Vol. 38 No. 3, pp. 475-87. Devaus, D. A. (1996) Surveys in Social Research, 4th edition, London, UCL Press. Dey, I. (1993) Qualitative Data Analysis, London, Routledge. Donal Rogan, FH Joanneum Graz, 28 May 1 June 2007, International Consumer Behaviour. Douglas, S. P., Wind, Y. (1978) Examining family role and authority patterns: two methodological issues, Journal of Marriage and the Family, Vol. 3 pp.35-47. Fishbein, M. (1967) Attitude and Prediction of Behaviour, in M. Fishbein, ed., Readings in Attitude Theory and Measurement, New York: John Wiley, pp. 477-492. Fishbein, M. (1967) Attitude and Prediction of Behaviour, in M. Fishbein, ed., Readings in Attitude Theory and Measurement, New York: John Wiley, pp. 477-492. Folkes, V. S. (1988) Recent Attribution Research in Consumer Behaviour: A Review and New Directions, Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 14, pp. 548-565. Hackley, C. E. (2003) Doing Research Projects in Marketing, Management and Consumer Research, Routledge, London. Hollensen S. (2004) Global marketing A Decision Iriented Approach, 3rd Edition, Edinburgh Gate, Pearson Higher Education. Jarvenpaa, S. L., and Todd, P. A. (1996) Consumer reactions to electronic shopping on the World Wide Web, International Journal of Electronic Commerce, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 59-88. Joines, L. J., Scherer, W. C., and Scheufele A. D. (2003) Exploring motivations for consumer Web use and their implications for e-commerce, Journal of Consumer Marketing, 20: 2, 90 108. Kervin, J. B. (1999) Methods for Business research, 2nd edition, Reading, Addison Wiley. Khan, R. and Cannell, C. (1957) The Dynamics of interviewing, New York, Wiley. Kotler, P. Armstrong, G. (2007) Principles of Marketing, 12th Edition, Upper Saddle River, Prentice Hall. Koufaris, M., Kambil, A., and Labarbera P. A. (2001) Consumer Behaviour in Web-Based Commerce: An Empirical Research, International Journal of Electronic Commerce, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 115-138. Lilien, G. L., Philip K., and Sridhar M. K. (1992) Marketing Models, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Meiselman, H. J., Johnson, J. L., Reeve, W., Crouch, J. E. (2000) Demonstration of the influence of the eating environment on food acceptance, Appetite, Vol. 35 pp .231-7. Menon, S. and Kahn, B. (2002), Cross-category effects of induced arousal and pleasure on the Internet shopping experience, Journal of Retailing, Vol. 78 No. 1, pp. 31-40. Miles, M.B. and Huberman, A. M. (1994) Qualitative Data Analysis (2nd edition), Thousand Oaks, California, Sage. Oliver, R. L. (1980) A Cognitive Model for the Antecedents and Consequences of Satisfaction, Journal of Marketing Research, no. 17, pp. 460-469. Oppenheim, A. N. ( 1992) Questionnaire Design, New edition , London , Printer. Oppenheim, C. and Ward, L. (2006) Evaluation of web sites for B2C e-commerce, Aslib Proceedings: New Information Perspectives 58: 3, 237-260. Saunders, M. N. K., Thornhill, A., Lewis, P. (2007) Research Methods for Business Students. London: Pearson Higher Education. Skinner, B. F. (1938) The Behaviour of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis, New York: Appleton Century Crofts. Smith, D. A., and Rupp, T. W. (2003) Strategic online customer decision making: leveraging the transformational power of the Internet, Online Information Review 27: 6, 418 432. Song J., and Zahedi, F. M. (2001) Web Design In E-Commerce: A Theory And Empirical Analysis, Proceedings of the International Conference of Information Systems 2001, pp. 205-220. Vijayasarathy, L. R. (2001) The Impact of Shopping Orientations, Product Types, and Shopping Aids on Attitude and Intention to Use Online Shopping, Quarterly Journal of Electronic Commerce, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 99-113. Webster J., and Watson R. T. (2002) Analyzing the Past to Prepare for the Future: Writing a Literature Review (pp. xiii-xxiii), MIS Quarterly, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. xiii-xxiii (13-23).

Photography Review Essay example -- essays research papers

Photography Review Joel Meyerowitz spent the summer of 1976 and 1977 taking magnificent photographs, which he later published in 1997 in a book called â€Å"Cape light.† These photographs were taken in Cape Cod, Massachusetts around the Truro-Provincetown area in the summer. His book is full of marvelous photographs, which depict a typical summer up on the Cape. These pictures may seem beautiful to anyone. However, these pictures possess more meaning to anyone who has ever lived on Cape Cod or visited Cape Cod. Cape Cod is one of the most beautiful and meaningful places to me. From the time I was a baby on, my family and I have spent many wonderful summer in the Cape. My parent, have been going to Cape Cod, Massachusetts since they were first married. When I think of Cape Cod, the first thing that comes to my mind are memories of the same old little beach cottage my family has rented year after year. I think of Cape Cod and thoughts fill my head with the beach, water, sand, beach cottages, and hot summer days. When I look at Joel Meyerowitz’s book the photos almost come to life. The color and images are so real. The same thoughts that I have for the water, sand, and beach are expressed in Meyerowitz’s photos.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Joel Meyerowitz took his photographs with an 8†x10† view camera. The prints were in full size, made directly from the negatives without any kind of changes or manipulations. Joel Meyerowitz’s is a pictorialist. His picture are taken of scenery...

Metaphysical Premises And Types Of Liberal Ideology: Liberalism As The End And Liberalism As The Way :: Politics

Metaphysical Premises And Types Of Liberal Ideology: Liberalism As The End And Liberalism As The Way ABSTRACT: The problem of choosing the way for our country unavoidably brings us to a discussion of the problem of liberalism. At first glance, this should not be a problem since liberal principles underlie Western society and are the basis of the modern world order. But this opinion is not shared by all intellectuals in Russia. First is the specificity of the Russian mentality, social consciousness and social life. The idea of 'Russia's own way' is much referred to by various political movements of pronounced nationalist color, but we have to study this idea at its deepest level rather than oversimplify reality. Yet even most thinkers who are oriented to the West and have insisted on the adoption of Western values and standards have also strongly criticized European civilization. Secondly, liberalism does not have a simple meaning. It connotes a number of complex ideological systems transformed over time both in theory and in political practice. Therefore, it is important to analyze the metaphysical premises of liberal doctrines and systems. I will examine assessments of liberal ideas made by Russian religious philosophers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries such as P. Struve, N. Novgorodtsev, I. Iliin, and S. Frank who all considered liberalism primarily a metaphysical rather than a legal or political phenomenon, and interpreted it as an empirical manifestation of the deep nature of the human spiritual reality. The problem of choosing the way for our country unavoidably makes us discuss the problem of liberalism. At the first sight, this should not be problem at all, as the liberal principles underlie Western society and so make the basis of the whole modern world order. But such a straight opinion is not shared by all political people here in Russia and there are two major reasons for this. First of the two is specificity of Russian mentality, Russian social consciousness, and generally all Russian social life. The idea of Russia's own way is, true, much used by various political movements of pronounced nationalist color, but we have to study this idea to the most possible deepness to not be oversimplifying the reality. It was common among all political groups and movements to state Russia's special historical fate and ways. Even the most westernly oriented political thinkers, though insisted on the adoption of Western values and standards, strongly criticized European civilization at the same time (so did Hertzen in his late years, for example).