Compensation of advertising Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

Compensation of advertising - Research Paper Example On the other hand, advertisement is also viewed to be an important practice, as it provides the information related to the course of marketing, process of communication and more importantly marketing strategy that deemed to be essential for ensuring long-term growth and profitability. Mass media can be defined as the expanded media, which incorporates varied technologies to reach into masses through the mass communication process. Mass communication can be described as the study representing how individuals depend on the information through media to obtain any vital information about various objects. Both mass media and mass communication are important to consider in transferring information with using similar type of media (Advertising Educational Foundation, 2015). Mass communication helps an organization to transfer message to a group of people within a definite time. In relation to the above context, advertising can also be defined as the organized as well as collected mass communication information provided about the products or any other object through media. Advertising basically focuses on the group of public rather than considering an individual (Advertising Educational Foundation, 2015). The compensation method involves different models of pricing that are generally used for conducting varied sorts of activities that entail contextual advertising and associate marketing among others. The compensation method of advertising is identified to be different in this modern context as compare to earlier years. In earlier context, the ad agencies played the role of brokers without having any sort of directors as well as copywriters. There lay distinct types of compensation methods of advertising that entail pay- per sale, pay-per lead, pay-per call, pay-per install, pay- per click, pay- per action and pay-per method among others (Belch & Belch, 2003). Therefore, the advertisers are paid based on the above discussed several modes of compensation.

Topic is to be an emerging or new technology of some kind Research Paper

Topic is to be an emerging or new technology of some kind - Research Paper Example However, in the topical times when all over the world there is rapid change of technologies, it is vital to adapt to newer technologies. New technology must meet the need of customers and it must be easy to implement (Souder and Sherman, 1994, p.45). One such technology is mobile banking facility. In earlier days banks used to keep customers’ money in vaults and would only meet financial needs of the customers. Then financial data networks were create to facilitate electronic method of transfer of funds through interconnected banking system. Even then the customers had to be personally present in the bank to deposit or retrieve funds. Next ATMs provided the customers to do their banking in various locations. Now, more recently online banking through the internet has become a common occurrence. The latest technology in the line of banking facilities is mobile banking. This technology helps the customers to do activities like transferring funds, checking balances, paying bills f rom their cell phones. Now customers rarely need to go to the bank to do their banking (Stair and Reynolds, 2009, p.17). ... (Krugel, 2007, p.3) Insecure edge of mobile banking technology Today customers do most of their banking either through personal computers or mobile phones. Mobile phones are in these days internet-enabled and private data either stay on a single device or float in the cyberspace and thus can be vulnerable to misuse (Mukherjee, 2008, p. 61). Mobile phones were primarily built for voice communications and as such have certain limitations that increase the risk factor in mobile banking. One major risk factor includes concern of confidentiality and integrity of data during transfer of information from and to bank’s wired core processing system and to wireless environment. There are many other limitations in mobile phone like small screen space, short battery life and lower processing speeds. There is also the problem of various data entry formats and also data storage capacity is limited. Attempts are being taken to reduce the risk factors through wireless markup language and wire less application protocol. The mobile manufacturers are also trying to improve the devices. But other risks which include security threat and authentication are still major issues of concern and unless measures are taken to resolve the security issues, mobile banking can never become the dominant channel for banking. Mobile technology of today can provide wide range options for mobile banking services. While some options can ensure high level of security there are other options which cannot promise the same security level. There is possibility to minimize the risk factors by introducing operational controls. In developing countries mobile handset technology is not of the highest level. In these countries risks of mobile

Essay on Bus Transportation

Essay on Bus Transportation Infrastructure is a broad concept linked to every facet of the economy and human life. Accordingly, the list of associated issues is long. For any purposeful analysis of issues in infrastructure development to lead to an action-oriented way forward, it is necessary to narrow down the definition of infrastructure and associated issues. The term infrastructure has been used since 1927 to refer collectively to the roads, bridges, rail lines and similar public works that are required for an industrial economy to function. Transportation, communication, sewage, water and electric systems are all a part of infrastructure. These systems tend to be high-cost investments. In general, infrastructure is location-specific and cannot be moved from place to place (www.unescap.org). Transportation infrastructure cannot operate without transportation and transportation cannot run without transportation infrastructure. Different transportations have their own infrastructure to support each other. For air transportation, their infrastructure will be the airport. Port will be the infrastructure for water transportation while infrastructure for land transportation such as public bus will be the bus terminal or bus stop. Transport infrastructure development in East and South-East Asia has played a key part in the phenomenal growth of world trade. The infrastructure backbone for international trade has been the container shipping network and increasingly the airfreight network. World container port traffic, which expanded by 9.2 per cent to 266 million TEUs in 2003, is dominated by Asian countries. They accounted for 46 per cent of container ship operations, 62 per cent of container port throughput, and 83 per cent of container ship building. Twelve major South and East Asian exporters together account for half of the worlds containerized exports (www.unescap.org). Bus terminal or known as bus stationÂÂ  is one of the most important transportation infrastructure whereÂÂ  busesÂÂ  stop to pick up and drop off passengers. It may be intended as aÂÂ  terminal or stationÂÂ  for a number of routes or as a transfer station where the routes continue. It is larger than bus stop where bus stop is usually built at the road side for the bus to stop for a while but not to wait for passengers. Tel Avivs new central bus station was officially inaugurated recently, after 26 years of off-and-on construction, legal and financial disputes (Encyclopedia.com). A majority of the Dan and Egged Tel Aviv-area buses are now based at the new station; 5,000 buses pass through the station daily, carrying some 150,000 passengers. The station is the largest bus station in the world, encompassing 197,600 square meters indoors, and 34,400 square meters outdoors (Encyclopedia.com). The largest underground bus station in Europe isÂÂ  Kamppi CenterÂÂ  ofÂÂ  Helsinki,ÂÂ  FinlandÂÂ  completed in 2006. The terminal cost 100 million Euro to complete and took 3 years to design and build. Today, the bus terminal, which covers 25,000 square meters, is the busiest bus terminal in Finland. Every day, the terminal has around 700 bus departures, transporting some 170,000 passengers (www.webcitation.org). Since bus station play a vital role in strengthening the volume of traffic as well as in providing better services to the passenger, the bus service undertakings, specially in the public sector, should come up and encourage the emergence of the bus station management as an independent discipline in the field of traffic management. (Kulshrestha, 1993, p.9) Penang, as most of us may already know, is one of Malaysias most popular destinations for travelers coming from the local or the international communities (Talk Malaysia 2010). One of the main reasons for Penang to have so many travelers coming and going out annually is partly because there are a lot of interesting places to visit in Penang. Most of the interesting places in Penang are located at mainly around Georgetown and Seberang Perai (www.talkmalaysia.com). Therefore, transport infrastructure especially bus terminal or station in Georgetown play an important role in order to pick up and drop off passengers from a destination to another destination. This is because Penang has traffic problem, therefore public transport are used. Komtar Bus Terminal is the hub of bus services in George Town. All the bus routes of Penang radiates from this terminal. To be exact, Komtar Bus Terminal is not a terminal proper, but rather a bus station, because buses do not actually start from here, but rather, from the Weld Quay Bus Terminal. Nevertheless, most people will know it by that name. At the Komtar Bus Terminal, you can catch buses going to the north, central, south and west parts of Penang Island, as well as some buses that go to the mainland. Among the bus companies that use the terminal includes Rapid Penang, Milan, Transit Link and KGN-Hin. The terminal is located along Lebuh Tek Soon, although buses approach it via Jalan Ria and they emerge from the terminal into Jalan Ria once more (www.penang-traveltips.com). As a bus stop user, not satisfied with bus terminal in Georgetown. Some of the same complaint had been made by locals and tourists too. This is because they have the difficulties in determine which bus to ride in order to reach their destination. Therefore, this study is to find out what are the factors which make the tourists satisfied and not satisfied with the bus terminals in Penang. This study also includes, to identify the present condition of transport infrastructure, the cleanliness in the bus terminals and the safety and security in the bus terminals. From these factors, this study is able to conclude what are their expectations towards bus stop in order to let the government make improvement. 1.2 Statement of Problem Transport and traffic management have always been a bone of contention for Penang. Many feel that rapid economic development has not been met with an equal amount of attention given to proper traffic management and planning. There are about 1.4 million vehicles (motorcycles, cars and other vehicles) for a population of about 1.4 million people in Penang. This is about double the number of vehicles in 1999 (Sympologic, 2008). For the above reason, public transportation had played a very important role to reduce the traffic in Penang. But without a good infrastructure, public transportation will not be able to run smoothly. There are 2 main transport infrastructures for bus in Georgetown which are Komtar Bus Terminal and Weld Quay Bus Terminal. But, locals and tourists are not satisfied with the bus terminals in Georgetown. This is because there are no proper route information and bus timetable. It is difficult especially for tourists to identify which bus to ride in order to reach their destination. Tourists always have to ask the bus driver one by one to ask for the destination. This had slow down the traffic also. Besides, from the observation, the bus terminals are not well-maintained in term of cleanliness and safety. 1.3 Goal Objectives The goal of this research is to study tourists satisfactions and expectations towards bus terminals in Penang. In order to achieve the above goal, there are some objectives need to be done. To examine tourists satisfactions towards bus terminals To examine tourists expectations towards the bus terminals To examine the present condition of bus terminals To identify the cleanliness in the bus terminals To identify the safety and security in the bus terminals 1.4 Hypothesis From the objectives above, the below are the hypotheses which had concluded: Locals and tourists are not satisfied with the bus terminals. Locals and tourists have high expectations on the bus terminals in term of cleanliness and security. There is no proper route information or sign board in the bus terminals. The bus terminals are not clean. The bus terminals are not secure. The above hypotheses are made based on my own experiences and observation. Significance of the Study This research is able to let the government and private sector to make improvement on the bus terminals in order to let them become truly efficient. From the questionnaires which will be distribute and collected, they able to tell us the satisfaction level and expectation of locals and tourists towards the bus terminals. From their expectation, the improvement can be made. For example by putting up the route information and sign board, locals and tourists able to know which bus to ride to reach their destination. Besides, clean the bus terminals daily so that locals and tourists will feel comfortable and assign more security to secure the bus terminals. When the improvements have made, the locals and tourists will have the chance to use better bus terminals. All these will make the business of the bus increase too. 1.6 Scopes and Limitations of the Study The scopes for my research are Penangites and tourists in Penang. Penangites and tourists who are the user of bus terminals are targeted. 80% Penangites and 20% tourists are chosen to carry out this research. In order to complete this research, distribution of questionnaires will be made to these 2 groups of people mentioned above. Besides, observation in the bus terminals will be done by my own selves too. The bus terminals in Georgetown which would like to research on are Komtar Bus Terminal and Weld Quay Bus Terminal. These are the two popular bus terminals in Georgetown which crowded by people every day. This is because these are the two main stops which the bus will pick and drop passenger. There are also limitations for this research. The first limitation is resources. There is very few information on books, journals or articles about transportation infrastructure. The next limitation will be the time. Only 5 months to complete this research. Last but not least, the limitation is the manpower. I am the only one who doing this research. Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Transport and Tourism Page (2005) said that transport act as one of the important that contributed to the international development of tourism. According to Page (2007), the mode of transport can be one of the main motivations for the tourists to travel. He also said that in the growth of domestic and international tourism, transport is the most critical element in the promotion. He continued said that transport links the tourist from the origin area with the destination area. Therefore it enables the holidaymaker, business traveler and other categories of traveler to purchase the products and experience what they have purchased. He added that transport may be an attraction in its own right. Tourists who travel by road may use public transport or private transport to experience a variety of destinations. 2.2 Transport and Tourism in Penang, Malaysia A combination of East and West, Penang continues to grow in modernity but at the same time holding its traditions and old charm. Recently, because of the harmony of multiracial in Penang and the heritage buildings which are well preserved, these make the Georgetown being accorded a listing as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Penang, long regarded as the food capital of Malaysia, it also attracts tourists with its beautiful beaches and delicious cuisines (www.tourismpenang.net.my). Transportation in Penang is convenient. You can travel in or out of Penang by the well-connected of road, rail, sea and air. Not only the air and train service is good in Penang but the seaways also offer good transportation. Ferry and seaports are there to create convenient to the people in Penang and Buttterworth. Penang ferry is provided by the Penang Ferry Service that connects George Town, Penang and Butterworth. There are four terminals, one on Penang Island (Swettenham Pier) and three on the mainland. Next, railway act as one of the transportation in Penang, but they are not popular due to their low speed. Besides, international flights are available in Penang International Airport which situated in the Bayan Lepas area of Penang, Malaysia (www.asiarooms.com). Goh (2010) said that traffic jams in Penang especially the major roads including Jalan Burma, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Jalan Jelutong and Jalan Mesjid Negeria re common although the population is small. Outside the city, jams are found even in Bayan Lepas and Telok Kimbar. He added that although the Jelutong Express Way had provided some relief to Jalan Jelutong and Jalan Mesjid Negeri, but the costs to Penangnites have yet to be calculated, although the highway is touted to be free. He suggested that Penang should follow the example of Crutiba. Crutiba is a city where the people rely on buses to avoid traffic jam. Recently, Rapid Penang buses are introduced for those who do not have car or have chosen not to use their cars. 2.2 Public Transportation Zegeer (2002) said that good public transportation is an important to the quality of a community as good roads. According Ramanathan and Parikh (1999, cited in Ramanathan, 2001; Banister and Berechman, 2001; Ramanathan and Parikh, 1999; Eisner, 1991), transport is a vital element for the modern society now and key to sustained economic growth. But, Ortuzar and Willumsen (2001) argued that the world of transport still face many problems of the past such as congestion, pollution, accidents, financial deficits and so on. They continued said that these problems will not get away until the traffic management improved. They continue said that the transport problems have spread widely in both industrialized and developing countries. According to them, fuel shortages which are temporarily not a problem, but the increase in road traffic and transport demand has resulted in congestion, delays, accidents and environmental problems well beyond what has been considered acceptable so far. These problems have not been controlled to roads and car traffic alone. They added that economic growth seems to have generated levels of demand exceeding the capacity of most transport facilities. They continue argued that these problems are not likely to disappear in the near future. They suggested that it is necessary to ensure that a major effort in improving most forms of transport, in urban and inter-urban contexts. With respect to the quality of prices and services, transport services have been traditionally been subject to tight economic regulation with respect to entering and exciting the market. In many countries, road and rail networks and airport and port systems are traditionally designed, built, and operated by the public sector itself, which is the ultimate form of regulation. This type of government intervention has resulted in excessive costs that are not matched by prices or quality, therefore creating an outcome that reflects the interests of the sectors civil servants of contractors, unions, and other interests groups more than preferences of users and taxpayers (Estache and Rus, 2000). According to UITP (2004), government and public transport share a same goal to make sure the public transport is accessible to all especially the traffic environments have to be well-designed and managed to let the people to reach and use public transport safely and with confidence. UITP suggested that government and the public transport community to work together to reduce not only the physical but also the psychological barriers such as cognitive, information, fear and discrimination to travel safely in cities. UITP continues said that at any one time, an average of 25% of the population may have a degree of reduced mobility due to a physical or mental disability, impaired sight or hearing, or through having to carry heavy bags or travel with small children. UITP added, physical and sensory disabilities are often related to age and, as is well known, the proportion of the elderly population in western countries is growing and will continue to do so well into the 21st century. These are clear of the importance of improving accessibility to transport systems. According to UITP, benefits from improvements in transport accessibility are accrued not just to the disabled and ageing communities, but to all clients of the transport system. 2.3 Transport infrastructure Traditionally, building extra capacity has been addressed due to the blockages in transport infrastructure. But the possibility is small for the further expansion of infrastructure in many urban areas where the demand for transport is highest. Furthermore, a number of reports have found that the construction of new roads and airports to relieve congestion is ineffective because it only serves to induce new traffic. On the other hand, a study undertaken by a Norwegian research organization, the SINTEF Group claims that infrastructure capacity increases are directly linked to decreases in polluting emissions from motor vehicles. Using a traffic micro-simulation, it showed, for example, that upgrading narrow, winding roads or adding a lane to a congested motorway can yield decreases of up to 38% in CO2 emissions, 67% in CO emissions and 75% in NOx emissions, without generating substantially more car trips (EurActiv.com, 2008). According to CÃ ¡rcamo-DÃ ­az and Goddard (2007, cited in IADB, 2000), Infrastructure, defined as the set of engineering structures, equipment and facilities with a long-term, useful life employed by households and the different productive sectors of the economy, is essential for economic growth (cited in Easterly and Serven, 2003) and integration. As pointed out by IADB (2002), there is a positive relationship across countries between income levels and the quality of infrastructure. According to Tanzi (2005), the implicit assumption about the direction of causation goes from infrastructure to growth, although this issue is still debated in the literature. In many cases, the objective of transport infrastructure investment is to improve the accessibility of a given region by reducing travel time or increasing the potential to travel. Accessibility can be measured as the quantity of economic or social activities that can be reached using the transport labor, leading to increased competition and centralization. On the other hand, the impact for region concerned could be both positive and negative, depending on its initial level competitiveness (OECD, 2002). According to ITF and OECD (2008), there are some features of surface transport infrastructure that make its provision distinct from many other areas of the economy and which will likely have to be accounted for when different models are being considered. They claimed that transport system does not exist for their own sake but rather to serve other economic and social activity, this is because transport is a derived demand. This means that the possible wider implications of capacity shortages in, and overall standard of, the transport system, must be taken into consideration in the design if any model for providing transport infrastructure. 2.4 Transport Infrastructure in Different Countries 2.4.1 Luxembourg The pressure of congestion, excessive strain on transport infrastructure and environmental have led to a challenge due to a large and increasing number of commuters (OECD, 2008c). These pressures stem from both resident and cross-border commutes, which are broadly similar in number. High and increasing number of commutes among residents is reflected in Europes highest car ownership rate and one of the highest annual distances covered by automobile per capita. For cross-border commutes, 85% are made in passenger cars without use of public transport. These patterns lead to alarming levels of congestion on the main road transport corridors and there are now severe bottlenecks at the entrance to urban areas, notably in the city of Luxembourg. This results in wasted time, unsafe driving conditions, noise and high levels of emission and local air pollution (OECD, 2010). 2.4.2 France According to Willis (2010), the transport infrastructure in France is one of the most modernized to be found anywhere in Europe and this makes international freight movements streamlined and effective. In the area of modern tramways, France is a world leader in railway technology. Rail transport is therefore always a best option for shipping companies and freight forwarders operating in France. The transport network is built as a web, with Paris at the center. There is a total of nearly 32,000 kilometers of track in France, most of which is operated by the French railway company, SNCF. Over the last twenty years, a set of high speed LGV (lignes a grande vitesse) have been constructed to connect most parts of France with Paris. There are same gauge rail links to adjacent countries of Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Sweden, as well as the Channel Tunnel link with the UK. The TGV, the French high speed train has broken world speed records is a sign of the way that France is a tr ue global leader in rail transport. For freight transport, rail is a model in France. 2.4.3 Germany According to Willis (2009), Germany has a transport infrastructure that is the envy of the world and this has helped enable the development of a highly effective freight services industry. The phrase Germanic is often used as a byword for efficiency and with good reason, if the freight services industry in Germany is seen as a measure. He continued said that when consider that it is less than twenty years since the Berlin Wall came down and East Germany started its process of integration within Germany, the efficiency of the transport network throughout the country is all the more remarkable. There is a very efficient network of waterways, railways and motorways that make internal connections fast and straightforward and also connect Germany with other countries throughout the world. 2.4.4 Middle East Timon Singh (2010) claimed that the Middle East and North Africa region has invested heavily in its transport infrastructure and for the likes of the UAE in particular over the past few years. He continued claimed that the money has gone into planes and trains in order to better improve between states, but to turn the region into both a business and tourist hub. Air traffic in the Middle East is the fastest growing in the world, and in order to cater for the increasing number of passengers at their various airports and thus improving their general transport infrastructure, the UAE has been implementing various aviation projects. According to him, rail is another part of the regions transport infrastructure that has gathered support in the Middle East from Dubais Metro System to plans for an expansive network connecting the GCC states. Qatar and Bahrain have one of the most ambitious projects, combining both rail and metro lines, which is set to transform the emirate into a major transport hub. The project, which is rumored to be costing over US$36.6 billion (QR133.5 billion) and estimated to take six years, is expected to be finished in phases over the next six years, with three major sections being the focus of the scheme the metro network within Greater Doha, the over-ground railways covering the whole of Qatar and then, linking it to the rest of the GCC region and cargo trains. 2.4.5 London, United Kingdom McDougall (2010) asked how do cities meet the needs of a growing population, promote diverse and healthy communities, improve the environment and tackle climate change. The answer is its a tall order and one that London is tackling head on with their aptly named London Plan. He said that the London Plan sets out to ensure that Londons transport is easy, safe and convenient and encourages cycling, walking and electric vehicles. The ambitious plan sets out the overall strategic direction for an integrated economic, environmental, transport and social framework for the development of London over the next 20-25 years. He continues said that the London Plan identifies what are termed Opportunity Areas in and around Londons major reservoirs of brown-field land. These areas are characterized by their potential to accommodate new housing, commercial and other development linked to existing or potential improvements to public transport accessibility. It is important to make sure that they can be developed without undue additional pressure on Londons already-crowded public transport, or on the limited funds available for anything beyond committed transport improvements. 2.4.6 India According to Pradhan (2010), transport is a key infrastructure in the present study, as causes energy consumption as well as economic growth in India. Therefore, he suggested that increasing transport facility along with energy consumption will lead to more economic growth in India. The achievement of higher economic growth through transport infrastructure and energy consumption could be due to its various direct and indirect benefits in the economy. But he claimed that the level of transport infrastructure is not so good, both in quantity and quality, in contrast to developed countries in the world. He suggested that if there is sufficient transport infrastructure in the economy, the result would be much better. He continued suggested that a suitable transport policy should be required urgently to boost economic growth and to maintain sustainable economic development in the country since transport infrastructure is a big deal to economic growth. 2.4.7 Malaysia The greatest advantage to manufacturers in Malaysia has been the nations persistent drive to develop and upgrade its infrastructure. Over the years, these investments have paid off and serious bottlenecks have been avoided. Today, Malaysia can boast of having one of the well-developed infrastructures among the newly industrializing countries of Asia (www.mida.gov.my). The latest development of Kuala Lumpur Sentral has become a futuristic self-contained city, providing the perfect live, work and play environment. A modern transportation hub integrating all major rail transport networks, including the Express Rail Link to the KLIA and Putrajaya, the governments new administrative center. Besides, the Peninsular Malaysias network of well-maintained highways is a gain to industries. These highways link major growth centers to seaports and airports throughout the peninsula and provide an efficient means of transportation for goods. (www.mida.gov.my). Malaysias central location in the Asia Pacific region makes her an ideal gateway to Asia. Air cargo facilities are well-developed in the five international airports the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Penang International Airport and Langkawi International Airport in Peninsular Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Sabah, and Kuching International Airport in Sarawak. Malaysias biggest airport, the KLIA, surrounded by four main cities of Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Seremban and Melaka has a capacity of handling 25 million passengers and up to 8 million tons of cargo per year. Cargo import and export procedures are fully automated at the KLIA to cut down delivery time (www.mida.gov.my). Recently, Rapid Penang has introduced a state-of-the-art Intelligent Commuter Information System (ICIS), which provides real-time information on the arrival times of buses at terminals in Penang. The ICIS system, the first of its kind used by stage bus companies in the country, would enable some 75,000 commuters who use Rapid Penang buses daily to plan their journey more efficiently. It proved to be a success and has since been expanded for usage at the Komtar bus terminal, which sees the highest number of people boarding buses daily. A total of 200 buses operate from the Komtar bus terminal on a daily basis. The ICIS display system uses global positioning system (GPS) to map out the movement of all Rapid Penang buses and calculate the exact time of arrival of each bus at the Komtar bus terminal. The ICIS display system will later be extended to other strategic areas throughout the state including the possibility of having it installed in shopping complexes (newstraitstimes, 2010). 2.5 Bus Stop and Bus Terminal There are bus stops all over the Penang and there are three main bus terminals for buses in Penang, Malaysia. They are Weld Quay Terminal, Komtar Bus Terminal and Sungai Nibong Terminal. According to Zegeer (2002), a well-designed transit routes a reachable stops are essential to usable system. He continues said that bus stops should be located at intervals that are convenient for passengers for safety purpose and should be comfortable places for people to wait. UITP (2004 cited in Grenoble, 2004) argued that if the related infrastructure is inaccessible or inappropriately designed, much of the accessible vehicles will lost. Grenoble has carried out extensive research and development work to design tram and bus stops, starting some 20 years ago. The principle adopted by Grenoble was that the bus services should be made as accessible as the tram. According to Grenoble, the design standards found to be most effective for accessible bus stops were 14m(standard bus) and 20m(articulated bus) for overall length of bus boarding platform, 2.1m(minimum) and 2.6m(if a shelter is provided) for overall breadth of boarding platform, 3% for gradient of access ramp at end of platform, 21cm for height of boarding area, 60cm back from front edge of boarding area for safety line and 1.1m(minimum) and 1.3m(preferred) for clear space between front end of bus shelter and front edge of boarding area. Zegeer (2002) said that besides the bus stop signing, a bus shelter with seating, trash receptacles, and bicycle parking are also desirable features. He suggested that bus stops should be highly visible locations where pedestrian can reach them easily by means of accessible travel routes. Therefore, a complete sidewalks system is essential to support a public transportation system. Convenient crossings are also important. He continued suggested that proper placement of bus stops is key to user safety. For example, placing the bus stops on the near side of intersections or crosswalk may block pedestrians view of approaching traffic, and approaching drivers view of pedestrians. Approaching motorists may be unable to stop in time when a pedestrian steps from in front of a stopped bus into the traffic lanes at the intersection. Far-side bus stops generally encourage pedestrians to cross behind the bus. Reallocating the bus stop to the far side of the intersection can improve pedestrian safely since it climates the sight-distance restriction caused by the bus. Placing bus stops at the far aside of intersections can also improve motored vehicle operation. Besides, he also suggested that the bus stops should be fully accessible to pedestrians in wheelchairs, should have paved connections to sidewalks where landscape buffers exist, and should not block pedestrian travel on the sidewalk. Adequate room should exist to operate wheelchair lift. Yet, it is also useful to install curb ramps at bus stops so that a passenger can board from the street if bus-lift deployment is blocked. According to Iles (2005), problem may arise at bus stations which are used as intermediate stops for buses passing through the town or city when services are operated to schedule. Iles gave an example on when a full bus with a few passengers drop enter the station, they have the capacity to pick up same number of new passenger, but through services always delayed by having queue while other buses, some of which may be commencing their journeys at the station, load first. For this reason, in some countries, illegally in some cases, long-distance buses do not call at all bus stations on

Depression in Hopkins Sonnets of Desolation Essay -- Sonnet essays

Depression in Hopkins' Sonnets of Desolation  Ã‚        Ã‚   Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) was, first and foremost, a man of the cloth. He seems to have set his gifts in musical composition, drawing, and poetry at a distant second to his ecclesiastical duties for most of his life, causing him to experience terrible bouts of depression. Hopkins poured out this depression in what are known as the Sonnets of Desolation, including "I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day," "Not, I'll carrion comfort, Despair, not feast on thee," and "No Worst, there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief." In his 1970 essay entitled "The Dark Night of the Soul," Paul L. Mariani tells us that "while [Hopkins' friend Robert] Bridges thought that Carrion Comfort was probably the sonnet Hopkins told him in May was written in blood," No worst, there is none was probably meant" (59). "No Worst" seems to be set rather firmly in the lowest valley of that depression, and the cumulative effect of unrealized professional goals, political visions, and artistic sk ills contributed to its construction. The very finality of the phrasing Hopkins chose to open the sonnet with brook no argument; things can get no worse.       Part of this despair sprung from Hopkins' abstinence from writing. He was a Jesuit who converted to Catholicism in 1866. Due to his religious beliefs, he attempted to deny his talents; he felt that the level of pleasure he derived through poetic expression approached the sinful and "burned his youthful verses, determining 'to write no more, as not belonging to my profession'" (Britannica 1). Yet Hopkins seems to have been drawn uncontrollably to poetry. By 1875 he had begun to write again; stirred by the death of five nuns who drowned ... ...iterature, History, and Culture in the Age of Victoria (Brown University's Context 61). Ed. George P. Landow. 1995 http://landow.stg.brown.edu/victorian/hopkins/hopkins12.html Mariani, Paul. "The Dark Night of the Soul." Originally appearing in A Commentary on the Complete Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins. Cornell University Press, 1970. From Modern Critical Views: Gerard Manley Hopkins, Harold Bloom, ed. Chelsea House Publishers, New York. 1986. Hopkins, Gerard Manley. "No Worst, There is None," "I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark," and "My own heart let me more have pity on" 1918. London: Humphrey Milford, 1918. New York, Bartleby Online Oct. 1999. http://www.bartleby.com/122/45.html Reid, John Cowie. "Hopkins, Gerard Manley," Encyclopedia Britannica Online. (c) 1999- 2001 Britannica.com Inc. http://www.britannica.com/ed/article?idxref=503256      

Political Order Essay

poTop 20 (+1) List of Political Ideologies You Should Know For APUSH 1. conservative – Generally a trend to maintain a traditional stance on an issue.? For example, if one was culturally conservative in the United States, they would probably be against an issue like girls wearing 6 inch tall pink mohawks to school because it is a traditionally unacceptable hairstyle. If one were fiscally conservative, they would probably be against an excess of government taxing and spending; they would want to? be â€Å"conservative† with their money. 2.liberalism – Only lately used as an opposite to the term conservative; historically, it means to hold individual liberties as the most important social or political goal.? For example, if one were culturally liberal, they would hold that girls could wear 6 inch tall pink mohawks to school because it is that person’s individual choice. If one were fiscally liberal, they would probably be for government spending on stuff like space exploration; even though it is not absolutely necessary for human survival, it is still culturally important. 3. right-wing – Are usually people or ideas that seek to uphold or return the traditional establishment of a civil society and the preservation of the domestic culture, usually in the face of external forces for change. For example, many right-wing thinkers believe that all people in America should legally have to learn English. 4. left-wing – Are usually people who wish to change or abolish the existing political or social order. Sometimes, under this category are people who try to promote equality in wealth and privilege. For example, many left-wing people believe that helping the poor at the expense of the rich is a good thing. 5. socialism – A broad term for any political ideology that promotes collective ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods and services, as opposed to private ownership (like we have in the U. S. , if your dad owns a car factory, he owns it, not the government). Communism is considered socialist. Traditionally, most trade unions can be seen as socialist because the workers â€Å"collectively own† the union. Also, social security can be seen as a socialist because it is a government organized and regulated system. 6. democratic – A system of government by which political control is retained by the people and exercised directly by citizens. Notice the little â€Å"d†. This does not mean the political party. 7. republic – A system of government by which at least some of the people have control over the government and monarchy does not exist. Notice the little â€Å"r†. This does not mean the political party. 8. fascism – A system of government that is heavily authoritarian and nationalistic. 9. authoritarian – describes a form of government that typically emphasizes the sole authority of the state in a republic or union. 10. nationalism – A political movement which holds that a nation, usually defined in terms of ethnicity or culture, has the right to constitute an independent political community based on a shared history and common destiny. 11. radicalism – Usually denotes a drastic shift from the traditional norm, usually to an extreme. 12. libertarianism – Usually a political philosophy which prioritize individual liberty and usually seeks to minimize the state. 13. communism – is a socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an equal, classless based on common ownership of the means of production and property in general. 14. populism – is a political ideology which promotes â€Å"the common people† above or versus â€Å"the privileged†. 15. progressivism – Usually seen as a political response to the Industrial Revolution, socialism, and anarchism; it is a political ideology that strives towards social justice, promotion of democracy, and government efficiency. See Progressive Party. 16. Marxism – A specific flavor of communism derived from the writings of Karl Marx. see communism. 17. federalism (Hamiltonianism) – Alexander Hamilton’s branch of political thought that promotes a strong central government composed of weaker states. This particular flavor also includes very strong governmental intervention in economic issues. 18. Jeffersonian Republicanism – In contrast to the above, a school of thought promoted by Thomas Jefferson that promotes states and individual rights over a strong central government. This flavor usually necessitates a virtuous populace. 19. Jacksonian Democracy – Usually seen as a mixture of the two above, promoted by Andrew Jackson, this system sees an increase of political involvement by the â€Å"common man† and an increase of the powers of a strong federal government. 20. localism – a political or economic philosophy that prioritizes local needs over most else. Example, a city passing a law that the only tomatoes that can be sold must be grown from a local farm is considered localism. 21. anarchism – the promotion of the abolition of all forms of government.

Brand Extension Marketing Plan Essay

1. Executive Summary The following marketing plan forms the basis for the introduction of an innovative new product by Snyder’s-Lance Inc. This analysis allows me to outline the best strategies to follow for the achievement of the company’s strategic goals. â€Å"Pretzel Abobodas† will be marketed as a unique flavored pretzel that targets the Hispanic consumer, while striving to reinforce the company’s focus on wanting to penetrate the Hispanic market. The marketing strategies will hopefully enable our company to reach a market size of an estimated 2,000,000 Hispanic Consumers (targeted) with forecasted sales growth prospects of 5% over the next 3 years ($450,000 profits), while satisfying the needs if the unserved market of consumers. Success will be reflected by a sizeable capture of market shares within this market, while strategically positioning the company as a market leader in the salty snacks segments of the industry. Company Description Snyder’s-Lance manufactures and markets snack foods throughout the United States and internationally. The Company’s products include pretzels, sandwich crackers, potato chips, cookies, tortilla chips, restaurant style crackers, nuts and other snacks. Snyder’s-Lance has manufacturing facilities in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Indiana, Georgia, Arizona, Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada. Products are sold under the Snyder’s of Hanover, Lance, Krunchers!, Cape Cod, Jays, Grande, Tom’s, EatSmart Naturals, Archway, O-Ke-Doke, Padrinos, and Stella D’oro brand names along with a number of private label and third party brands. Products are distributed widely through grocery and mass merchandisers, convenience stores, club stores, food service outlets and other channels. Pretzel Abobodas will bring an entirely unique salty snack experience to its consumers. It will present itself as a healthier snacking alternative to consumers while providing the great taste of authentic Abobodas, which is a top Hispanic flavor preference. The strategic role of Pretzel Abobodas is centered on three objectives: * To be the market leader in innovative product introductions and successful product launches * To strengthen and satisfy the needs of Hispanic consumers and families * To become the market leader in the functional salty snacks category with increased market shares Situational Analysis The U.S. Hispanic population is the largest minority segment and is growing at a dramatic rate towards ethnic plurality, which has already occurred in the most populous states and is beginning to occur among the U.S. baby population. The future U.S. economy will depend on Hispanics by virtue of demographic change and the social and cultural shifts expected to accompany their continued growth. Hispanics exhibit distinct product consumption patterns and are not buying in ways that are the same as the total market. In forecasts of future consumption growth, the Hispanic share is significantly greater than that of non-Hispanics. The evidence for the distinctiveness and sustainability of Hispanic culture is convincing and implies a future American culture with a strong Hispanic flavor preference. Snyder’s Of Hanover Pretzels provide a healthy snacking option for consumers. There are many varieties and flavors of pretzels across the U.S. market but there have been no flavors produce d for the Hispanic Market. 2.1 Market Summary My target customer group is the Hispanic Market. The Snyder’s of Hanover Brand is a nationally recognized brand among American Households. Snyder’s Pretzels dominate market share and the numbers continue to grow. While the numbers do continue to grow, the Hispanic Market has some great potential because we have not been able to penetrate the market enough to move the needle on share. Our brands have just really started to appear in the Houston Hispanic Market in stores such as Fiesta, and Food Town. Although we do have a little bit of presence in these markets, there is not a single item flavor wise that is targeted for this market. 2.1.1 Market Demographics Geographic The geographic target area that I am choosing is the Houston Hispanic Market Area, San Antonio Area, Corpus Christi, and a few more highly populated Hispanic areas. Demographic The demographic profile of my target market is going to be Hispanic Family Households with children 18 years and under Behavioral Factors * Hispanics constitute one of the fastest-growing racial/ethnic groups in the United States * Family Gathers are traditional for birthday, holidays, weekends, etc. * Hispanics, African Americans and Asians consume more beer than any other race which is a great tie in with pretzels 2.1.2 Market Needs The product will cater to both Physiological needs (nutritional value) and Social needs (perception of a social, healthy snack) and strive to provide the following benefits to Hispanic Consumers: * Healthy Snacking Alternative for Parties and family gatherings. * Price * Top Brand Product * Items that will last stretch in the household * Great tasting product 2.1.3 Market Trends The current trends include a shift away from junk foods, a growing interest in healthier/beneficial products, and the trend for personalization through customization or seeking in a wide introduction of flavors. Trends that will influence how customers will perceive our product include: * The importance to the customer- The phrase â€Å"customer-centric† has never been more important than it is today. With the arrival of the â€Å"information age†, consumers world-wide know what is available, what everyone else is buying and how to find it online at the lowest cost. With this power has come the ability to shape markets, and define the products that they want. Manufacturers no longer have the power to define a market in their own closed space. The phrase â€Å"build it and they will come† no longer applies – you must know what the customer wants in advance if you want any chance of survival. And once you have delivered what the customer wants, your product and your customer support must both be perfect, because in this age, word-of-mouth doesn’t just reach family and friends, it reaches the world. Place the customer first. Listen to them before you build your product and they’ll tell you what to make. Listen to them after they buy your product and they’ll tell you how to keep them as repeat customers (and brand advocates). * The globalization of brands, and the ability of consumer demand to occur on a world-wide scale, is tipping the balance of power * The globalization of the message†¦Today, that world is gone. With the rise of the Internet and a population that increasingly views world travel as just another part of life, messages and brand images no longer stay where you put them. Instead, they go viral. They get picked up on YouTube. They’re seen by travelers. They’re found on the Internet (occasionally in a blog with a title like â€Å"the 10 worst marketing translations†). They are everywhere. Moving forward, the â€Å"message† that a corporation presents must be global in nature, or at the least, local and regional messages must be cultivated in such a way as to work on a global scale. From a business perspective, this isn’t a bad thing at all. In fact, get creative with your international message and perhaps you’ll get lucky and it will go viral. * The Power of the â€Å"Same†-Not only can you buy the same thing anywhere, people have grown to expect the same thing everywhere! While we still pride ourselves in finding that unique place or product, the reality is that the world is becoming one giant franchise. The â€Å"bland effect† (the ability to eat at a McDonald’s or Burger King in just about every country in the world) has moved into most major industries, from automotive to online, and shows no signs of slowing. 2.1.4 Market Growth The U.S. Hispanic population is the largest minority segment and is growing at a dramatic rate towards ethnic plurality, which has already occurred in the most populous states and is beginning to occur among the U.S. baby population. Hispanics already account for an important share of consumer expenditures and given their youth, educational advances, and increasing spending capacity, Hispanics are fast becoming preeminent drivers of growth and likely trend setters in the marketplace. Marketers will need to understand the what, where, how and why of their role in tomorrow’s consumption space. In forecasts of future consumption growth, the Hispanic share is significantly greater than that of non-Hispanics. The evidence for the distinctiveness and sustainability of Hispanic culture is convincing and implies a future American culture with a strong Hispanic flavor. 2.2 SWOT Analysis The following SWOT analysis summarizes the key strengths and weaknesses that Snyder’s-Lance faces, as well as the opportunities and threats to be considered. 2.2.1 Strengths -Snyder’s Pretzels are nationally recognized and consumed brands -Snyder’s Pretzels hold the largest share in the U.S. in its category -Snyder’s Pretzels are becoming the healthy snacking option among children and adults 2.2.2 Weaknesses -Snyder’s Pretzels are not sought after in the Hispanic Community -Snyder’s Pretzels have not produced any Hispanic or Regional Flavors -The Flavor Preference that I will be producing is not a global product so it will be hard for Hispanics to adopt this product 2.2.3 Opportunities -Product Flavor is not in any market -Test market areas are pretty complex -Niche Market item 2.2.4 Threats -The Bigger Salty Snack Companies will try to introduce the same product at a lower cost, different packaging (Predatory Pricing could take place) -There is no brand equity in this product -Lack of Immediate Competition for comparison 2.3 Competition The competition is few and far in between. There are a lot of salty snack companies that produce Pretzels, but they are not the main brand. Also, the other Pretzel companies are not DSD companies, meaning they send product straight to store ware houses. Frito Lay is the largest Salty Snack Company in the World. Rold Gold is their pretzel brand, but not their main brand. They do not hold the amount of market share that Snyder’s Brand. Their main brands are Lays, Doritos and Tostitos. The other company is UTZ. UTZ is a pretzel company that distributes products via warehouses. They make and sell pretzels, but they do not have a flavored pretzel line. There are many more company that product pretzels but they do not offer the full variety and are not nationally recognized for this product. 2.4 Product Offering When you grab a handful of pretzels, you’re getting a snack that comes with fiber, iron, zinc and folate. And besides these nutrients, pretzels are low in fat. Hold up, though; this snack can come at the price of too much salt, because some brands of pretzels have nearly a day’s supply of sodium in one serving. Like most foods, the pros and cons vary from one product to the next. Low Fat Pretzels are one of best snacks when it comes to fat content. A 100-gram serving of hard pretzels, or about 16 pretzels depending on their size, has just three grams of total fat and no cholesterol. A significant amount of the fat — 88 percent — consists of healthy unsaturated fats that help lower cholesterol. (See Reference 1) The same portion of potato chips has 36 grams and tortilla chips have 23 grams of fat. Fiber Enjoying a snack of hard pretzels adds to your daily fiber intake. A 100-gram serving has three grams of fiber. That may not sound like much, but it’s eight percent of the recommended daily intake for men and 12 percent for women. Potato and tortilla chips have a little more fiber — four to five grams — but if you choose whole wheat pretzels, the amount goes up to eight grams. Calories Pretzels have fewer calories than potato or tortilla chips; but like many snacks, they’re not exactly low in calories. You’ll get 380 calories from a 100-gram serving of hard pretzels. (See Reference 4) The same serving of potato chips has 542 calories. Tortilla chips range from 489 to 514, depending on flavorings. Minerals Hard pretzels have seven to 10 percent of the daily intake of seven minerals, but they’re especially high in iron and zinc. (See Reference 9) In addition to carrying oxygen through the blood, iron provides short-term storage of oxygen in your muscles so that you have enough to meet the demands of increased activity. (See Reference 2) Zinc has many roles, from metabolism to the production of DNA and new cells. You also need zinc to support the immune system’s ability to fight bacteria. (See Reference 3) A 100-gram serving of hard pretzels gives men 62 percent of their daily intake of iron and 13 percent of zinc. Women get 28 percent of their daily iron and 18 percent of zinc. 2.5 Keys to Success There are many keys to the successful launch and implementation of this brand extension. Below are several critical success factors that we must leverage to be successful. * The product must meet a market’s needs better than the competition and customer alternatives (my product strategy has to be right) * The product must be taken to market through high-volume, competitive routes to market (I need a viable, volume go-to-market strategy and ability to execute in a way that drives sales growth fast) * The product must be rock-solid, high-quality and actually deliver the value promised so customers actually get the benefits they’re seeking (and that we’re selling to them). This is critical and must actually be verified with early customer testing and validation (and the product doesn’t ship until it’s actually ready, regardless of the â€Å"schedule†). * The pre-launch market conditioning must create enough awareness and â€Å"buzz† with both prospective customers and sales channels that this new product is coming to enable the product to gain enough early mindshare and traction that leads to both actual â€Å"proof† and â€Å"social proof† that the product is ready for the market. To grow beyond the initial launch, the product must be proven to meet mainstream customer needs (mainstream customers are notoriously risk-averse, so they want to see other companies like them have already taken the risk and proven the product in their environment before using it). * The go-to-market engine must buy into the product early and allocate resources to it (e.g., sales force for directly sold product, resellers/affiliates for indirect sales must choose to invest) †¦ and sales absolutely must have early success at selling the product. If the product isn’t really ready for prime time – it’s dead (the sales force probably won’t touch it again for a long time, if ever, and bad news travels fast). And get this, because it’s super-critical. If the product doesn’t convert better than what the reseller/affiliate is already selling today, it’s also dead (they won’t waste any more of their precious time on your new thingy, and will go right back to selling what already works for them and makes them the most money today). Sales people are â€Å"coin operated† and their behavior and decision-making responds directly to what makes them the most money the quickest. 3.1 Mission The objective is to introduce the Pretzels Abobodas to the Hispanic Community. There has not been a pretzel introduced to this niche market of consumers. It is my hope that this is will be the number #1 household penetrated pretzel in its category. 3.2 Marketing Objectives Ultimately the marketing objective for this initiative is to penetrate Hispanic consumers with a healthy snacking alternative with their flavor of preference in which they can serve during their family gatherings and make it a part of their daily consumption. The objectives of the marketing plan are strategically centered around 3 criteria: to create a strong consumer awareness towards a completely new flavored pretzel product to establish a wide brand recognition through the capture of market shares in the functional salty snack category, and to become the top market leader in that particular segment within the forecasted sales figures * Increase sales by 5% during the next fiscal year of this item being in the market * Improve product awareness for both the core and line extension brands * Brand Management: This new item should be recognized nationally after its successful launch in the Texas Hispanic Markets 3.4 Target Markets My target customer group obviously is the Hispanic Market. The Snyder’s of Hanover Brand is a nationally recognized brand among American Households. Snyder’s Pretzels dominate market share and the numbers continue to grow. While the numbers do continue to grow, the Hispanic Market has some great potential because we have not been able to penetrate the market enough to move the needle on share. Our brands have just really started to appear in the Houston Hispanic Market in stores such as Fiesta, and Food Town. Although we do have a little bit of presence in these markets, there is not a single item flavor wise that is targeted for this market Geographic’s: The geographic target area that I am choosing is the Houston Hispanic Market Area, San Antonio Area, Corpus Christi, and a few more highly populated Hispanic areas. Demographics: The demographic profile of my target market is going to be Hispanic Family Households with children 18 years and under Psychographics: Hispanics are very brand loyal and they use nationally advertised brands Hispanic families are close knit Familia includes parents, children, and extended family†¦the father is the head of the family and the mother is responsible for the home Individuals have a moral responsibility to take care of family members experiencing health issues, financial problem unemployment and other life issues Behavior: Hispanics constitute one of the fastest-growing racial/ethnic groups in the United States Family Gathers are traditional for birthday, holidays, weekends, etc Hispanics, African Americans and Asians consume more beer than any other race with is a great tie in with pretzels 3.5 Positioning Snyders of Hanover Pretzels is the #1 Pretzel in the category. This new flavor extension, the Pretzel Abobodas, provides a Healthy Snacking Alternative for Parties and family gatherings in the Hispanic Community. This product has price leadership in the market, making it very affordable to consumers, and a product that will last/stretch in any household. There are many varieties and flavors of pretzels across the U.S. market but there have been no flavors produced for the Hispanic Market. The most distinguishing feature for this new product is that it will provide Hispanics with one of their #1 flavor preferences on a pretzel which is the Abobodas seasoning. 3.7 Marketing Mix/Program The competition is few and far in between. There are a lot of salty snack companies that produce Pretzels, but they are not the main brand. Also, the other Pretzel companies are not DSD companies, meaning they send product straight to store ware houses. Frito Lay is the largest Salty Snack Company in the World. Rold Gold is their pretzel brand, but not their main brand. They do not hold the amount of market share that Snyder’s Brand. Their main brands are Lays, Doritos and Tostitos. The other company is UTZ. UTZ is a pretzel company that distributes products via warehouses. They make and sell pretzels, but they do not have a flavored pretzel line. There are many more company that product pretzels but they do not offer the full variety and are not nationally recognized for this product. The #1 thing that gives the Pretzel Abobodas more value than the competition is the fact that there are no other companies offering or producing this product or advertising to this niche market of consumers. Price To determine pricing for this niche product, I will follow a very detailed process which is shown below. 1. Review research and development costs, unit costs for manufacturing and shipping, and advertising costs to determine the overall cost to produce and sell the new product. Determine a bottom line sales price needed to break even in the marketplace from this information. 2. Review market analysis and trend reports, target market profiles, customer surveys, and past performance reports on other company products to determine the value of your product in the marketplace. Unique products, products that satisfy consumer needs, or those that make significant changes to work processes or in the lives of consumer are considered the most valuable. 3. Research your competition in target marketplaces to determine if your product meets, exceeds or falls below available products. Visit competitor websites and stores, and read reviews of competitor products to determine how your product measures up and how it may be received by consumers. 4. Create a price range using all the manufacturing, marketing, consumer and competition information available. Include a bottom line sales price and a ceiling price, which is the most you can sell the new product for and realistically generate consistent profits. Create mid-range pricing based on competition and market saturation. 5. Set a price for your new product. Review pricing options, market interest and how much you want to earn from sales to determine a price. To determine what the Pretzel Abododas is worth, I will focus on the following areas below: 1. Cost: Focus on current and future costs (vs. historical ones). 2. Sensitivity to price: Every buyer’s priorities change, based on unlimited factors. I will have to be ready to adjust quickly. 3. Competitors: I will pay attention to competitors’ pricing strategies, but I will not follow too closely. They may be â€Å"winging it,† and I might get burned. 4. Product Lifecycle: The price(s) of myofferings will often change throughout the product/service lifecycle. To set the product apart from the competition, I will do the following: * Reinforce your brand. If the Pretzel Abododas is on the market and there is no reinforcement, it will become stagnant and lose ground. It is important continue to build this brand by communicating with the market regularly.   Consistent communication will ensure that this new brand extension appeals to consumers on an emotional level, and increase their awareness of it. * Position your brand: Positioning is all about putting your brand in the right place, in the market, so that it gains the attraction of the right audience. I will decide the best position after careful analysis of the market and competitors. * Integrate community interest in your brand: This can be a great tool to help spread word about the brand. On one level, the brand must establish a link with the local community. By including their interests, they will be attracted to the brand, and help to tell others about it. * Create an online Brand Community. Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, will move the brand into the global sphere. The creation of an online brand community, will raise brand awareness, as people tell the story of the brand and propel visibility to a global audience. Whether they exist on the local or online level, community members are committed to the brand, and can prove instrumental in increasing awareness, and moving the brand forward. * Special Promotions – Attract customers by giving away free items. There is no greater pull for consumers than getting something for nothing. It will improve the status of the brand in their eyes, and with the right promotions, I will be able to gain valuable attention for the brand Place This niche item is all about where it is placed. I plan to distribute this new item via the Snyder’s-Lance Inc Independent Operator Direct Store Delivery System. Since this product is a brand extension, a new line for this item will be carried in all warehouses in this specific market. Snyder’s-Lance will take responsibility for distribution in the areas where we have Independent Operators, such as Houston, San Antonio, and Corpus. In the more rural areas, we will outsource to an outside distributor. References Kahn, B.E. and T.A. Louie, â€Å"Effects of Retraction of Price Promotion on Brand Choice Behavior for Variety Seeking and Last-purchase-loyal Consumers,†Journal of Marketing Research, Vol. 27, August, pp. 279-289, 1990. Minor, Micheal, â€Å"Comparing the Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Markets: How Different Are They?† Journal of Services Marketing, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 29-32 1992. U.S Census Bureau, Census 2000. Retrieved December 4, 2012. Webster, Cynthia, â€Å"Attitudes towards Marketing Practices: The Effects of Ethnic Identification,† Journal of Applied Business Research, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 107-116, 1991.

Composing Descriptive Paragraphs and Essays

Composing Descriptive Paragraphs and Essays The purpose of descriptive writing is to make our readers see, feel, and hear what we have seen, felt, and heard. Whether were describing a person, a place, or a thing, our aim is to reveal a subject through vivid, carefully arranged details. Two common forms of description are the character sketch (or profile) and the place description. In describing a character, we look for details that not only show what an individual looks like but also provide clues to his or her personality. Eudora Weltys Sketch of Miss Duling (a precise physical description of a first-grade teacher) and Mark Singers Profile of Mr. Personality (a description of the only member of the Goodnicks of America) are just two of the paragraph-length character sketches linked below. With thoughtfully organized details, we can also suggest the personalityor moodof a place. Below youll find links to several place descriptions, including Wallace Stegners Town Dump and a students essay on her Home of Yesteryear. For ideas on how to compose your own descriptive paragraph or essay, spend some time studying the guidelines, topic suggestions, exercises, and readings offered here. Description: Writing Guidelines and Topic Suggestions How to Write a Descriptive ParagraphDiscovery Strategy: Probing Your TopicPractice in Supporting a Topic Sentence With Descriptive DetailsDraft a Descriptive ParagraphPractice in Revising a Place DescriptionEssay Assignment: Profile40 Topic Suggestions for Descriptive Paragraphs and Essays Description: Sentence Combining Exercises Nervous NormanRolling Along With Mr. BillThe KitchenMy Home of Yesteryear Descriptive Paragraphs: Place Description Model Descriptive ParagraphsEach of these four descriptive paragraphs (three student paragraphs along with a paragraph by Maxine Hong Kingston) responds in its own way to the guidelines in How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph.Model Place DescriptionsAs you read these four paragraphs, notice how place signals help to establish cohesion, guiding the reader clearly from one detail to the next.Descriptive Details in Stegners Town DumpIn these five paragraphs from his memoir Wolf Willow, Stegner employs precise descriptive details to convey the poetry of a town dump.David Sedariss Description of a Nudist Trailer ParkIn this excerpt from his essay Naked, an account of a week-long visit to a nudist colony, Sedaris describes his living quarters and the surrounding neighborhood.Joseph Mitchells Place Description: McSorleys SaloonMitchell describes New York Citys oldest Irish tavern in a series of clearly arranged sentences, many of them short and deceptively simple yet always precise and evoc ative. Lists in William Least Heat-Moons Place DescriptionIn this passage from Blue Highways, William Least Heat-Moon describes a cafe in Darlington, South Carolina. Note his reliance on detailed lists to convey a sense of place.Comparison in Sarah Vowells Place DescriptionSarah Vowell conveys distinct impressions of her father and herself by describingand comparingtheir different work spaces at home.Edgar Allan Poes New York in the 1840sNote Poes attention to details of place and the ways that his descriptions evoke a melancholic mood.Character Sketch by John McPheeJohn McPhee combines vivid descriptions with direct quotations in this sketch of a schoolteacher who works in a public market during summer vacations.Willie Morriss Descriptive NarrativeIn this passage from his memoir North Toward Home, Morris relies on concrete details that both record and interpret a shocking experience. Descriptive Paragraphs: Character Sketches and Profiles Eudora Weltys Sketch of Miss DulingWeltys precise physical description of her first-grade teacher, Miss Duling, also provides insights into the character of this lifelong subscriber to perfection.John Lahrs Profile of David MametThis paragraph has been drawn from the conclusion of Lahrs lengthy profile of David Mamet. Notice how the description of the cabin where the playwright works, the references to the books on his table, and the brief quotations from Mamets sister and from Mamet himself all serve to reveal aspects of character.Mark Singers Profile of Mr. PersonalityMark Singer describes the founder and at the moment the only member of an organization called the Goodnicks of America.Russell Bakers Sketch of Mr. FleagleIn this description of his high school English teacher, journalist Russell Baker relies on repetition to convey an overwhelming impression of dullness.Status Details in Tom Wolfes DescriptionsIn these two paragraphs from the novel A Man in Full, Wolfe conveys a sens e of character through physical descriptionor what he calls status details. Description: Classic Essays In Mammoth Cave, by John BurroughsSome of these pits are simply appalling.The Land of Little Rain, by Mary AustinMen are bewitched by it and tempted to try the impossible.The Watercress Girl, by Henry MayhewShe dont often beat me; but, when she do, she dont play with me.Rural Hours, by Susan Fenimore CooperSuch open hill-sides . . . bear a kind of heaving, billowy character.Two Ways of Seeing a River, by Mark TwainAll the grace, the beauty, the poetry had gone out of the majestic river!Street Haunting: A London Adventure, by Virginia WoolfInto each of these lives one could penetrate a little way.On a Rainy Morning, by Charles S. BrooksThere is so much life on wet and windy days.The Rise of Pancho Villa, by John ReedVilla was an outlaw for twenty-two years.The Story of a Garden, by Mabel Osgood WrightNature tangles things with a motive.The Libido for the Ugly, by H. L. MenckenOut of the melting pot emerges a race which hates beauty.

Relationship Between Knowledge Management And Decision Making The WritePass Journal

Relationship Between Knowledge Management And Decision Making Relationship between knowledge management and decision making Relationship Between Knowledge Management And Decision Making Relationship between knowledge management and decision makingPractical examples where knowledge management guide decision makingWhy knowledge management systems may fail?ReferenceRelated Relationship between knowledge management and decision making In todays complex and turbulent environment, knowledge management has become increasingly important in decision making. Unlike in the past where organizations employed consultants or experts to aid with the decision making process, these actors have today been replaced by knowledge managers and decision making is increasingly being supported by decision support systems with built in knowledge base (Gamble 2001). In this view, this paper examines the relationship between knowledge management and decision making. There is no universally accepted definition of the term Knowledge management. However, in this context, it will be used in reference to the strategies and practices used by an organization to capture, store and distribute knowledge that is either embodied in individuals or embedded in the process and practices of the organization (Holsapple 1995). As noted by Joshi (2001), knowledge management has important implications on decision making in an organization. Effective KM should support the process of decision making and strategic planning. For example, knowledge management plays a major role in the planning phase of a project. Based on the current information, forecasters guide decision makers in making complex decisions in the business world characterized by increased risks and uncertainty. The entire decision making endeavour is made based on the outcome of forecasting, a knowledge intensive activity (Mohammed Jalal 2011). Knowledge management is thus important in tactical decision making. Knowledge management in organizations is supported by information technology. That is, Knowledge Management Systems rely on routines programmed in the logic of computational machinery (Malhotra 2004).   The expertise and experiences of employees are stored in computerized databases. Both the tacit and explicit knowledge are stored in computerized databases and software programs for re-use in future (Malhotra 2004). In fact, most of the knowledge management experts acknowledge that technology contributes around 15% of the solution (Gamble 2001). However, technology in itself is not sufficient. Of great importance are the people with knowledge. People are the main determinant of the success or failure of knowledge management. But still, managing knowledge is no easy task. As suggested by Karlin Taylor (1998), acquiring knowledge is not the real problem that organizations face, rather the main challenge is the lack of skills to manage such knowledge in order to ensure effective decisions. It is a major challenge to capture knowledge such as data, information and experiences from individuals that possess them and to use such ingredients and transform them into knowledge that would enhance decision making (Mohsen et al. 2011) Practical examples where knowledge management guide decision making A perfect case where knowledge management can guide decision making is in the PC market. Given the competitive environment which has resulted in diminishing margins in the PC markets, Dell may need to shift focus to hosting services (Malhotra 2004). To do so more effectively, Dell would first have to harvest knowledge through experimentation, adaptation and innovation (Malhotra 2004). Then it would need to redefine both the business and customer value propositions. Another area where knowledge management has proven to be useful in decision making is the banking sector. Due to increase in competition and the growing integration of financial institutions, most banks are increasingly targeting at improving on customer satisfaction in order to continue to thrive. As such, the process of knowledge creation, storage and distribution has become essential such that banks have assigned specialized personnel to manage these critical processes (Mohsen et al. 2011). Knowledge management in banks is particularly evident in the fields of risk management, performance management, customer relationship management and marketing management (Jayasundara 2008).   Banks have invested heavily in knowledge management systems such as Decision Support Systems, Data Mining and Data warehouses (Jayasundara 2008). Through such systems, banks have been able to improve and attain more efficient results in decision making. According to a survey by Reuters, it was found that 90% of the companies that deployed a KM solution had more efficient results in decision making (Malhotra 2001). The survey also revealed that 81% of the companies that deployed a KM solution experienced an increase in their productivity (Malhotra 2001). A similar study by Lui Young (2007) in the manufacturing sector showed that global manufacturing businesses utilized knowledge management systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Product Life Cycle Management (PLM) and Customer Relations Management to enhance their manufacturing decisions. Given the vital role that knowledge management plays in decision making, it is not surprising to find many organizations transforming knowledge from being an abstract concept to a tangible and manageable one (Oduoza 2010). But, whilst there is a general agreement that knowledge management enhances the decision making process and leads to worthwhile decisions, there are certain instances where such systems can fail. Why knowledge management systems may fail? Where knowledge management information systems are seen an end in themselves, failure is guaranteed. Knowledge and information have different meanings. Knowledge resides in the user and happens only through the processing, analyzing and filtering of data via human brain (Liew 2007). On the other hand, information refers to refined data that can be re-used (Liew 2007). The two are not the same yet many organizations fail to understand the difference and become frustrated when significant investments in technology fail to deliver the expected results (Paprika 2001). In order to harvest employee knowledge and to turn it into corporate knowledge that can be widely shared, strategic thinking and planning must come into play. Without a strategic plan or a guiding strategy for increasing margins, knowledge management information systems are bound to fail. For example, if the technology department is only department mandated with a knowledge management initiative, then such systems are unlikely to deliver the expected outcomes. To ensure the success of knowledge management systems, it is important to foster an environment that allows for knowledge sharing. Yet most organizations are still defined by hierarchical structures that do not support interdepartmental collaboration (Paprika 2001). Creating an organizational culture that supports sharing of knowledge is important to avoid such systems from failing. Also, too much focus on IT-based knowledge management may impair a firms capacity for knowledge creation (Malhotra 2000). Solutions often tend to specify the minutiae of machinery, ignoring the human psychology of how people in the organization acquire, share and create knowledge (Malhotra 2000). Such constrained and restricted perspective of knowledge management can be detrimental on a firms learning and adaptive capabilities (Malhotra 2000). In fact, it becomes more problematic in a dynamic environment that requires multiple interpretations and ongoing evaluation (Malhotra 2000). In order to address this weakness inherent in IT-based knowledge management, it is equally important to focus on the synergy of innovation and human creativity. Nonetheless, the process of decision making is a knowledge intensive activity. Explicit knowledge that is obtained from repositories and the tacit knowledge that is obtained through a one on one interaction between a manager and an employee can be used to support decision making. Reference Gamble, P.R., 2001. Knowledge management: a state of the art guide. Kogan Publishers Holsapple, C.W., 1995. ‘Knowledge management in decision making and decision support’. The international Journal of knowledge Transfer and Utilization, vol.8 (1), pp.5-22 Jayasundara, C.C., 2008. Knowledge Management in Banking Industries: uses and opportunities. Joshi, K.D., 2001. ‘A framework to study knowledge management behaviours during decision making’. Journal of the University Librarians Association of Sri Lanka, Vol. 12, PP.68-79. Karlin, S., and Taylor, H. 1998. An Introduction To Stochastic Modeling. Orlando, Fla.: Harcourt Lehaney, B., 2004. Beyond knowledge management. Idea Group Inc Liew, A., 2007. ‘Understanding data, information, knowledge and their inter-relationships’. Journal of knowledge Management Practice, vol.8 (2) Malhotra, Y., 2004. ‘Why Knowledge Management Systems Fail? Enablers and Constraints of Knowledge Management in Human Enterprises’. In: Michael E.D. Koenig T. Kanti Srikantaiah (Eds.), Knowledge Management Lessons Learned: What Works and What Doesnt, Information Today Inc. American Society for Information Science and Technology Monograph Series, 87-112. Malhotra, Y., 2001. Expert Systems for Knowledge Management: Crossing the Chasm between Information Processing and Sense Making. Expert Systems With Applications, 20,1, 7-16. Malhotra, Y., 2000. ‘From information management to knowledge management: beyond the hi-tech hidebound systems’. In: K. Srikantaiah M.E.D. Koenig (eds), knowledge management for the information professional. Medford, N.J., Information Today Inc., pp.37-61 Mohammed, W. and Jalal, A., 2011. ‘The influence of knowledge management system (KMS) on enhancing decision making process (DMP)’. International Journal of Business and Management, vol.6 (8) Oduoza, C.F., 2010. Decision support system based on effective knowledge management framework to process customer order enquiry, UK. Paprika, Z.Z., 2001. Knowledge management support in decision making. Budapest, Hungary Publishers Ltd.

Burger Kings Diverse Culture Of Employees Commerce Essay

Burger Kings Diverse Culture Of Employees Commerce Essay I have chosen this business as a report. Moreover the main thing to choose this is that I am also working there from last 8 month ago. So that’s why these area very well. It is also provide lots of education skills which are useful in my study. So in this is a good ideal business to do the report writing. I like to do work there. Different types of culture people working in burger king so I learn lots of things in store. Firstly we learn how to communicate with others whoever they are customers or staff. If we b honest or in patience then we will success in future. It provides verity of food to people of their taste. Like in burger king we can get also vegetable burger which is most like Indians. McDonald and others do not provide vegetables burgers. So this why I like this is well. People also get cheaper food in burger king as compare to others. Its start just burger from $2.50. Which is cheaper than others and lots of enjoy this. It is provide play grounds for children whe re child plays and enjoy their meals. INTRODUCTION: Burger King, is known as  BK .It is a industry of fast food   restaurants. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, After Insta-Burger King ran into financial difficulties in 1955, its two Miami-based franchisees,  David Edgerton  and  James McLamore, purchased the company and renamed it Burger King. Over the next half century the company would change hands four times, with its third set of owners, a partnership of  TPG Capital,  Bain Capital, and  Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, taking it public in 2002. Main features of burger king Chicken burgers Beef burgers Chicken salad Kids meals Onion rings Desserts Services: Drive thru Lobby Take away Play ground Dining outside History of burger king The burger found in 1953. After purchase the civil civil liberties to two pieces of tools called â€Å"Insta† technology, the two opened their first stores around a cooking device known as the Insta-Broiler. The I nsta-Broiler oven proved so successful at cooking burgers, they required all of their franchises to carry the device.  Ã‚  The firms’ strategy for turning the chain around incorporated a new advertising agency and new ad campaigns, a revamp menu strategy. This franchise also open their web site .which is also beneficial for the people to update their meals. Communication in burger king In burger king employees does their work as a group and in every shifts there is shift manager in store to look after all the staff. More over for takes order on drive thru there are head set to listen the orders of customer and gives them response. When the company launches any new meal then they provide posters to all stores and from store managers put that on wall or on glass in lobby to see the special offers .they also put new meals poster on drive thru menu. Service I think burger king provides good service than others because on drive thru they have to give meals in 45 second after tak es money. If they does not gives the orders then according to rules they have to give free big burger to customer. Furthermore they provide some specials meals such as just few months ago they provide 5 dollars meal. In that meal they gives 1 beef burger.1 desert.1 fries and1 drink.

The contemporary Legal landscape in the IT industry Essay

The contemporary Legal landscape in the IT industry - Essay Example For example, use of home made applications mobile applications is not clearly defined thus it’s a challenge. The contemporary ethical environment in the IT industry The main normative approaches to ethics – compare and contrast the main approaches that we have looked at virtue, consequentialist and deontological According to the BCS code of conduct, a professional should be conversant with the ethical issues and the legislations governing their profession. They must observe ethical the codes of conduct to be able to remain morally right. This is deontological ethics. Contemporary ethical dilemmas – how are recent developments in IT creating challenges for ethical behaviour? Can IT be used to make people and or organisation behaviour more ethical? If possible give some specific real-world examples taken from the guest speakers or your reading. The growth of IT has posed serious challenges to the ethical values in the society. The development in IT has brought about several lee ways for breaching ethical codes of conduct. Through development of software with unethical contents. For instance, the development of YouTube made it easy to access pornographic videos. YouTube does not as for age or require any authorization before you are allowed to watch a video(Gattiker, 2004). This makes it easy for even people below adulthood to view the contents that are not in compliance with ethical issues. However, IT can also be used to enhance ethics in our society. This is possible through creation of software that requires authentication and authorisation before someone is allowed to access an application. These applications can be embedded in both commercial and open source applications so that whenever someone uses, the ethical codes are taken into account. Technical aspects of security entail the security management. These are the parties that stand for the daily operation of IT

The role of global warming in public health Research Paper

The role of global warming in public health - Research Paper Example The research paper makes an overview of climate change and also makes the suggestions on preventing global warming effects. Global warming is caused by increase in greenhouse gases that are emitted into the air, and it can cause extreme weather events such as drought, flooding, and rise in sea level among others. Another extreme weather event caused by global warming is heat-waves. Notably, global warming can be caused by natural or human activities, for instance, natural global warming happens as a result of factors such as volcanic eruption. On the other hand, human induced global warming is due to activities such as agricultural practices, burning of fossil, industrial processes, and deforestation among others. Human beings highly depend on fossil fuels as a source of energy and this has increased the atmospheric content of greenhouse gases. These gases contain excess heat within the atmosphere and the impacts of climatic change are disastrous. Ecological disruptions and any other form of disruptions can adversely affect public health. Due to changes in climate increases, existing health threats and creates new health threats. Health effects of global warming depend on factors such as age, economic resources and location. Generally, the health effects of global warming and climate changes include respiratory and cardiovascular disease, threats to mental health, injuries and premature deaths associated with extreme weather events, increased infectious diseases, and changes in the prevalence and distribution of food.

Greendex Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Greendex - Essay Example ers through a common measurement scale of variables to every raster and weighting all separately according to their importance and placing them together to come up with an integrated analysis (Symington and Dunford 44). It has been noted that the Greendex has employed all the comfort, dexterity, fit, and toughness expected from the N-DEX disposal glove with integration of the eco best technology that is noted to accelerate biodegradation especially in landfills thereby boosting environmental performance. The Greendex system empowers consumers across the world to employ sustainable consumption. The system achieves this through its feedback system that provides consumers and their consumption patterns of compatriots. Moreover, the Greendex has a GlobeScan system that works directly in supporting the mission of the National Geographic that inspires people to take care of their plant by changing not only their leadership system but also the nature of their human behaviors. Therefore, unlike the old conceptual where human behavior was never monitored in relation to the environment conservation, the new conceptual framework or the Greendex has initiated mechanism for environmental conservation through changing human behavior as well as assessing progress on such human behavior change and the progress of sustainable consumption across major world economies. Notably, before this new model, consumer had never developed behaviors that were environmental friendly and their consumption habits were never stainable, but rather led to enormous production of carbon dioxide into the environment. Carbon dioxide among other greenhouse gases has been known to be injurious to the environment especially on their effect of ozone layer depletion. It should be noted that the depletion of the ozone layer has since led to numerous changes to the world climate especially leading to global warming that have since has diverse and devastating effects to the environment (Symington and Dunford

Assess The Value Of An Effective Human Resource Management Strategy To Essay

Assess The Value Of An Effective Human Resource Management Strategy To The Achievement Of Organisational Goals And Objectives - Essay Example Effective human resources strategies can make or break organisations. This essay shall assess the value of an effective human resource management strategy to the achievement of organisational goals and objectives. This essay is being carried out in order to help provide this student a better understanding of HR strategies in successful corporations and to provide possible cues for corporations in the improvement of their corporate performance using better HR strategies. Body Various companies and researchers believe that human resource management processes can help organisations secure and achieve various strategic options. However, only a few would agree on how the HR actually impacts on performance (HR Spectrum, 2005). HR’s impact includes basic aspects like identification or recruitment of top performers; training these top employees to work effectively; and monitoring employee progress and supporting employees in the accomplishment of company goals (HR Spectrum, 2005). Based on company’s economic processes and concepts, competitive goals and strategies, HR management usually controls various functions. To support the organisation’s competitive advantage, HR managers can support various tools and strategies in order to secure their goals. Some approaches often emphasize the importance of best practice. Another HR approach highlights best fit, and aligning such fit within the organisation and its general environment (HR Spectrum, 2 005). ... Until the employees understand how these HR strategies work and how they impact on their company’s success, these strategies would not likely have any impact or meaning. In order to understand the association between corporate strategy and employee output, it is important to establish and HR system which supports shared beliefs and attitudes among employees (HR Spectrum, 2005). HR practices can secure higher values for the organisation and for its human capital pool by focusing the employees’ actions towards the fulfilment of corporate goals. This can further be secured if employees are willing to stick with the organisation (Baird and Meshaulam, 1988). HR managers can secure flexibility and can align the corporate values by securing traditional functions and the application of HR strategies using cost-effective mechanisms. These managers can also consider beyond the traditions of their organisation and evaluate the current trends in contemporary business management, as well as the speed of change among organisations and the implications of these changes for employees and other stakeholders (Baird and Meshaulam, 1988). Managing companies strategically highlights the internal organisation and the management of issues. This would involve the acknowledgement of the corporate climate and culture as well as the alignment of employee values with corporate and social goals. For instance, in improving labour outputs and improving company flexibility, human resources can also provide a wide range of strategic choices, including higher shareholder return and competitive advantage (HR Spectrum, 2005). Due to the improved dynamics of the marketplace, HR goals must also be flexible. Flexibility includes processes which refer to improved accommodation for

Economics of electronics commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Economics of electronics commerce - Essay Example Traditional cost accounting is structure-oriented whereas ABC is process-oriented (Emblemsvag, 2006). 2a. Operating leverage is the highest in e-commerce companies. E-commerce companies have very low variable costs but high initial up-front development cost. For example, Amazon.com initially had a fixed up-front development cost of over $60 million but no per transaction cost (Economics of Electronics Commerce, n.d.). Operating leverage is the lowest in merchandizing companies. Such companies mainly engage in the buying and selling of goods. Their fixed costs include mainly storage and selling costs. A higher proportion of their costs is variable costs such as packaging of goods and transportation costs. In between, service companies have a higher proportion of fixed costs and hence higher operating leverage than manufacturing companies. Service companies, such as hair salons, incur a fixed amount of rent, staff salary, and facility and equipment cost regardless of whether there are any customers. Variable costs, such as shampoo, are a very low proportion. Manufacturing companies ha ve a lower operating leverage than service companies and e-commerce companies but higher operating leverage than merchandizing companies. Their fixed costs include land, equipment, machinery, plants, and facilities.