Business Environment and Society Buyer Behaviour Essay

Business Environment and Society Buyer Behaviour - Essay Example The possessions that we have to tell much about us and the psychology behind consumer behavior hence should be central to understanding consumer behavior. This is mostly because people use possessions to define themselves or create their identities (extended self) especially in contemporary society based on materialism. As such, we are what we have and possessions are an extension of our selves. This has implication for marketers as they should strive to understand the value attached to possessions by consumers in order to develop effective marketing strategies. There are many theories put forward to explain customer behavior. Economic theory views the customer as a rational and self-interested decision maker hence consumes to maximize utility. The theory thus concentrates on the buying action. The psychodynamic approach is attributed to Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and posits that the instinctive forces of Id, Ego, and Superego are drivers of behavior. The behaviorist theory views beha vior as being driven by external forces or events. The cognitive theory attributes behavior to information processing in one’s mind while humanistic theory stresses the role of emotions in consumer behavior. This essay will utilize the theories of consumer behavior to discuss the concept of extended self and its effects on consumer purchasing behavior. The idea of extended self is based on the fact that we are what we have; that is, we define ourselves based on the things that we possess. Belk (1988, 139) argues that â€Å"our possessions are a major contributor to and reflection of our identities.† He came up with this conclusion after collecting a variety of evidence and regarded it as the ‘extended self.’ The major categories of extended self according to Belk are a body, internal processes, ideas, experiences and those persons, places and things to which one feels attached.  

Implementation of RfId Technology in Libraries Research Paper

Implementation of RfId Technology in Libraries - Research Paper Example In addition, the paper will look at this by identifying the benefits of this form of technology to the libraries, then go to an extent of comparing these to the benefits, and make a decision. e. Motivation The development of technology and their applications to help make work easier in modern organization has motivated this research. Libraries have significantly remained in the rear in terms of equipment used in transmitting their services to the public and for effectiveness and usefulness in the classification of lent and borrowed books; the use of this knowledge is sought. The essay will begin by a foreword after which the synopsis of the knowledge is sought and after this, we will see the benefits of this technology to the libraries and couple with this is the identification of the obstacles faced when implementing this. A conclusion in form of decision or summary will ultimately follow. Overview of RFID technology Technological advancement is something good when it comes to the i mprovement required in performance and reduction of the costs. The development of this form of technology started all the way in 1945 when the British developed a simple form of the technology to help them in the identification of the aircrafts for the enemies and theirs. Between the 1960’s, and 70’s, the system was further developed for the security and safety of nuclear material and here the equipment and the personnel got tagged (Ngai et al, 2010). In 1977 this new knowledge was made for use by the civic sector, this was suggested by a group of conglomerates, and it is at this time and by the companies that several applications of this technology were explored. Partly, the motivation behind the development of the technology was the failure by the bar code in identification. In... The essay begins by a foreword after which the synopsis of the knowledge is sought and after this, we will see the benefits of this technology to the libraries and couple with this is the identification of the obstacles faced when implementing this. A conclusion in form of decision or summary will ultimately follow. Tis article makes a a conclusion that at the click of a mouse, RFID systems have enabled book tracking, customer compliance and most importantly, the safety of library workers. With all the benefits RFID technology provides, it is no wonder most libraries in the world today are choosing to embed RFID tags in their books as well as developing their own RFID safety systems. Like many technologies today, once libraries adopt the use of RFID systems, it is often hard for them to go back to initial systems because of the current efficiency they experience. The impact of information technology advancement is currently evident in every sector and field across the world. RFID technology is becoming more pervasive in the education sector and it is widely being used in libraries and has become a boon to the field of library, especially in relation to securing and library resources, archives and materials. There is need for the development of RFID technologies and infrastructure that are less c ostly in order to enhance their use in libraries. It is evident that RFID use in libraries poses serious privacy and security implications hence their need for the development of advance security protocols and procedures.

Singapore and Its Legal System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Singapore and Its Legal System - Essay Example Some of their beliefs have influenced the way the country handles issues to do with discipline and the respect for nature, and has differentiated Singapore’s laws and rules from those of other countries like Australia. People say that Singapore has fine cities because of their fines, but it is really more of common sense and good etiquette. Tan (2007), highlights that â€Å"the most powerful judicial institutions in Singapore is made up of Supreme and subordinate courts†. The president does appointment of judges in Singapore, and the prime minister recommends other judges after consultations with the chief justice. Specialist judges were appointed to the bench in the year 2006, drawn from legal practitioners and academia with an aim of supplementing expertise to the subordinate courts (Tan & Chan, 2007). However, since 1992, capital offences trials have been heard and addressed by a single judge after amendment of the constitution. Capital punishment is still legally in force in Singapore, and offenders are executed according to the laws of the land. The United Nations terms the executions in Singapore to have the highest rates in the world, which are executed by hanging at down on Friday. The practice of capital punishment in Singapore was borrowed from Britain since Singapore was a British colony, and this is different from what other countries in Europe, America and Australia do(Tan & Chan, 2007). The legal system in Singapore includes the common law and higher courts decisions are binding to other less status courts. The judiciary system is made up of â€Å"the court of appeal, the high court, the constitutional tribunal, the subordinate courts, the district and magistrates’ courts, the small claims tribunals and the family courts† (Tan & Chan, 2007). â€Å"The court of appeal is the highest court,† and is mandated to hear civil and criminal appeals, which come from the high court and other subordinate courts (SamSim, 2007 ). The high court in Singapore comprises of judges who have security of tenure and contracted judicial commissioners. The high court in Singapore has powers to hear civil and criminal cases and their appeals. In addition, the high court has specialist roles of specializing in arbitration cases. The constitutional tribunal was founded in the Supreme Court with jurisdiction of hearing cases and issues that the president refers on the effect of provisions of the constitution (SamSim, 2007). All other courts and small claims tribunals in the country make up the subordinate courts. In addition, there are criminal and commercial civil courts that were established under the subordinate courts and they deal with business transactions and complex cases (SamSim, 2007). The district and magistrates’ courts both have equal powers over jurisdictions such as claims on debts, damages, and monies recovery actions. Their difference is on the monetary limits jurisdiction of each, and the power s on criminal sentences. The small claims tribunals are courts that have jurisdiction on small claims cases with $ 20,000 limits, and they offer faster and cheaper administration of justice (Tan & Chan, 2007). Finally, there are family courts which have jurisdiction on divorce, maintenance child and property custody and adoption cases. There are various laws and rules observed in Singapore in order to avoid legal actions and penalties. However, some of these laws and rules are

Procurement Management Plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Procurement Management Plan - Research Paper Example No. Item Name Quantity Budgeted Amount ($) Expected Cost ($) Needed by 1. Shrubs 1000 11000 10000 +/- 1000 01-02-2012 2. Bricks 10000 2000 2000 +/- 200 01-02-2012 3. Ties 500 7000 7500 +/- 500 01-01-2012 Issues: There can be misjudgment here on the part of the management regarding the required products for the project. In order to avoid this issue, the reason for the procurement of these products should be stated. It should be very clear that these products are necessary for the successful completion of the project. Moreover, lead experts will verify the quantity demanded of each item. The expected cost of the required products can exceed the budgeted amount. Such issues should be dealt with before hand by increasing market knowledge and discussing with experts that can suggest alternative solutions to the problem. Procurement Team Hierarchy Following is the procurement management team that has the responsibility and authority of procuring the required products/services. Name Role Mr . X Project Manager Mr. Y Lead Expert on the required items Mrs. Z Procuring officer Issues: Procurement team members should be chosen carefully as they are entitled to both authority and responsibility. They may lack market knowledge and negotiation skill, which is why it is necessary to train them accordingly. The procurement team should be a mix of various specialized skills so that they can cater to the needs of the fulfillment of the project. Contract Type After sending out all the solicitations, the first step is to analyze all the vendor proposals to select the ideal vendors that satisfy the criteria laid by the project team. There are many types of contracts for instance fixed price, time and material and cost reimbursable. Therefore, the contract type will be chosen after careful examination of the vendor proposals. Issues: Here the issue of inappropriate contract type can arise. The contract type should be chosen on the basis of information such as quality, expected delive ry, cost and past experience. This should be approved by contract board members. Vendor Selection After approval from board members, the most suitable vendor is selected based on a thorough analysis of measurable evaluation criteria. Issues: From this point onwards many issues can arise. The vendor should be contacted on timely basis so as to minimize the risk of delayed delivery. The agreement with the vendor should clearly state the specifications of the required product so that there is no claim of insufficient information by the seller. All the negotiations should be recorded as a proof of settlement. Moreover, the terms and conditions of the contract should be reasonable and just. The team will need to minimize the risk of failure of fulfillment of contract. From the time of agreement, the procurement team should keep in touch with the seller to demand status updates of the goods in transit. This will help in ensuring timely delivery and high quality of the products. Contract C losure This part collectively acknowledged the product verification and administrative closure. This closure is subject to the terms and conditions of the contract. Issues: If all the precautionary steps have been taken than the risks associated with this part can be minimized or eliminated. However, the possibility of risks does exist. So upon delivery the team will examine and verify the product and take all the necessary steps required to fulfill the contract. The

ISOM 201 Excel assignment Speech or Presentation

ISOM 201 Excel assignment - Speech or Presentation Example The means are however different among the retailers and means that the standard deviation is not a god measure for variability. The universal measure, coefficient of variation, which does not depend on units, is therefore suitable (109). Based on the coefficient of variation, the demand is more volatile for retailer D and least volatile for retailer B. Retailer A experiences the second highest level of volatility and retailer C follows. From the results, and using either the standard deviation or coefficient of variation because of equivalent means, combining retailer B and retailer D, reduces the variability from 69.9 percent to 64.75 percent. The other combinations increase variability of D. Postponement tactic allows Benetton to meet uncertain demand of each color by reducing the level of uncertainty. By waiting until demand arises in a season, the company operates under certainty. Production is also done on demand and therefore to meet customers’ needs at a low inventory level. With high level of uncertainty, the postponement strategy reduces volatility to establish accuracy in production volumes. This ensures reliable and valid data and the eliminated error, due to variation, in the production volumes, ensures accurate

Managing Team Conflicts Essay Example for Free

Managing Team Conflicts Essay Why do you think that Carly didn’t come to you sooner to discuss the project delays? Carly didn’t come sooner to discuss the problem delays with the supervisor because of the affective conflict that arises between her and Morris (Team Conflict: How to Manage it, n.p.). Truly, it is quite undesirable to present â€Å"human conflict† as a reason in the delay of a certain project. It is obvious that Carly was threatened by the wits that Morris have. Since Morris obtained a higher level degree than Carly, the manager seems to be insecure about her status. She sees Morris as a competitor in her position and not as a member of the team. 2. Why do you think Carly hasn’t had a conversation with Morris, or vice versa, about their differences? How do you think each of them would respond to this type of conversation? Explain. Both person (Carly and Morris) did not initiated to have a conversation regarding their differences because both parties are afraid that upon the conduct of their conversation, they might not be able to work on and come out with the proper solution to address the problem. On the conduct of the conversation, they may reach a point that both of them would be in denial regarding the delay of the project. Both people possess different personality and dealing with their differences might be a critical approach to be done. Carly, being insecure with the wits that Morris have, might put all the blame on the latter mentioned person. On the other hand, if Carly would over impose her power in the conversation, the immediate reaction of Morris would be to defend his self and try to make Carly realize that she also has a fault regarding the problem. What would happen in this conversation is that, both parties would tend to throw off their own defence regarding themselves thus, rather than solving the problem of conflict, the outcome could be to worsen the situation. What is the biggest problem with the way these team members interact? What could they do to remedy the problem? Explain. The biggest problem with these team members is that they do not know on how to deal with their own differences. Differences in terms of personality as stated above is just but common in a team. Such differences could be positively or negatively affect the team. In the case given, Carly and Morris chooses to embrace the negative side thus, bringing the project to a delay. Communication is the element that is missing in the case presented. Communicating in a constructive manner would give each person a chance to express his thoughts and ideas clearly and directly. Coupled with his expression of thoughts, respect (for each other and for the work of the team) should also be reflected (Ten Qualities of an Effective Team Player, 2005, n.p.). The scenario being pictured out in the case is that Morris seems to be tongue tied to express his thoughts while Carly is too much dominating in expressing her thoughts, thus the communication process is not working well. Another element that is lacking in the case is the quality of active listening. In order for a team to function effectively and meet its goals, every member should be a good listener. Every member should consider and listen to the ideas of other team members and should avoid biased reaction regarding the proposed ideas. Arguing or debating every idea presented would not do any help (Ten Qualities of an Effective Team Player, 2005, n.p.). Members should also be prepared and willing to hear and accept criticisms. It would be better if one would listen first and then react to have an effective conversation and get things settled. Firmness of thought is important as a team player, but one should make her mind open to what other members has to offer. Do you think Carly should continue to serve as Project Manager? Explain. Yes, Carly should continue to serve as Project Manager but she should first change her attitude in handling the job. She should note that she is part of the team. Although she has a higher position compared to the other members, it is not right to over used this power because of being threatened by others wits and guts. As a project manager she must be confident in her own capability and sees the ability of other members of the team as an asset and not as a threat. She should reassess her self and avoid being a problem-blamer. She should not look for others to fault but instead, she should look at the problems that arise as a common thing that occurs in a team. Being regarded as the project manager, she should address problems (not create problems) and bring this out for discussion with other members of the team (Ten Qualities of an Effective Team player, 2005, n.p.). Upon doing such, she would be most likely to find the right solutions for the problem. Though Carly obviously has a fault on the delay of the project, she should continue to work on as the project manager because she was given that job and trusting her that job means that she is knowledgeable enough and rightly fitted for it. 5. How would you begin to address this situation? Come up with a plan to remedy this problem and outline a plan for getting the project back on track for the January 1 release. The first action had been done, that is to talk with the persons involve in the conflict as well as with other team members. The next step would be to review to the team regarding their purpose and goal. I would be emphasizing on their role as a team in achieving the targeted goal and meet the targeted deadline. I would preferably design a team building activity that would reunite them and develop their working ability as a team. I would consistently remind them that there is no â€Å"I† in a team and that presence of conflicts is inevitable. I would also relay to them the essence of conflict management. Rules in order to lessen conflict would be implemented incorporating processes or behaviours that the group will be allowed or prohibited (Team Conflict: How to Manage it, n.p.). The following will serve as a guide in getting the project back on track for the January 1 release: Conduct Team building activity Relaying the concept of conflict and conflict management. Assess the characteristics of members in position. Assess the overall coordination of the team. Project Plan Guide Review the goal and extent of the project. Identify weaknesses and strengths in the conduct of the project. Retain strengths and address the weaknesses. Strategic Planning for the Completion of the Project Address conflict in the workplace. Set timeframe and task to be completed within a week and make sure that all materials to be used would be provided (How to Organize Successful Project Teams, n.p.). Constantly check and collaborate with the team regarding the progress of the project Acknowledge the team’s effort upon the completion of the assigned task. References AllBusiness.com, Inc. (2005, August 12). Ten Qualities of an Effective Team Player. Retrieved May 16, 2008, from http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/employee-development-team-building/8516-3.html How to Organize Successful Project Teams. Retrieved May 16, 2008, from http://www.ehow.com/how_2156392_organize-successful-project-teams.html Team Conflict: How to Manage it. Retrieved May 16, 2008, from http://www.chumans.com/skills3.htm.

Learning process in behaviour Essay Example for Free

Learning process in behaviour Essay Learning is a permanent change in behaviour caused by experience. The learner does not need to have the experience directly; we can also learn by observing others . It is an ongoing process. Our knowledge of the world is continually being revised as we are exposed to new stimuli and receiving ongoing feedback that allows us to modify our behaviour when we find ourselves in a similar position again Psychologists who have studied learning have developed advanced therories on the process of learning. Here we will discuss the two major approaches to learning; instrumental and classical conditioning. Classical Conditioning It occurs when a stimulus that elicits a response is paired with another stimulus that initially does not elicit a response on its own. A Russian physiologist , Pavlov introduced classically conditioned learning by pairing a neutral stimulus ( a bell ) with a stimulus known to cause a salivation to dogs ( he squirted dry meat powder). The powder was an unconditioned stimulus because it was capable of causing the response. Over time, the dog has learned to associate the bell with its meat powder and begin to salivate at the sound of the bell only. The drooling of these canine consumers because of a sound now has a linked to feeding time, was a conditioned response ( CR ). This basic of classical conditioning applies to responses controlled by the autonomic and nervous systems. When these cues are consistently paired with a conditioned stimuli such as brand names, we as consumers may feel hungry, thirsty or aroused when later exposed to brand cues. Conditioning effects are more likely to occur after the (CS) conditioned and  unconditioned ( UCS ) stimuli have been paired a number of times. Repeated exposures increases the strength of stimulus-response associations and prevent the decay of these associations in memory. Many marketing strategies focus on the establishment of associations between stimuli and responses. Behavioural learning principal applies to many consumer phenomena, ranging from the creation of a distinctive brand image to the perceived linkage between a product and an underlying need. The transfer of meaning from an unconditioned stiulus to a conditioned stimulus explains why made-up brands like Marlboro, Coca-Cola or IBM can exert such powerful effects on consumers. Operant conditioning Over the years behaviourist have carried out operant principals out of the narrow world of the skinner box and into the wider room of society. The use of the operant techniques to help people change unwanted, dangerous, or self-defeating habits in real world settings is called behaviour modification ( applied behaviour analysis ) Behaviour modification has had enormous success, behaviorist have taught parents to toilet train their children in only a few sessions etc. as you can see from everyday world behaviour modificaton is not a science but an art. Operant Conditioning : process of applying the law of effect to control behaviour by manipulating its consequences. Law of effect: behaviour followed by pleasant consequences is likely to be repeated; behaviour followed by unpleasant consequences is not 4 basic reinforcement strategies is use in operant conditioning; positive reinforcement -negative reinforcement -punishment -extinction Positive reinforcement : the process by which people learn to perform acts leading to such desirable outcomes. Whatever behaviour led to the positive outcome is likely to occur again, thereby strengthening that behaviour by making a pleasant consequences contingent onto its occurrence. Negative reinforcement: Negative reinforcement is the process by which people learn to perform acts that lead to removal of undesired events or unpleasant consequence contingent onto its occurrence. Punishment: administrating of negative consequences or withdrawal of positive consequences that tend to reduce the likelihood of repeating the behaviour in similar settings Extinction: ceasation of previously established reinforcer that is maintaining a behaviour by removal of a pleasant consequence of its occurrence. Positive reinforcement can take many forms. One of the strongest is praise and recognition for the good work. It is good rewards management. It shifts the emphasis and energy of the manger towards a larger number of employees, rather than focus all the attention and time on poorer employees. If done correctly it can make all but the worst employees feel that the organization recognizes and appreciates their effort and contributions. If the desired behaviour is specific in nature and is difficult to achieve , a pattern if positive reinforcement called shaping can be used. Shaping is the creation of a new behaviour by the positive reinforcement of successive approximations leading to the desired behaviour. Negative reinforcement governs a good deal of our behaviour. Some people do  think that it is a reasonable way to manage people at work that is, employees who engage in undesirable behaviour should expect something to happen to them. But there are some difficulties with this approach. First it creates a tens environment ( difficult to work everyday where the main motivation is to prevent unpleasant outcomes ) secondly, relationships often deteriorates when superiors represent a constant threat to be avoided. There can be adverse side effects in using punishment. An action intended to punish may instead be reinforcing because it brings attention -the recepient of punishment often responds with anxiety ,fear or rage -the effectiveness of punishment is often temporay, depending heavily on the presense of the punishing person or circumstances -most misbehaviours is hard to punish immediately thus resutingin the reinforcement of the undesired behaviour -punishment conveys little info Extinction is important and quite commonly used. This strategy decreases the frequency of or weakens the behaviour . The behaviour is not unlearned; it simply is not exhibited. Since the behaviour is no longer reinforced, it will reappear when it is reinforced again. Whereas positive reinforcement seeks to establish and maintain desirable work behaviour, extinction on the other hand is intended to weaken and eliminate the undesirable behaviour Law of contingent reinforcement states for reward to have the maximum reinforcing value ; it must be delivered only if the desired behaviour is exhibited . Secondly, the law of immediate reinforcement states , the more immediate the delivery of a reward after the occurence of a desirable behaviour, the greater the reinforcing value of the reward. Timing of postiove reinforcement; a) the continuous reiforcemnt schedule administers a reqrd each tie a desired behaviour occurs b) b) an intermittent or patila reinforcement schedule rewars a behaviour only periodically. 4 varieties of partial reinforcement schedule a) Fixed interval schedules b)Variable interval schedules c)Fixed ratio schedules c) Variable ratio schedules In general , a mange can expect that the continuous reinforcement will draw a desired behaviour more quickly than will intermittent reinforcement Steps in positive reinforcement program; @identify specific behaviour that are to be changed; must be accurate and reliably observed and then recorded. Behaviour should be measurable and observable. @ determine the links between the target behaviour, its consequences and stimulus condition leading to the beaviour) @develop and set specific behaviour goals for each person and target behaviours @recording process toward the goal @apply appropriate consequences; rewards, punsihmnets,extinction