Services Sector Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Services Sector Marketing - Essay Example But a tangible product's quality can be evaluated at the time of purchase and it can be rejected, if the customer feels dissatisfaction about the product. It also creates problems when customers evaluate a product in terms of it price (Reif 1997). However, consumers can use other attributes of the service provider or the place of his business to evaluate the quality of service. Services are perishable in the sense that they have to be consumed the moment they are delivered by the service provider. If they are not consumed on site or immediately, they will be lost and that cannot be recoverable. They cannot also be stored and as such they cannot add time and place utility to consumers. The service offered at different time point need not have same quality. Consistency and uniformity in service cannot be expected even from the same service points. Naturally, service does not match with what was planned and promised. This causes concern for consumers and they often raise grievances in this respect. Utmost care and attention through personnel training and service maintenance alone can mitigate this issue. The major concern of marketing management is the development of tools for marketing goods and services. The marketing management means and includes all efforts that a marketer/manufacturer takes to make sure that goods and services are smoothly moving from production point to consumption point. In these efforts, marketing team put emphasis on certain elements, which they consider as indispensible for marketing success and they are collectively termed as marketing mix. Traditionally, the marketing mix consists of four components, namely: Product, Price, Place of Distribution and Promotional Activities, commonly referred to as 4 P's of marketing. These components of the marketing mix constitute the core of a company's marketing system. The 4Ps are strongly interconnected. However, with the advancement of modern marketing management theories, some more elements have been added to marketing mix. A brief description of all these elements comes in the coming paragraphs: Product: - is concerned with developing the right products and/or services, which should satisfy some customers' needs. Place: - is concerned with getting the right service to the target market. A service is not of much good to a customer if it is not available when and where it is required. Promotion: - is concerned with the creation of awareness to the target market about the right service. Price: - is very vital since it represents the only element of the marketing mix that creates revenue. Thus, through careful coordination of the 4Ps, management can draw the most benefit from any marketing environment. People: - Everybody involved in the marketing efforts irrespective of designation or status in the organisation. Physical evidence: - all the physical appearances and tangible thing that support the marketing process. Processes: - all the series of

Toyota Material Handling Australia Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Toyota Material Handling Australia - Case Study Example Objective assessment techniques significantly improve a company's ability to make correct decisions and manage the risks involved. A case study on Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) is the organisation in focus that implemented the mentioned best practice in recruitment, development and promotion. The company has benefited much from objective assessment approach. It has reduced recruitment time, reduced selection cost, cut the hire cycle time, and recruited higher quality staff. The level of employee satisfaction has improved and the cultural differences has been resolved; the credit goes to the systematic and structured integration strategy that the company has planned and effectively implemented. Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) is a major supplier of the widest range of forklifts and electric warehouse products in the region. The Toyota brand has gained market leadership since 1987. In 2005, TMHA was formed from the integration of BT Industries which was acquired in 2000. Today, the Australian operations represent approximately $300 million in turnover with over 690 staff across the country. The integration of BT Industries became a great challenge for the company. The merging of the sales team of both Toyota and BT developed into an obstacle for the organisation due to the difference in products and cultures of the two companies. BT industries sold battery-electric warehouse equipments while Toyota was in the business of engine powered trucks. The sales methodologies of both companies were different. BT was a new player to the market in Australia while Toyota has been a key player for over 40 years. The sales culture of Toyota has been tried and tested. It has withstood obstacles in order to consistently achieve market leadership. It is the core competence of Toyota which the management aimed at integrating in the new organisation. In order to address the issue on culture clash and improve the performance of the newly merged sales teams, TMHA employed the services of an external training and development provider, strategically branded as Objective Assessment Pty Ltd. The service provider performed diagnostic analysis on the capability and growth potential of the sales management. They then assisted in the development of the stability of the sale teams. TMHA together with Objective Assessment implemented sales recruitment and assessment strategies. As a result of the new sales recruitment and assessment process, TMHA has discovered great assets from within the company and come across new yet stronger sales recruits and talents. Consequently, the new process benefited the company through saving time in selection and providing stability in their sale teams. Furthermore, TMHA has overcome their cultural dilemmas and improved the team's performance. Discussion The fundamental role of strategic human resource management is about matching human resources to the strategic and operational needs of the organisation and ensuring the full utilisation of these resources (Armstrong, 2006, p. 359). It is concerned with obtaining and keeping the number and quality of staff required as well as selecting and promoting people who fit the culture and the strategic requirements of the organisation. (Gunnigle & Moore, 1994, p. 65) Human resource strategy has come to play a vital role in enhancing an organisation's competitive advantage. Companies realise the importance of

System Software, Development and Application Essay Example for Free

System Software, Development and Application Essay In the aspect of computer technology, several elements and factors must be critically considered because of their impact and relevance on the computing capacity, efficiency and effectivity in performing the tasks relevant to the public user. The basics among these important computer specifications are the processing capacity, memory storage and computing speed in terms of handling the relevant tasks, softwares, and programs needed by its users. Determining these factors requires software and hardware knowledge to determine their most intricate and critical specification as these factors are relevant to the processing ability of the computer unit. In analyzing the performance value of a specific computer, its ability to process important softwares such as for encoding purposes, internet surfing, image and file viewer and other must be considered. In addition to these, the personal preferences and usage intention of the user must also be considered in determining which specific specification or manufacturer’s brand is effective for such need. Considering the present brands of computer units, there are actually several financial options to choose from in the acquisition of a computer unit that is suitable for the user’s needs. In this paper, actual computer units and brands will be consider and analyze to determine their effectiveness under the disparity of the most and least expensive in the market. In the category of the most expensive, the latest brand of Alienware computer brands namely the Aurora ALX reign top in the list. The specifications of this brand loudly state the reason for this nature as the unit incorporates in its system the latest and highly advanced technology in the present information technology world. On the analysis of its hard disk capacity (storage) as the comparison medium, this unit to hold 128GB storage capacity, which can be further upgraded because of its 4 drives capacity slot. This extends the memory storage capability of this unit to 512GB of storage space. On the other hand, the least expensive brand comes from the most economical manufacturing brand namely the Dell Optiplex GX270, which is less than the quarter of the price of its price range counterpart. This unit offers what is considered storage capacity of 40 GB storage space. Indeed, based on the comparison of these two actual computer brands, price of the unit is commensurable to the capacity it has including the storage space it offers for their users. Storage space is indeed important in the computer unit, their efficiency, performance vale, and effectiveness in terms of their capable tasks and responsibility. However, considering the basic needs of the encoding, internet surfing, file and picture viewing, large storage space is not much of a necessity for these particular tasks. On further analysis and brand comparison, this paper will consider several actual softwares that are needed for certain computing tasks such as Microsoft Office Home 2007 for encoding needs, Adobe Photoshop CS Edition for file and photo viewing, and Netscape Navigator for internet surfing purposes. For the Microsoft Office Home 2007, the recommended storage capacity to use this software is 1.5GB. For the Adobe Photoshop CS Edition, it is necessary to have at least 280MB of available hard disk space. Finally, the Netscape Navigator requires 100 MB of free storage space for its effective function. Thus, consider this top and among the most required computer application softwares, the established least expensive computer unit in the previous comparison appears to be sufficient, with its basic storage capacity, to handle the common tasks of encoding, surfing, and file viewing for its users. Because of this, even the least expensive computer brand in the present is still within the recommended units particularly for users who only need to perform basic computer tasks to aid their actual tasks and responsibilities. In general, each computer units has their own system specifications determining whether they are among the fastest or more efficient computer model or just within the basic range. This system specification determines much the specific economic value of price of the said computer model, as they tend to be commensurable to the performance value of the unit. However, considering the price efficiency and performance capacity of those considered to be among the cheapest brand, these computer units namely the Dell Optiplex GX270 and the other models falling in its category are still effective enough to handle the basic computer tasks in the present society. As such, price and high-end specification are not the main standards in weighing the relevance factor of each computer brands but instead, their performance value and actual significance to the needs of their users in terms of computing tasks and operations

Self Control Theory of Crime

Self Control Theory of Crime Self control theory, also known as General theory of crime is a criminological theory about the lack of an individuals self-control, which is the main factor behind criminal behavior or conformity. Self control theory places much of its emphasis on parental upbringing it suggests that individuals who were ineffectually parented before the age of ten develop less self-control than individuals of roughly the same age who were raised with better parenting, even though others play a vital role in the process of proper or improper socialization (Muraven, Pogarsky and Shmueli 2006). Children with behavioral problems will tend to grow into juvenile delinquents and eventually into adult offenders according to Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990 because the path toward or away from crime commences early in life. If a child has an abusive or neglectful upbringing, he will tend to be impulsive, insensitive, physical, risk-taking, short-sighted, and nonverbal, and they will also tend to engage in the c riminal acts outlined above (Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990). Children whose parents care about them and supervise and punish their misconduct will develop the self-control needed, through socialization, to resist the easy temptations offered by crime. This will help them in future school, work, and relationships. This theory was originally developed by criminologists Travis Hirschi and Michael Gottfredson, but has since been the subject of theoretical debate. Hirschi once focused on social bonds rather than individual and self control as a source for criminality, but his viewed shifted and Gottfredson and Hirschi strayed from Hirschis previous theory that continuing social bonds cushion against criminal behavior in favor of the proposition that self control, internalized early in life, determines who will be likely to commit crime (Grasmick, et al. 1993). This theory is more practical, according to Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990 this theory propose that self-control is the general concept around which all of the known facts about crime can be organized. Hirschis former theory of criminality was a classical theory and according to Brownfield and Sorenson 1993 à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"classical theory and the concept of self-control are remarkably compatible. Self-control theory is similar to learning theory because learning theory believes that lack of self-control is a basic component or element of the deviant learning process. Even though one learns from the stimuli around them behavior is also the result of something within us, which is self-control. Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990 define crime as, acts of force or fraud undertaken in pursuit of self interest. This definition leads to the conclusion that any law violation, including murder, robbery, or property crime, that is done for reasons other than self-interest is not crime and cannot be explained by their theory (Grasmick et al. 1993). Low self-control is supposed to explain an individuals propensity to commit or refrain from committing crimes, just as high self-control explains an individuals likelihood of conforming to social norms and laws (Akers 1991). The authors explain that the concept of self control is not deterministic and that people involved with crime also engage in similar behaviors that provide short-term gratification (Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990). Smoking, drinking, gambling, irresponsible sex, and speeding in cars are all examples of risky behaviors that may be noticeable in criminal individuals who seek immediate gratification. Six elements of self-control are presented, one of which is that crimes require little skill or planning (Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990). Naturally, this is a source of criticism, since many criminals do plan their deviant acts and have become quite specialized in these activities. Self-control theory argues that a lack of self-control is neither a sufficient nor a necessary condition for crime to occur, because other properties of the individual or of the situation may counteract ones likelihood of committing deviant acts (Hirschi and Gottfredson 1993). The theorists have absolutely stated that their viewpoint, not like many others, is not meant to predict any particular type of activity since most deviant behavior, by its very nature, is impulsive and opportunistic. Therefore, everything else being equal, low self-control and a weak bond to society should positively and significantly predict a variety of deviant and criminal conduct (Polakowski 1994). Though lack of self-control and the familys role in its failed development do not mean that one will become deviant but it will provide circumstances that will make conditions favorable for delinquency. Hirschi has written supplemental information regarding the dynamics of the familys important role in reducing delinquency. He says that some aspects of family structure and practice appear to have an impact on delinquency in their own right, over and above their influence on the childs level of self control or socialization. This theory is applied to age, gender, and racial variations in crime, peer groups, schools, and the family, cross-cultural comparisons, white-collar crime, and organized crime. Gottfredson and Hirschi say there are differences among racial and ethnic groups, as there are between the sexes, in levels of direct supervision by the family (Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990). It is not the gender, race, or age of an individual that directly influences his criminality, but these factors indirectly affect the amount of socialization by parents. An evaluation of the age-crime relationship, however, has shown that for certain crimes, the variable of age may actually be a dire ct result of lack of self-control (Greenberg 1994). Hirschi believes that policies put in place that are designed to deter or rehabilitate offenders are failures, but effective policies that support and enhance the socialization in family would strengthen the family dynamics by improving the quality of family child-rearing practices. Therefore, effective policies would not only focus on preventing teenage pregnancies, but on maintaining a fathers involvement with the childs life. Hirschi contends that initiating these public policy reforms would strengthen family bonds, increase socialization, and create greater self-control in the child that will make it unlikely that he will exhibit deviant behavior (Hirschi 1995). This theory alleges to address all types of crime that Hirschis first theory in Causes of Delinquency did not, but many simply find Gottfredson and Hirschis definition of crime to be unconvincing. Though studies in general support the theorys major conclusion that low self-control is linked to criminal involvement, they do make some valid points regarding weaknesses inherent in the self-control theory of crime. In A General Theory of Crime Gottfredson and Hirschi offer no general or specific empirical test of the theory (Akers 1991). This makes their claims seem grandiose, though the major view appears to be true. The theory has also been accused of being tautological, because they do not define self-control separately from the propensity to commit crimes and analogous behavior (Akers 1991). They use the term criminality and self-control synonymously, which is like saying low self control causes low self-control, or criminality causes criminality. Critics have suggested that an indep endent indicator of self- control is necessary to truly define self-control. It has also been suggested by critics that this theory wrongfully claims other theories are unimportant (Akers 1991). Counter-intuitive to the logic of self-control theory, a longitudinal study was conducted showing that adult social bonds, like stable employment and cohesive marriages for example, can redirect offenders into a lifestyle of conformity beyond the childhood years of socialization. Studies have also shown that the relationship among self-control, crime, and analogous behaviors was also questionable. Overall, it seems that this theory carries heavy paternalistic undertones and the key to developing self-control is proper socialization, especially in childhood. Gottfredson and Hirschi find the traditional role of women and men to be crucial to the development of children. They seem to feel that if society could regain traditional American values with the woman staying at home, the husband working during the day, and the children disciplined by both parents, criminality would decrease. They do not even consider the outcomes of single-parent, divorced or un-wed parents, but they are a reality in contemporary society. In summary, Travis Hirschi has had a significant impact on the world of criminology. His two major theories, the control theory of delinquency and self-control theory, despite criticism have guided public policy reformations, and are quite popular today. Akers, Ronald L. Self-control as a general theory of crime. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 1991: 201-211. Brownfield, David, and Ann Marie Sorenson. Self-control and juvenile delinquency:theoretical issues and an empirical assessment of selected elements of a general theory of crime. Deviant Behavior, 1993: 243-264. Gottfredson, Michael R., and Travis Hirschi. A General Theory of Crime. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1990. Grasmick, Harold G., Charles R Tittle, Jr., Robert J Bursik, and Bruce J Arneklev. Testing the core empirical implications of Gottfredson and Hirschis general theory of crime. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 1993: 5-29. Hirschi, Travis, and Michael Gottfredson. Commentary: Testing the General Theory of Crime. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 1993: 47-54. Muraven, Mark, Greg Pogarsky, and Dikla Shmueli. Self-control Depletion and the General Theory of Crime. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 2006: 263-277. Polakowski, Michael. Linking self-and social control with deviance: illuminating the structure underlying a General Theory of Crime and its relation to deviant activity. Journal of Quantative Criminology, 1994: 41-79.

Ken Keseys One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Essay -- One Flew Over the

Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Ken Kesey's One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is a multidimensional novel with many important messages in which Kesey strives to relay to the readers. Kesey did not write this novel for the sole purpose of entertainment, even though it was very entertaining, but did write it with the intent to show the readers many realities of life. First of all Kesey shows in this book that how people are perceived in society may not really be how that person is and that things are sometimes different than what they seem. Secondly Kesey sends the message that a single person can be significant and make a difference in other peoples lives, and finally Kesey shows readers that the spirit a person has can live on and make a difference even when that person is gone. One message relayed by Kesey is the fact that in society people who may be thought of as "good people" who are trying to help (nurse Ratched), and people who are considered "bad people" by society (McMurphy, Acutes), may in reality be the opposite of what they seem. Just because society puts a label on people doesn't necessarily mean it's true. In this novel Kesey shows the true evil of nurse Ratched. He shows in detail the way she mechanically tares the men's courage, pride and eventually all of their manhood down to nothing. She even goes so far as to driving two men to suicide. Outside of the ward the Big Nurse is perceived as a "good person" and as someone who has dedicated her life to helping others. This view of nurse Ratched is reflected in the awards won by the ward that she has total control over and also by the Public relations man who guides a group of people through the ward telling ... ...otomy and by taking away a man who was like a god to the Acutes she would regain all of her control and put fear back into the men. What she did not realize was all of McMurphy's strength, courage and spirit would stay with the men. McMurphy, even after he was gone, still gave the men the strength to stand up for themselves and not let the Big Nurse regain her control of the ward. Although Ken Kesey's One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was very entertaining he also had many point to get across to the reader. Ken Kesey drove home many truths of life, such as, a single person can make a difference in other peoples lives, things aren't always what they seem, and finally that a person's spirit can live on and stay with people causing them to change in seemingly impossible situations. This book was written to be very insightful and also extremely entertaining.

The College Experience Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing

The College Experience "Tomorrow is the first day of what I will become." I wrote this in my diary the night before my first day of college. I was anxious as I imagined the stereotypical college room: intellectual students, in-depth discussions about neat stuff, and of course, a casual professor sporting the tweed jacket with leather elbows. I was also ill as I foresaw myself drowning in a murky pool of reading assignments and finals, hearing a deep, depressing voice ask "What can you do with your life?" Since then, I've settled comfortably into the college "scene" and have treated myself to the myth that I'll hear my calling someday, and that my future will introduce itself to me with a hardy handshake. I can't completely rid my conscience from reality, however. My university education and college experience has become a sort of fitful, and sleepless night, in which I have wonderful dreams and ideas, but when I awaken to apply these aspirations, reality sounds as a six thirty alarm and my dreams are forgo tten. Up until recently, I've considered myself a decisive person, able... The College Experience Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing The College Experience "Tomorrow is the first day of what I will become." I wrote this in my diary the night before my first day of college. I was anxious as I imagined the stereotypical college room: intellectual students, in-depth discussions about neat stuff, and of course, a casual professor sporting the tweed jacket with leather elbows. I was also ill as I foresaw myself drowning in a murky pool of reading assignments and finals, hearing a deep, depressing voice ask "What can you do with your life?" Since then, I've settled comfortably into the college "scene" and have treated myself to the myth that I'll hear my calling someday, and that my future will introduce itself to me with a hardy handshake. I can't completely rid my conscience from reality, however. My university education and college experience has become a sort of fitful, and sleepless night, in which I have wonderful dreams and ideas, but when I awaken to apply these aspirations, reality sounds as a six thirty alarm and my dreams are forgo tten. Up until recently, I've considered myself a decisive person, able...

Unchopping a Tree Summary

SUMMARY OF UNCHOPPING A TREE by William Stanley Merwin Merwin’s Unchopping a Tree is a procedural essay as we can infer from the title alone. Here, Merwin describes what it takes for one to put together again a tree that has been cut down. Note that the author is very accurate in his steps so as to ensure that the tree will be exactly what it was when the rebuilding is done. According to Merwin, we have to start with the leave sand all others that belong to the tree’s crowning glory.They have to be put back exactly the way they used to be. Everything that used to be there has to be there again—exactly the way it was. Next in line is the trunk. Everything has to fit like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. There must not be a single misplaced splinter. The next thing to do is to raise the trunk and place it on the stump. This, he says, is no small enterprise because you have to use the proper fixative and that is difficult since, as he says, â€Å"again we have no dup licate for the original substance†.Now for the last step—we lower the splintered trunk unto the stump. Here, you have to gather the chips and sawdust and they must be returned to their former positions. Another problem is presented in this last step—bark sawdust decomposes very quickly if exposed to the elements. Once that problem is dealt with, you now have to find a translucent adhesive that is not so rigid. So your tree is now erected but is still held upright by the support of the scaffolding.And you take a restless night. In the morning, you remove the scaffolding. You cross your fingers in hope that the gentle breeze won’t push the tree over and that’s all you can do. And there we can conclude that a tree is really difficult to â€Å"unchop†. But, may I ask, why do we easily take down trees? Would we still find it easy to chop a lot of trees down once we’d experience unchopping just one tree?