Health Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Health Finance - Essay Example The cost of healthcare in the United States of America has been something of concern for some time. When the cost of healthcare services in the United States of America was compared to costs in some of the countries it was discovered that the cost of healthcare in the US was alarmingly high. In comparison to the other developed countries the United States of America has the highest prices for healthcare. In 1992 14% of the federal budget was allocated to healthcare. The percentage has gradually increased over the years. By 2012 the percentage had gotten to 22% of the federal budget. This report discusses the possible causes of the high cost of healthcare in the United States of America. The report will also go ahead and give recommendations of possible ways through which the situation can be improved. The most obvious explanation for the high cost of healthcare in the United States of America is the high healthcare prices in the country. A study on the prices of healthcare in the developed countries has proved that the prices of healthcare services in the United States in the US are very high. Factor such as frequency of visit to hospitals and quality of medical services have further proved that the high cost of healthcare in the United States of America. The German population was discovered to frequent the hospital more than the US citizens despite the fact that their healthcare costs their government less annually. The high cost was mostly attributed to the high healthcare services in the country. For instance, it was discovered that hip replacement could cost about $13,660 in Belgium while the same costs about $100,000 in the United States of America. This is a clear indication of high healthcare prices in the country. Another thing that can be said to be a contributor to the high cost of healthcare is the fact that there is very minimal intervention of the government

The Role Of Information Systems

The Role Of Information Systems Modern business is surrounded by the information systems which are in place to assess the opportunities and limitations available for the businessmen in order to be productive in their respective field. It is impossible to know the information systems without the proper knowledge of the information technology which is changing at a rapid pace nowadays. The movement and processing of data and information to expedite business operations and decisions is called information systems. (McGraw-Hill, 2000) Role of information system The role of the information system is to forecast the needs and demands of the company on the basis of its current usage and to keep in mind the future changes which are going to take place for instance extension of business operations in the new market so the information system can propose larger database which will easily store the data. It is a decision for the top management and includes huge cost. Types of information systems Information systems may differ in their needs but the most common types of information systems are discusses in detail below; Decision support system (DSS) Management information system (MIS) Transaction processing system (TPS) Executive support system (ESS) Operational-level Systems This system has to support operational managers by keeping track of the elementary activities and transactions of the organization. The principle function of systems at this level is to answer regular questions and track the flow of transactions through the organization. This system covers things such as sales, receipts, cash deposits, payroll, credit decisions and flow of materials. Knowledge-level Systems This system looks after the support knowledge and data workers in an organization. The purpose of these systems is to help the organization discover, sort out and put together new and existing knowledge in to the business, and to help control the flow of paperwork. These systems, especially in the form of collaboration tools, workstations, and office systems, are the fastest growing applications in business today.   Management-level Systems This is designed to serve the monitoring, controlling, decision-making, and administrative activities of middle managers. These typically provide periodic reports rather than instant  on operations. Some of these systems support non-routine decision-making, focusing on less-structured decisions for which requirements are not always clear. This will often require from outside the organization, as well as from normal operational-level data. Strategic-level Systems It helps senior management to handle and address strategic issues and long-term trends, both within the organization and in the environment outside the operations. The principal concern is matching organizational capability to changes, and opportunities, occurring in the medium to long term (i.e. 5 10 years) in the external environment. Typically, an organization might have operational, knowledge, management and strategic level systems for each functional area within the organization. This would be based on the management model adopted by the organization, so, while the most commonly-adopted systems structure would simply follow the standard functional model, structures reflecting bureaucratic, product and matrix models are also possible. Operational-level Systems   Transaction-Processing Systems (TPS) Basic business systems Perform daily routine transactions necessary for business functions At the operational level, tasks, resources and goals are predefined and highly structured Generally, five functional categories are identified, as shown in the diagram. Knowledge-level Systems   Office Automation Systems (OAS) Targeted at meeting the knowledge needs of  data workers  within the organization Data workers tend to process rather than create primarily involved in  use, manipulation or dissemination. Typical OAS handles and manages documents, scheduling and communication. Knowledge Work Systems (KWS) Targeted at meeting the knowledge needs of  knowledge workers  within the organization In general, knowledge workers hold degree-level professional qualifications (e.g. engineers, scientists, lawyers), their jobs consist primarily in creating new knowledge and information for that particular department in order to find out the best suitable candidates to work with the organization. KWS, such as scientific or engineering design workstations, promote the creation of new knowledge, and its dissemination and integration throughout the organization. Management-level Systems   Management information  Systems (MIS) MIS provide managers with reports and, in some cases, on-line access to the organizations current performance and historical records Typically these systems focus entirely on internal events, providing the information for short-term planning and decision making. MIS summarize and report on the basic operations of the organization, dependent on the underlying TPS for their data. Decision-Support Systems (DSS) As MIS, these serve the needs of the management level of the organization Focus on helping managers make decisions that are semi-structured, unique, or rapidly changing, and not easily specified in advance Use internal information from TPS and MIS, but also receive data  from the external sources Greater analytical power than other systems, incorporate modeling tools, aggregation and analysis tools, and support what-if  scenarios They must provide user-friendly, interactive tools Strategic-level Systems   Executive Support Systems (ESS/EIS) Serve the strategic level of the organization ESS/EIS address unstructured decisions and create a generalized computing and communications environment, rather than providing any fixed application or specific capability. Such systems are not designed to solve specific problems, but to tackle a changing array of problems ESS/EIS are designed to incorporate data about external events, such as new tax laws or competitors, and also draw summarized data from internal MIS and DSS These systems filter, compress, and track critical data, emphasizing the reduction of time and effort required to obtain data useful to executive management ESS/EIS employ advanced graphics software to provide highly visual and easy-to-use representations of complex and current trends, but they tend not to provide analytical models which can be helpful in carrying out the regular tasks at the operations level. Conclusion We have come a long way from conventional planning in a development project. The reasons for this change are basically related to four conflicting factors that constitute an over-riding problem with formal planning. Large software systems have long development cycles and require extensive planning to control costs, resources, equipment and priorities, that is why organizations have to take into effect extra measures to cope with such large information systems in order to be more productive and to meet the future needs of the business. Planning is very significant as it will be the very nature of the exercise, which is suppose to seek and undertake future activities in a controlled, reasonable and effective manner. Without the effectiveness of such planning, most of the projects would go into chaos at the early stage of their formations. That is why planning has to be meaningful as the future which depicts on it should be sensible and unchanging. If there is need for changes to occur, then they should be of a limited or anticipated nature and without rapid transitions but the long term duration software projects suffer quite easily from the major, unforeseen and generally rapid changes. These are due as (among others) the development setbacks, migration of personnel, economic down-turns, strategic reversals, significantly modified the technology and systems had to be changed as the expectations which were required earlier were dramatically change due to these unforeseen circumstances. Reference and Bibliography Website: http://navismagazine.com/sample/xxi-cent-warships/degaulle.htm Bell S, Frances prestige warship all at sea, The London Times, 25.2.1999, p.20 Byte Magazine, March 1989 Personal Computer World, June 1989 Yeates D (ed), System Project Management, Pitman, 1986, Chapter 3 Bentley C, Introducing PRINCE, NCC Blackwell, 1992, p.1 Donnelly F, Plan for all seasons, Computing, 4.6.1992, p.32 Kavanagh J, Blind leading the blind into IT fog, Interface, The London Times, 6.8.1997, p.10 Gulton A, Managing the unexpected, Computer Weekly, 4.3.1999, p.30 Belford C, Integrated Business Software Systems: The Cost of Change, Executive Brief, URL Source: www.govcomp.com/executivebrief.html Date of Access 25th February 2010 Ritzman. L, Malhotra. M, 2009. Operations Management, 9th Edition, P. 31 Maylor. H, 2005. Project Management, 3rd Edition, P. 28 Peter. S, Cavanagh. R, 2001. The Six Sigma Way, P. 161

History Of Baulhkam Hills :: essays research papers

About Baulkham Hills Baulkham Hills, located approximately 29km North West of Sydney, is one of the largest suburbs in area and population within the Hills with a population of 33,661 people (Census 2001). Baulkham Hills as a suburb not including Bella Vista makes up about 24% of the total population (139,404) of the Baulkham Hills Shire. 23,282 people were born in Australia and 25,855 speak English only. 30,179 live in separated houses as opposed to other forms such as flats, units or townhouses. (Census 2001) Baulkham Hills Town Centre includes Stockland Mall, The Bull 'n' Bush Hotel and a number of street shops. Baulkham Hills is the home of Norwest Business Park which is rapidly becoming the main business centre within the Hills. Norwest Business Park includes retail, commercial, industrial and hotel developments. For example Norwest Marketown, Norwest International Hotel and the Hills Christian Life Centre. Baulkham Hills is also the home to Baulkham Hills TAFE College and a number of private and public schools. History of BAULKHAM HILLS There are several versions of how this area between Castle Hill and Parramatta was named. The most likely reason is its resemblance to the county of Roxburgh, between Scotland and England, which shares a similar name, Buckholm Hills, the home of one of the area's early settlers. Andrew McDougall, who arrived in Sydney in 1798 from Roxburgh, was one of several settlers to receive grants in the area in 1799. He called his 150 acre grant Roxburgh Hall. The estate remained in the family until 1876 and Roxburgh Hall was built in 1860. Andrew McDougall was one of the trustees appointed when 3,000 acres were set aside as Baulkham Hills Common in 1804. The name has been officially recognised since 1802. One of the earliest land grants in the area was the 30 acres given to George Best in 1796. He slowly gained more land until he had 185 acres. The oldest farm-house in the area is Joyce Farmhouse in Valerie Crescent, near Seven Hills. It was built in 1804 by William Joyce, destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1806, and used as an inn between 1811 and 1826. Joyce had received his 30 acre grant in about 1794. One of the oldest pioneer families in Parramatta came into this area when George Suttor received a grant of 186 acres in 1802 and advanced on the property, which he called Chelsea Farm, after his birthplace in London. History Of Baulhkam Hills :: essays research papers About Baulkham Hills Baulkham Hills, located approximately 29km North West of Sydney, is one of the largest suburbs in area and population within the Hills with a population of 33,661 people (Census 2001). Baulkham Hills as a suburb not including Bella Vista makes up about 24% of the total population (139,404) of the Baulkham Hills Shire. 23,282 people were born in Australia and 25,855 speak English only. 30,179 live in separated houses as opposed to other forms such as flats, units or townhouses. (Census 2001) Baulkham Hills Town Centre includes Stockland Mall, The Bull 'n' Bush Hotel and a number of street shops. Baulkham Hills is the home of Norwest Business Park which is rapidly becoming the main business centre within the Hills. Norwest Business Park includes retail, commercial, industrial and hotel developments. For example Norwest Marketown, Norwest International Hotel and the Hills Christian Life Centre. Baulkham Hills is also the home to Baulkham Hills TAFE College and a number of private and public schools. History of BAULKHAM HILLS There are several versions of how this area between Castle Hill and Parramatta was named. The most likely reason is its resemblance to the county of Roxburgh, between Scotland and England, which shares a similar name, Buckholm Hills, the home of one of the area's early settlers. Andrew McDougall, who arrived in Sydney in 1798 from Roxburgh, was one of several settlers to receive grants in the area in 1799. He called his 150 acre grant Roxburgh Hall. The estate remained in the family until 1876 and Roxburgh Hall was built in 1860. Andrew McDougall was one of the trustees appointed when 3,000 acres were set aside as Baulkham Hills Common in 1804. The name has been officially recognised since 1802. One of the earliest land grants in the area was the 30 acres given to George Best in 1796. He slowly gained more land until he had 185 acres. The oldest farm-house in the area is Joyce Farmhouse in Valerie Crescent, near Seven Hills. It was built in 1804 by William Joyce, destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1806, and used as an inn between 1811 and 1826. Joyce had received his 30 acre grant in about 1794. One of the oldest pioneer families in Parramatta came into this area when George Suttor received a grant of 186 acres in 1802 and advanced on the property, which he called Chelsea Farm, after his birthplace in London.

MBA Essay Writing for B-Schools Essay

I come from a land of unparalleled physical beauty and the home of my heart- ‘India’. Today, I consider myself extremely fortunate to be here in United States which is also known for its best Academic Curriculums. For past two years, ever since I moved to States, I had been hoping and planning to earn an MBA degree and am excited to now be on the cusp of making that dream a reality. I’ve come a long way from the shy college freshman who initially could hardly even thought of being a ‘Class Representative’ because it would involve so much interaction with the fellow students and faculty, whom I hardly knew. But I conquered those first challenges and went on to become the faculty’s pet. My path hasn’t always been easy, but through the challenges and goals I’ve set for myself, I’ve grown into a Confident, Thoughtful and Respected leader at my work place and personal life. And I know that these new skills will serve me well as I embark on this next scholastic challenge and the career I see before me post MBA. I’ve chosen this specific MBA program because it provides strong conceptual oversight into the modern practice of management and good understanding of how to apply the theory we read in the course room to practice in the business environment. I see this as perfectly in-step with my goal of pursuing a career as a leading Marketing professional. I am sure the continued group work with my fellow students from various back grounds will serve to cement my new found confidence in my own abilities and ideas. My interest in ‘Marketing’ first sparked during my first year of Bachelors in ‘Advertising, Sales Promotion and Sales Management’ when I conducted a workshop on Personal Selling skills, in the college campus and was awarded with the ‘Creative Ability’ certificate. I was also selected to work for the State Level Exhibitions & Fair for which I was awarded with the certificate of honor in making the event successful. Later, after a couple of On the job training during my semesters, I completed my undergraduate with distinction and all geared up for the Big change hence forth.. In this ever broad global market place, I am aware of what an asset being a Multi-educated is, and to that end I plan to pursue my studies further before I hit the market. There how I pursued a one year ‘ International Post Graduate Diploma in Risk Management’ to improve my marketability. Soon later, I was offered to work with a Portal Company where I gained practical experience for about an year designated as ‘Communication Analyst’. Currently, if I am admitted to your program, I will bring with me Enthusiasm, Dedication and a Stalwart work ethic. I am proud of what I have accomplished thus far in my life and see much of it as a stepping stone towards a successful future in the business world. I now need to expand my skill set beyond its current level and I see the curriculum offered at ‘Adelphi University’ as a perfect way to do so.

Importance of Computer Essay

Computer is an electronic device used in almost every field even where it is most unexpected. That is why this age is called as the era of IT. And now we cannot imagine a world without computers. It is made up of two things one is the hardware and other is software. All physical components of computer like keyboard, mouse, monitor etc comes under the hardware whereas all the programs and languages used by the computer are called software. These days computers are the tools for not only engineers and scientists but also they are being used by millions of people around the world. Computers have become an integral part of our lives. Be it the desktop computers or laptop computers, both have various advantages in our daily life. The landscape of global communication has changed since computers have been introduced in our society. Importance of computers can be attributed to the fact that almost every sphere of our life is affected by computers. Information technology (IT) is a whole new industry that has developed after the introduction of computers. Presenting before you is an article with an abridged summary of importance in computers in various fields. Importance of Using Computer Among several advantages of computers, access to the Internet is hailed to be an advantage that has shaped the way we communicate. Importance of information technology has been such that besides creating millions of IT jobs, it has become an integral part of every other industry. Features and operations of IT are indirectly required in every other sector. Role of Computers in Education Right from elementary school students to PhD researchers, every educational system has been influenced by computers. Some of the uses of computers in education are as follows: †¢Students can be better prepared for the future technologies and it’s easier to explain them several topics that are hard to be understood without 3-D images. †¢Online education has made learning easier and convenient for a large section of population. †¢Easy access to encyclopedia on the Internet certainly makes us ponder over textbooks versus computer teaching. Online encyclopedia have made researching and preparing documents simpler. †¢Students aware of computer uses have better chances of job opportunities as computers literacy is a need now. Importance of  computer education was never so important as it is in the present scenario. †¢Using computer aided facilities like PowerPoint presentation eases understanding of complex topics. BANKS Almost every bank is using computers to keep the record of all the money transaction and other calculations. Moreover it provides speed, convenience and security. COMMUNICATION Communication is another important aspect of computer and has become very easy through internet and email. Computer communicates using telephone lines and modems. Through email we can send messages to anybody in any part of the world in just a second while if we write letter then it will reach in some days. So the internet has made the earth a global village and above all saves time. This would not be possible without computers. Internet helps to find information on every topic. It is the easiest and fastest way of research. Computer network makes the user capable of accessing remote programs and databases of same or different organizations. MEDIA Almost every type of editing and audio- visual compositions can be made by using special software especially made for this purpose. Some software can even make three dimensional figures which are mostly used in the cartoon films. Special effects for action and science fiction movies are also created on computer. TRAVEL AND TICKETING Computers do all the work of plane and train reservation. It shows the data for vacant and reserved seats and also saves the record for reservation. WEATHER PREDICTIONS Weather predictions are also possible by the experts using supercomputers. SPORTS It is also used for umpiring decisions. Many times the umpire has to go for the decision of third umpire in which the recording is seen again on the computer and finally reaches to the accurate and fair decision. Simulation software allows the sportsman to practice and improve his skills. DAILY LIFE We operate washing machines, microwave oven and many other products using software. Moreover we can store all the information about our important  work, appointments schedules and list of contacts. Crucial Role of Computers in Medicine The health care field has gone through a revolution after computers have been introduced in our society. Uses of computer in the medical field has been immense. Computers have been integrated with almost all medical technologies to improve accuracy in results. †¢Big hospitals require computer systems to maintain database of patient records. This has lessened the burden of paper management. †¢Some uses of computers in hospitals include maintaining staff attendance records, medical records recording of incoming and outgoing timings of staff, computerized accounting and managing records of patient and associated doctors. †¢The use of computers in medicine has gained more significance as heartbeat rate, pulse rates all can be checked on special graphs on monitor screen. †¢Internet technology has made it easier to exchange information, news and reports about latest medical development all across the globe. †¢Medical imaging has grown to become an extremely important aspect of medical diagnosis. By using techniques to create body images of even the most complex structures in the body, scientists have made it easier to treat ailments. †¢Web conferencing has made it easier for expert doctors sitting in some distant country to guide and instruct junior surgeons. More so, even while operation, many senior doctors can guide junior doctors. These are some of the amazing uses of computers in hospital set ups. †¢All surgical procedures are recorded in small cameras (some even installed in the medical equipment) so that the process of surgery can be learned better and improved. †¢Nowadays, even computer counseling is possible owing to extensive use of computers. Benefits of Computers in Business The use of computers in business has grown by leaps and bound since the last few decades. Here are some of the benefits of computers in business field. †¢Using Internet technologies, computer networking and several types of software, businesses are able to communicate all across the globe crossing geographical boundaries. †¢Communication has taken a new role among partners, suppliers, consumers and they’re able to keep a track of each other that facilitates the business process. †¢Development of software like  Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solutions and Management Information Systems (MIS) have made it possible to centralize administrative features of a firm. †¢Project management and other planning activities are easily designed by integrating latest software with computers. This decreases time on planning and figuring out certain complex issues. †¢Seminars, conferences and meetings can be scheduled with bosses and big corporate giants through web conferencing that can be heard by all the employees simultaneously. While the debate on advantages and disadvantages of Internet or computers will always exist, it’s certainly a truth that computers have made our life totally different, progressive and better. So we can say that today computer is playing very important role in our lives. Now is the time when we cannot imagine the world without computers. And this technology is advancing both in industry and home. It has become necessary for everyone to have the basic knowledge about computer. Otherwise he cannot get a job as computers have invaded almost all the fields.

The Role and Duties of Canadian Members of Parliament

The Role and Duties of Canadian Members of Parliament Beginning with the October 2015 federal election, there will be 338 members of parliament in the Canadian House of Commons. They are elected in a general election, which is usually called every four or five years, or in a by-election when a seat in the House of Commons becomes empty due to resignation or death. Representing Constituents in Parliament Members of parliament represent the regional and local concerns of the constituents in their ridings (also called electoral districts) in the House of Commons. Members of parliament solve problems for constituents on a wide variety of federal government matters - from checking on individual problems with federal government departments to providing information on federal government programs and policies. Members of parliament also maintain a high profile in their ridings and take part in local events and official functions there. Making Laws While it is public servants and cabinet ministers who have direct responsibility for drafting new legislation, members of parliament can influence legislation through debates in the House of Commons and during all-party committee meetings to examine legislation. Even though members of parliament are expected to toe the party line, both substantive and fine-tuning amendments to legislation are often made at committee stage. Votes on legislation in the House of Commons are usually a formality following party lines but can be of significant strategic importance during a minority government. Members of parliament can also introduce legislation of their own, called private members bills, however it is rare that a private members bill passes. Watchdogs on Government Canadian members of parliament can influence federal government policy by participating in House of Commons committees which review federal government department activities and spending, as well as legislation. Government members of parliament also raise policy issues in caucus meetings of members of parliament of their own party and can lobby cabinet ministers. Members of parliament in opposition parties use the daily Question Period in the House of Commons to raise issues of concern and bring them to the attention of the public. Party Supporters A member of parliament usually supports a political party and plays a role in the operation of the party. A few members of parliament may sit as independents and do not have party responsibilities. Offices Members of parliament maintain two offices with corresponding staff - one on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and one in the constituency. Cabinet ministers also maintain an office and staff in the departments for which they are responsible.

Literature - A Mirror Of Society Essays - Romanticism, Free Essays

Literature - A Mirror Of Society Essays - Romanticism, Free Essays Literature - a Mirror of Society The literature of a country is affected and influenced by how the people of that country live. This paper will prove that The French Revolution greatly influenced 19th Century French Romanticism. First, the cultural values of the revolution will be identified. Then, the different aspects of Romanticism will be presented. The cultural values of The French Revolution and Romanticism will then be linked. Finally, literary examples will be shown to support this connection between the two movements. Before the Revolution, the citizens of France lived in a strict, confined society with no freedom to express their feelings. Government had imposed strong, unfair laws on the common people (Compton?s Interactive Encyclopedia ?French Revolution?). They wanted a voice in a stable government with a strong economy (Johnson 105) and a strong sense of individuality and independence within the people. (Moss and Wilson 180) Eighteenth- century literature was much like the society in which it was produced, restrained. Society was divided into privileged and unprivileged classes, (Leinward 452) with Eighteenth- century writers focusing on the lives of the upper class. (Thompson 857) These writers followed ?formal rules?(Thorlby 282), and based their works on scientific observations and logic (Thompson 895). The Revolution gave the common people and writers more freedom to express feelings and stimulated them to use reason. According to Thompson, The Revolution ?had a major impact on Nineteenth- Century European Life.? (895) It sent a strong wave of emotion and revival throughout France (Peyre 59). This lead to new laws and ezdards for the citizens, including newer, less imposing literary ezdards. Romanticism marked a profound change in both literature and thought. Romanticism, according to Webster?s Dictionary, is defined as ?a literary movement (as in early 19th century Europe) marked especially by an emphasis on the imagination and emotions and by the use of autobiographical material.? Although this may be true, there is no single commonly accepted definition of Romanticism, but it has some features upon which there is general agreement. First, it emphasized upon human reason, feeling, emotion, and expression (Compton?s Interactive Encyclopedia, ?Romanticism?) while emphasizing the love of nature, beauty, and liberty. (Leinward 528-529) Thompson defines Romanticism as ? a major literary and cultural movement? that was inspired by the imaginations, inner feelings, and emotions of the Romantics. (895) If one term can be used to describe the forces that have shaped the modern world, it is Romanticism. (Peyre, 2) Romanticism has had such a profound effect on the world since the late 18th century that one author has called it ?the profoundest cultural transformation in human history since the invention of the city.? (Compton?s Encyclopedia, ?Romanticism?) Harvey and Heseltine state that ?The outezding characteristic of 18th-century French literature had been attached to reason.... About the turn of the century.... literature became a matter of senses and emotions.? (633) They also say that the movement of Romanticism ?gave practical expression to the new spirit...? because it recognized that the bounds on literature were ?too rigid?. (634) There are many direct relations how the French Revolution influenced the French Romanticism that followed it in the Nineteenth- century. The French Revolution had a major impact on the timeline and progression of Romanticism. Vinaver states that ?Neither a revolt or a reaction, Romanticism was a revolutionary fulfillment... And this in turn explains why the European event known as the French Revolution is at once the climax [of Romanticism]...It?s [French Revolution} date, 1789, conveniently divides the Pre- Romanticism [era] from the full flowering of the new culture.? (6) Romanticism starts in about 1774, but does not take off until the last decade of the 18th- century, the same time as the Revolution. The French Revolution provided for many of the problems and basis for many Romantic literary works. First of all, the political change brought by the Revolution, along with the intellectual reverberations brought upon Romanticism. (Harvey and Heseltine 634) Also, Thompson states that ? [Romanticism was] shaped by the ideals of the French Revolution.? (895) Finally, Vinaver declares that the Revolution served as ?a great source of the problems and tendencies of Romantic proper.? (6) The Revolution also inspired many writers to write romantically. Peyre points this out when

The History of Jell-O

The History of Jell-O Jell-O: It’s now as American as apple pie. Once a twice-failed processed food made from a mash-up of animal parts, it managed to become a hit dessert and the go-to food for generations of sick children.   Who Invented Jell-O? in 1845, New York industrialist Peter Cooper patented a method for the manufacture of gelatin, a tasteless, odorless gelling agent made of out animal by-products. Cooper’s product failed to catch on, but in 1897, Pearle Wait, a carpenter turned cough syrup manufacturer in LeRoy, a town in upstate New York was experimenting with gelatin and concocted a fruit-flavored dessert. His wife, May David Wait, dubbed it Jell-O.   Woodward Buys Jell-O Wait lacked the funding to market and distribute his new product. In 1899 he sold it to Frank Woodward, a school dropout who by the age of 20 had his own business, Genesee Pure Food Company. Woodward bought the rights to Jell-O for $450 from Wait. Once again, sales lagged. Woodward, who sold a number of patent medicines, Raccoon Corn Plasters, and a roasted coffee substitute called Grain-O, grew impatient with the dessert. Sales were still slow, so Woodward offered to sell the rights to Jell-O ® to his plant superintendent for $35. However, before the final sale, Woodward’s intensive advertising efforts, which called for distribution of recipes and samples and paid off. By 1906, sales reached $1 million.   Making Jell-O a National Staple The company doubled down on marketing. They sent out nattily dressed salesmen to demonstrate Jell-O. The also distributed 15 million copies of a Jell-O recipe book containing celebrity favorites and illustrations by beloved American artists, including Maxfield Parrish and Norman Rockwell. The dessert’s popularity rose. Woodward’s Genesee Pure Food Company was renamed Jell-O Company in 1923. Two years later it later merged with Postum Cereal, and eventually, that company became the behemoth known as the General Foods Corporation, which is now called Kraft/General Foods. The gelatinous aspect of the food made it a popular choice among mothers when their children were suffering from diarrhea. In fact, doctors still recommend serving Jell-O water- that is, unhardened Jello-O- to children suffering from loose stools.

Reading Interaction Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Reading Interaction Journal - Essay Example He refers to this feeling as the ‘delusion of reprieve’. According to Victor it becomes easy for an outsider to get the wrong conception of the prison life, a conception that is mingled with sentiment and pity (Pg. 4). A constant danger of death threatened the life of prisoners, and the closeness of death affect the hopelessly borne individual to be affected psychologically. The first group of the prisoners did not few the threat of death or the fume chambers. Being in the prison the thought to commit suicide of the threat of death lost meaning and the mention of chambers lost their horrors (Pg.36-37. The quotes from this book can tell you how traumatic the life in prison must have been. The use of transport to move prisoners to another camp was just a simple guess that the final destination of that transport was the chambers. A selection of the sick and weak prisoners would be done and sent to one of the big central camp which was fitted with gas chambers and crematoriu ms (Pg. 4). I believed these prisoners went through a lot of traumatic experience that it is difficult and stressful to talk about. Like for the case of transport a definite of prisoners had to be taken, it didn’t matter since each of them was nothing but numbers. With the thought of coming trip there was no time to behave morally, the only thought that crossed the prisoners mind was to find another number to replace him for the sake of family waiting for him back at home. The food that the prisoners were being fed was horrible bits of small amounts of bread and watery soup. The water that they used for bathing was not good and without nourishment, their bodies started to crack and that made even harder for the prisoners to survive the camp. The prisoner’s life is described to be in two faces. The fear of death and chamber being the first face of their stay. Victor goes ahead and narrates about the second face of prisoner’s life. The second face is where the pri soners were assigned jobs according your number. Some worked as doctors while others did the hard labour like digging the tunnels, trenches and laying trucks for railway line. The works done by the prisoners did not go unrewarded, Frankl, says that they were presented with ‘premium coupons’, which were issued by the construction firms to which the prisoners were practically sold as slaves in exchange of pay to the prison authorities a fixed price per day, per prisoner. After the initial shock of tortured had subsidized, numbness overcome prisoners, where they can be beaten to death and they don’t even bat an eye. Frankl recalls his time while taking care of a typhoid patients, he would watch people die horrible death hour after hour and he would not experience any emotional problems or upset. Prisoners used the emotional control as their form of self-defence which channelled all their emotions to one objective, survive. He categorises the stay in prison in three phases, the period of admission, period when he is well entrenched in camp routine, and the period following his release and liberation. Shock is feature that happens during the phase of admission and sometimes it precedes the admission phase. During admission phase the transportation system is always the poor one and nearly everyone in the transport were delusional that the situation will change and everything will be well. The never realise to find the

Human Development in Brazil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Development in Brazil - Essay Example Conditions are slowly improving for all Brazilians, as the Human Development Indicators(HDI) imply, though translating the figures into real progress is more difficult. The HDI is developed by the United Nations Development Programme to aid in determination of how well â€Å"countries turn income into health and educational opportunities†(UNDP). The 2006 report indicates that Brazil falls into the fifty-eighth place among one hundred seventy seven nations. The HDI is calculated by combining three sets of data: lifespan, knowledge and standard of living. The UNDP provides other indices such as the Human Poverty Index(HP1 and HP) and the Gender Related Development Index(RDI). HDI is the most inclusive and allows for a better understanding of overall data. Brazil is by no means a poor country, with abundant natural resources and $30 billion in foreign capital invested by 2002. However, â€Å"forty million live on less than $2 per day, while twenty million live on less than $1 pe r day.†(UNDP). Inequality of income is linked to gender, race and geographical region. The Northeast, where the greatest disparities exist, is comparable economically to nations such as Kenya. The UNDP has set a goal of lowering poverty to below ten percent by the year 2015. This goal seems fully attainable as the poverty rates fall from twenty percent in 1991 to roughly fourteen 2 percent by 2000. Obstacles such as slowing economic growth are identified as barriers to attaining that goal.

CORPORATE FINANCE OVERVIEW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CORPORATE FINANCE OVERVIEW - Essay Example Even though the company has a secure stream of income from a long term contract, it still bears a default risk, albeit rather small. My estimation of the discount rate has to reflect all this information. It will be definitely higher than discount rate of government securities. d) This security has substantial default risk as the issuing company is a start-up without proven history of operations and no secure stream of income. Therefore, the discount rate will be higher than for the company with secured stream of income (from the previous question). 2. Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) can be used to quickly estimate the expected rate of return on a certain security. In an essence, it provides the best guess market can provide for future return on a particular security in a simple but powerful way. It was estimated that nearly 3/4 of financial managers use CAPM to estimate the cost of capital (Brealey, Myers & Allen, 192). CAPM reflects two crucial points. First, investors require extra return for extra risk (as shown in risk premium component). Second, investors are concerned with the risk that they cannot eliminate by diversification (as shown in beta component). Therefore, when used to estimate expected return on a particular security, CAPM accounts for the overall additional risk premium historically required by investors for this type of security (risk premium) and for the systematic risk that this particular security adds to the diversified portfolio (security’s beta). 3. a) It is possible to estimate net present value of this project rather accurately. Buying new equipment for a factory line at Ford is a part of regular established operations of Ford. Therefore, the expected rate of return estimated for the Ford as a company is appropriate for this particular project. Since Ford is a mature company, with its stock having being traded for many years, its expected rate of return

The Outcome of Employee Involvement and Participation Essay

The Outcome of Employee Involvement and Participation - Essay Example The utilization of this management philosophy is proved to positively impact a business organization. First, it has been demonstrated that giving employees the chance to participate in the decision making of business organizations directly and significantly contributes to their job satisfaction. As human beings, employees have this innate desire to enhance their self-worth. Without their participation and involvement, employees are left with the feeling that they are no more than the equipment that the company uses. With these sentiments, employees began to feel dissatisfied with their job, leading to human resource problems like absenteeism and low labor productivity. Thus, employee involvement and participation is a motivational factor that enhances the satisfaction of employees. Employee satisfaction has a positive implication for a firm. For one, employee satisfaction brought about by employee involvement is instrumental in achieving the goals of the company. John Purcell has emphasized that the firm’s human resource should be taken as strategic partners. Employee involvement can be used in order to tap the creativity and skill of the workforce and strategically align according to the goals of the business organization. If the employees are satisfied with their jobs, then doing this will be less tedious. The end result will be higher organizational performance leading to higher profitability. Employee involvement in the decision making of the company gives them the feeling of belongingness to the organization. This also makes them able to identify themselves with the company. They feel that their efforts can strongly contribute to the attainment of organizational success.  

Cross-Cultural Perspectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cross-Cultural Perspectives - Essay Example As a result, there are several multinational corporations operating in over a dozen countries. The problem is that the companies are often only familiar with the business laws from their host countries and often overlook the laws for the host countries in which they go to operate in. It is not hard to presume that how business is conducted in one country is bound to be different from how business is conducted in another country (Palmer, 2010). Conflicts in ethics often arise as a result of business corporations operating in new countries because the norms and culture of running business often differ from one country to another inevitably raises a lot of ethical issues. In this essay, I will discuss a global organization and cultural issue that affects this organizations interaction outside the United States. In addition, I will discuss the ethical and social responsibility issues that this organization has to deal with as a consequence of being a global organization by identifying various ethical perspectives in the global organization as well as analyzing these ethical perspectives across societies associated with this global organization. Nike Corporation developed from a local United States-based footwear seller to a global marketing giant of athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment. Â   Nike is one of the largest multinational corporations dealing with sportswear with production companies in Japan and Indonesia due to the cheap labour. Nike began globalization by setting up its companies in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam. This provided jobs for many in these countries, and at the start, it was more than enough. The dividends were great until they started receiving constant criticism in the media since 1991 over child labour and inhumane working conditions (Palmer, 2010). The company has been facing major ethical issues concerning the

E-Portfolio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

E-Portfolio - Essay Example SLO Assessment 1 The picture above shows the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province, China. The temple is famous throughout the world and is one of the greatest Buddhist temples in the world. This temple is a famous cultural site since it encourages martial arts particularly the Kung Fu. The construction of the temple occurred during the 15th Century therefore the monastery is a center of Shaolin traditions and history. According to Shahar (184), various Chinese emperors throughout history supported the temple hence illustrating the importance of the temple to Chinese traditions. The monastery has experienced destructions and rebuilt severally throughout the years. Dynasties fights throughout Chinese history, is responsible for most of the temple’s destructions. These destructions occurred under various emperors’ reign such as the Shunzhi and Kangzi emperors (Shahar, 184). These destructions helped spread Shaolin fighting styles throughout China. This is because the monks org anized retaliatory attacks by training the locals to fight against the attackers. These destructions are common in Chinese myths and legendary stories to date. This artifact demonstrates my understanding and skills in analyzing historical trends of Chinese Shaolin culture and the Buddhist religion. The artifact shows my proficiency of Buddhism and martial arts culture in China. The above artifact is the origin of Shaolin fighting culture in China. It therefore explains the spread and popularity of the martial arts culture in China. By being conversant with the above artifact, am able to show my proficiency of origin of a common culture in China. SLO 2 Assessment The above artifact shows the migration of the Aztecs into America in the 18th century. The artifact explains the migration of the Aztecs from Mexico. It shows that the Aztecs did not migrate north of America but Southern America beginning from Utah. The artifact explains the history of some of the migrating communities into the US in the 18th century. It provides evidence to prove the Aztecs migration through North America. Boone (163) argues that presence of Uto-Azteca language throughout in South Western states during this period is a sign of the Aztec migration. In addition, the corn plantations in South Western states is due to the Aztecs migration and presence. The artifact explains the presence of Aztec/Mexican culture in Western states as well as the connection between the North Western and South Western states (Boone, 164). It explains the use of Mexican place names in some of these states. This artifact shows my expertise in multicultural literacy. This is because the artifact explains the origin of the Hispanic community in South-West states. From the artifact, I can understand the historical culture of the Hispanic community in the US. Am able to understand the high presence of the Hispanic population in states like California, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and Texas. The artifact al so helped me to understand the use of Mexican names in places, parks and streets in most western states contrary to the popular archeological belief that the names began during the romanticism period in the 19th Century. SLO 3 Assessment The above artifact shows people of various religious groups such as Christianity, Hindu, Buddhism and Islam. The artifact presents the concept of religious diversity in the current human life. The

Cross-Cultural Perspectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cross-Cultural Perspectives - Essay Example As a result, there are several multinational corporations operating in over a dozen countries. The problem is that the companies are often only familiar with the business laws from their host countries and often overlook the laws for the host countries in which they go to operate in. It is not hard to presume that how business is conducted in one country is bound to be different from how business is conducted in another country (Palmer, 2010). Conflicts in ethics often arise as a result of business corporations operating in new countries because the norms and culture of running business often differ from one country to another inevitably raises a lot of ethical issues. In this essay, I will discuss a global organization and cultural issue that affects this organizations interaction outside the United States. In addition, I will discuss the ethical and social responsibility issues that this organization has to deal with as a consequence of being a global organization by identifying various ethical perspectives in the global organization as well as analyzing these ethical perspectives across societies associated with this global organization. Nike Corporation developed from a local United States-based footwear seller to a global marketing giant of athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment. Â   Nike is one of the largest multinational corporations dealing with sportswear with production companies in Japan and Indonesia due to the cheap labour. Nike began globalization by setting up its companies in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam. This provided jobs for many in these countries, and at the start, it was more than enough. The dividends were great until they started receiving constant criticism in the media since 1991 over child labour and inhumane working conditions (Palmer, 2010). The company has been facing major ethical issues concerning the

Hillary Clinton Campaign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hillary Clinton Campaign - Essay Example An excellent writing skill must be employed for an intelligent idea could be senseless without it being well-expressed. Though base on his/her opinion, the writer must be very careful with such strong emotions or personal bias as that could be a hinder in presenting a rational explanation. Prior to writing, the author must first check his own view specially if it was from an incoherent source or was formed many years ago. Faludi, on the first part of her article had made a concise yet substantial view of the current politics in America as she creatively relates it to the gender issue using the masculine myth as she expound on Boone's "Rescue" tableau. Her struggle to convince her reader to adhere to her strong preference towards McCain has been made very obvious as she presents the facts in a very explicit manner that displays McCain's masculinity in contrast to Obama's femininity. She needs not to make a last statement her conclusion because it has been clear in every part of her text. This discrimination, however, could possibly elicit the danger of appearing so biased that the reader would not want to continue reading knowing that they would be presented with the same presentation of the same argument. She has a great tendency to persuade her audience of her perspective that were based upon agreed-upon facts and shared values between McCain supporters and Obama's detractors. Her argument would be effective in aggravating McCain's supporters' admiration towards the politician, but for those on the opposite view as well as those in the middle, the article should have been inconspicuously partial. Collins' has concisely yet completely defined his own position early in his text as he dealt with a distinct, contentious issue. He skillfully states his stance without distorting any information. This he had done by having a profound knowledge on the issue beforehand thus he managed to create a logical explanation that have the power to convince even Clinton's supporter. He quoted reliable authorities like the person of Muriel Fox who was one of National Organization for Women's founder to back-up his idea. As using the first person weakens argument (Jordan-Henley, 2008), he need not to pronounce his text using such. He had refrained from presenting any bias by pointing out the bad side, "Her campaign was messy, and it made some fatal tactical errors" (Collins, 2008) as well as the good side, "But nobody who sent her a donation could accuse her of not giving them their money's worth" (Collins, 2008) of his opposing points. Allowing this type of compromise and portrayal of justice ha d been one of his effective tactics that had surely won neural readers' approval. Speaking adeptly, his discreet words and reasonable details have the power to move skeptics. Among the three authors, Herbert was apparently the only one who had backed up his idea using a considerably acceptable source, quoting from national poll by Lifetime television as well as nonpartisan campaign. He had been very clear with his topic as he creates an actual picture of the current gender issue that U.S. was experiencing at the very moment. He's introduction had been nonetheless factual and the rest of the text was

Impact of Labour Shortage on Economic Growth of Australia

Impact of Labour Shortage on Economic Growth of Australia Table of Contents (Jump to) Impact of Labour Shortage on Economic Growth of Australia CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Purpose of the Study Context of the Study Problem Statement Research Questions CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW The Concept of Skilled Labour Skills Shortage Skills Shortage in Australia CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Data Collection and Analysis Methods Quantitative Data Collection Qualitative Data Collection Description of the Research Process Project Plan Expected Research Outcomes Conclusion References The Impact of Labour Shortage on Economic Growth of Australia CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Purpose of the Study The present study will aim to address the labour shortage in Australia that ultimately affects the economic growth of the country. From this perspective, Gavin (2010) points out that â€Å"The minerals and energy industry continues to make a significant contribution to employment and wider economic activity in the communities of regional Australia, and to governments directly through taxes and royalties. Skilled labour shortages; however, will continue to have an impact on the nation’s future growth and development prospects, especially in the minerals and energy industry† (p. 1). It would not be wrong to state that the labour shortages coexist with the â€Å"high levels of unemployment,† as these shortages are considered as restrictions for the occupations required experienced workers as well as specialist skills. Nevertheless, the labour shortage is widely considered to be the consequence of various factors such as changes in technology, high levels of wastage, low levels of training, increased demand of new skills, and locational difference (Labour Market Research and Analysis Branch Department of Employment, 2014). This is particularly because workers do not have the skills required by the employers. Context of the Study It is generally recognized that Australia has been experiencing the lack of skills in certain industries. This can end up being a deterrent in the budgetary development of the economy. There are different courses for business and government to address this issue. Costs, welfare and superannuation systems all need examination in light of the way that they offer impulses to backing in the work power. The nonappearance of suitable staff hampers the development of the Australian economy (Tan Lester, 2012; McLean, 2012). The businesses are not ready to discover suitable staffs which prompt undertaking postponements, moderate generation. Thusly, money related advancement is slower than it would in general be. In reality, aptitude insufficiencies diminish beyond what many would consider possible for the economy. Remuneration improvement in business ventures standing up to exceptional capacity inadequacies (particularly mining) is normal and not strange. On the other hand, a greatly basic threat happens if wage advancement specifically territories decodes into no matter how you look at it remuneration improvement (Brennan Castles, 2002). There is noteworthy lack of staff in commercial ventures, for example, mining, accommodation, wellbeing, building, hospitality and farming. Problem Statement Skills shortage hampers the financial growth of the country and it is a great challenge for the Abbott government, currently the â€Å"federal executive government† of Australia. The government is led by Tony Abbott, the Prime Minister of Australia. Nevertheless, a large number of industries are requesting for the increased rate of migrant intake due to the labour shortage in Australia. Work deficiency in Australia has long been a subject in money related and political rounds (Brennan Castles, 2002; McLean, 2012). It was even gathering of the Hawke governments arrangement in 1987. In the late years, Australia has been welcoming the skilled migrants to fill the gaping-holes in the Australian workforce. In 2012, there was remarkable trade when the Gillard government left the relocation rules (ACCI, 2007). Research Questions As Australian Industry Group has recently released its settlement to the organization on boosting the movement permit by 30,000 a year to â€Å"meet capacities insufficiencies,† the aim and objectives of this study will be: When are the labour shortages to be addressed through labour immigration? Which industries are experiencing the labour shortages? How can be the current labour motivated and improved its skills? CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW The Concept of Skilled Labour The term â€Å"skilled labour† refers to work force that has â€Å"high skill level† to create a noteworthy economic value with the help of work performance, also known as human capital (Dyster Meredith, 2012). Skilled labour is usually characterized as high expertise, as well as high education with high wages, as it involves complicated tasks, which usually need specific education, skill sets, experience and training. From this perspective, Mitchell and Quirk (2005) point out that â€Å"The term skill refers to a specific ability, and is generally used where the ability is assumed to have been in some sense developed through experience or training. Skill is one of several terms used to express the concept of ability, the mental or physical power to do something, that variously distinguish how the ability was acquired, and to what standard. For example, aptitude implies an inherent capacity for acquiring ability, whereas talent often infers ability is inborn. Competen ce generally suggests an ability to do something satisfactorily but not outstandingly. Proficiency suggests significant competence. Skills are also often classified according to the method of their development, as ‘formal’ (derived through a process of structured training and documented assessment), non-formal (training was structured but no certification issued) or informal (obtained through practice, experience, self-education, etc)† (p. 3). Skills Shortage The term â€Å"skills shortage† is considered to be quite related to the skilled labour. According to Mitchell and Quirk (2005), â€Å"Unsurprisingly, analyses of skills shortages by industry and governments invariably consider the issue from the perspective of business and profitability, which places the emphasis on containment of labour costs both in terms of wages and conditions, and hence, whenever possible, externalising the costs associated with developing the skills firms require in their workers† (p. 5). From this perspective, it would be accurate to state that the shortage of skills usually results in the aggravation to organizations, as it hampers both the quantity and the quality of their productivity. According to Richardson (2007), â€Å"In a market economy, firms are accustomed to being limited by their capacity to find buyers for their products, not by their capacity to produce those products. When firms have buyers waiting, but cannot produce enough to satisfy the demand because they cannot recruit sufficient skilled workers, they interpret this as a failure of the skills development system† (p. 11). Skills Shortage in Australia According to Mitchell and Quirk (2005), â€Å"It is evident that from their perspective, Australian businesses feel hamstrung by the present state of the labour market. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) cite skills shortages as one of the most significant barriers to investment in Australia. The Business Council of Australia (BCA) notes that the increasing average population age necessitates a range of training measures to head of future broad based skills shortages. Although the labour market has tightened in recent years, there is still only anecdotal evidence that a skills shortage is becoming a growth bottleneck† (p. 5). On the other hand, the national government office responsible for Australias tourism and hospitality needs around 56,000 skilled workers from now unless more remote staff is used in nearby ranges. Government needs to relax the 457 visa plan to enable employers to hire skilled staff from overseas (Brennan Castles, 2002; Dyster Meredith, 2012). Skilled positions such as Chef, cooks, Dentists are in huge demand employers are constantly looking overseas as they are not able to hire suitable skilled staff locally. Table 1 shows the â€Å"survey of employers who have recently advertised† for the vacancies in Australia. Table 1: (Proportion of vacancies filled (%), average number of applicants and suitable applicants per vacancy (no.), All SERA occupations, 2007 to 2014 (%)) Source: (Labour Market Research and Analysis Branch Department of Employment, 2014, p. 5) Table 1 also demonstrates that there is a deficiency of skilled workers in Australia from 2008 to 2013. It is quite difficult for the employers to fill the number of overall vacancies. Most number of candidates are not suitably met all requirements for the employment. Employers are willing to sponsor skilled workers but the long and costly legal process is a problem .The number of businesses confronting staff deficiency have tumbled to a new low with managers neglecting to contract staff with proper capabilities (Brennan Castles, 2002). New figures released by the Department of Employment yesterday show insufficiencies were more disposed to be for trades than reasons for living (Argent Tonts, 2015). Kitchen staff, hair stylists and auto mechanics were the hardest positions to fill, while Accountants and teachers were the easiest position to fill. Over the past budgetary year, considerable amounts of applicants competed for available businesses in Australia’s regional areas. McGrath (2014) points out that â€Å"Boston Consulting Group has released a report predicting a shortfall of 2.3 million workers by 2030. The firm says Australias economic growth risks losing momentum in the years ahead unless the country can find ways to plug the gap. With Australia’s unemployment rate at an 11 year high of 6 per cent, it may seem like a strange time to be talking about a shortage of people looking for work, but Brad Noakes from Boston Consulting Group says it is a prospect worth taking seriously† (p.n.d). CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This study will use the mix research methodology that will be followed to address the hypotheses or propositions and research questions that will put forward as possible solutions to the problems mentioned in the literature review section. Data Collection and Analysis Methods As mentioned above this study will use the mix research methodology, mix research methodology refers to the approach of research that contains the both methodologies i.e. qualitative and quantitative. Creswell (2013) suggests that â€Å"Truth is what works at the time; it is not based in a strict dualism between the mind and a reality completely independent of the mind. Thus, in mixed methods research, investigators use both quantitative and qualitative data because they work to provide the best understanding of a research problem† (p. 12). Quantitative Data Collection In the â€Å"quantitative data collection method† an investigator relies upon the random sampling as well as upon the structured â€Å"data collection instruments.† These two tools of investigation fit the diverse experiences into predetermined response categories. In other words, they produce results that are easy to summarize, compare, and generalize. According to Creswell (2013), â€Å"In quantitative studies, researchers advance the relationship among variables and pose this in terms of questions or hypotheses† (p. 8). The quantitative data gathering methodologies include: Experiments/clinical trials Observing and recording all around characterized occasions (e.g., tallying the quantity of patients holding up in crisis at indicated times of the day) Obtaining applicable information from administration data frameworks Administering overviews with interviews e.g., vis-à  -vis and phone interviews, polls an Qualitative Data Collection The research method what is known as â€Å"qualitative data collection† plays a significant role to assess the research question, as it provides the researcher with useful information to understand the various processes involved in the observed results. On the other hand, it also helps the researcher to assess changes in the perceptions of people concerning to their well-being. According to Creswell (2013), â€Å"Meanings are constructed by human beings as they engage with the world they are interpreting. Qualitative researchers tend to use open-ended questions so that participants can express their views† (p. 9). In addition, the qualitative method is also used for the improvement of the quality of ‘survey-based quantitative evaluations.† This is how it helps the investigator to generate the evaluation hypothesis. It actually strengthens the design of â€Å"survey questionnaires† and expands or clarifies the â€Å"quantitative evaluation findings.â €  The approaches used under the qualitative researcher are characterized as following: They have a tendency to be open-finished and have less organized conventions (i.e., researchers may change the information gathering method by including, refining, or dropping systems or sources) They depend all the more intensely on intelligent meetings; respondents may be talked with a few times to catch up on a specific issue, clear up ideas or check the dependability of information They depend on numerous information accumulation systems to check the legitimacy of their outcomes) Generally their discoveries are not generalizable to any particular topic rather every contextual analysis creates a solitary bit of confirmation that can be utilized to look for general examples among diverse investigations of the same issue Despite the sorts of information included, information gathering in a subjective study takes a lot of time. The specialist needs to record any conceivably valuable information completely, precisely, and methodically, utilizing field notes, sketches, audiotapes, photographs and other suitable means. The information gathering strategies must watch the moral standards of examination. The subjective techniques most usually utilized as a part of assessment can be characterized in three general classes: In-profundity meeting Observation techniques Document review Description of the Research Process The process of the proposed study will put special focus on the approaches including â€Å"Exploratory Data Collection† and â€Å"Survey.† From this perspective, participant observation will be the core method used to collect and analyse data during fieldwork in Australia. On the other hand, it will also use the survey to collect the data for this study. Nevertheless, survey will be containing two scales such as measuring the transnational behaviour as well as the other integration. The process of the proposed study will take the time of more than 4 months. Project Plan Expected Research Outcomes The conceivable answer for this lack is to fast track 457 visa applications so that the business can sponsor the skilled workers to fill the available vacancies. Reducing the bureaucracy involved in the process will help the business in the long term. Conclusion Most Australian accompanies are facing issues in hiring skilled staff. Associations are finding it increasingly hard to get the ideal individual for work opportunities, as showed in various reviews. Pulling in more staff to enter the work power and to backing gifted movement ensures that staff shortage does not lead to slow economic growth. I feel that talented relocation is still the best approach if Australia needs to address its staffing deficiencies. References ACCI,. (2007). ADDRESSING AUSTRALIA’S LABOUR SHORTAGES. AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. Argent, N., Tonts, M. (2015). A multicultural and multifunctional countryside? International labour migration and Australias productivist heartlands.Population, Space and Place,21(2), 140-156. Brennan, G., Castles, F. G. (2002).Australia reshaped: 200 years of institutional transformation. Cambridge University Press. Creswell, J. W. (2013).Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications. Dyster, B., Meredith, D. (2012).Australia in the global economy: continuity and change. Cambridge University Press. Gavin, B. (2010). The Impact of Skilled Labour Shortages on the Pilbara Region. Future Directions International Pty Ltd. Labour Market Research and Analysis Branch Department of Employment,. (2014). Skill Shortages Australia. employment.gov.au. McGrath, P. (2014). Labour shortage predicted to hamper economy. ABC News. Retrieved 17 June 2015, from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-04/labour-shortage-predicted-to-hamper-australian-economy/5647196 McLean, I. W. (2012).Why Australia prospered: the shifting sources of economic growth. Princeton University Press. Mitchell, W., Quirk, V. (2005). Skills shortages in Australia: concepts and reality. Centre of Full Employment and Equity. Richardson, S. (2007).What Is a Skill Shortage?. National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd. PO Box 8288, Stational Arcade, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. Tan, Y., Lester, L. H. (2012). Labour market and economic impacts of international working holiday temporary migrants to Australia.Population, space and place,18(3), 359-383.

Interstellar Pig :: essays research papers

Barney, a teenage boy, and his parents rent a summer cabin in Dunstable. Him and his parents are staying in a house that belonged to Captain Latham. Captain Latham had a trading ship when Dunstable was an important port. The captain’s stupid younger brother was a sailor on his ship. And he went crazy and was locked in the front bedroom where barney sleeps for 20 years. When the Captain was out in the South Pacific they picked up a shipwrecked sailor. The guy they rescued bunked with the crazy brother. And the next morning the sailor was dead the brother had strangled him. The crazy brother was sentenced to be keelhauled but he did not die was just permently brain damaged. And clawed around the windows for the rest of his life. They realize from Ted (the guy the are renting the house from) that their neighbors wanted this cabin a lot but Barney and his parents ended up getting it. When Barney meets his neighbors he thinks that they are a little bit weird but his parents don’t think that they are too bad of people in fact they sort of like them. Barney describes them as animal like the way they move and that they seem to be fasenated in the sky and water. Barney is observing the neighbors and states that they had a purplish cast in the fading light, which is strange because humans aren’t purple unless there defective. After several hours Zena knocks on the front door and barney describes her eye color as deep lavender. His neighbors also have a strange game they play that’s called Interstellar Pig. Their neighbors are about in their mid-twenties there is one girl, Zena, and two boys, Joe and Manny. Barney is rummaging threw the neighbors house when they leave to try and find out why they are so interested in the house and why they just stopped and was like in a trance when they saw the markings on the window. Barney finds some old document when he is searching threw their house and finds out that these neighbors wanted his house because there is some hidden secret in it, which Barney doesn’t have a clue what it is till he is looking at the scratch marks around the window and relies that they point to a large boulder at the southern tip of the island.

The Life Of Albert Einstein :: Biography Biographies

The Life Of Albert Einstein Albert Einstein was one of the greatest geniuses of all time. In 1886 he began his school career in Munich. He studied mathematics, in particular calculus, beginning around 1891. In 1894 Einstein’s family moved to Milan but Albert stayed behind in Munich. In 1895 Albert failed an examination that would have allowed him to study for a diploma as an electrical engineer at the Eidgenossiche Technische Hochschule in Zurich. After some time he graduated in 1900 as a teacher, teaching mathematics at the Technical High School in Winterthur. Einstein finally landed another temporary job at the patent office in Bern. His title was technical expert third class. He worked in this patent office from 1902 to 1909 holding a temporary post when he was first appointed. By 1904 the position was made permanent and in 1906 he was promoted to technical expert second class. Einstein earned a doctorate from the University of Zurich in 1905 for a thesis on a new determination of molecular dimensions. Einstein wrote three papers in 1905. In the first one he examined the phenomenon discovered by Max Planck, which was, according to which electromagnetic energy seemed to be emitted from radiating object in discrete quantities. The energy of these quanta was directly proportional to the frequency of the radiation. This contradicted the normal electromagnetic theory based on Maxwell’s equations and the laws of thermodynamics, which assured that electromagnetic energy was made up of waves that could contain any small amount of energy. Einstein used Planck’s quantum hypothesis to describe the electromagnetic radiation of light. Einstein’s second paper proposed what is now called the special theory of relativity. He based his new theory on a reinterpretation of the classical principle of relativity, specifically the laws of physics had to have the same form in any frame of reference. Later in 1905 Einstein showed how mass and energy were equal. The third paper in 1905 concerned statistical mechanics. After 1905 Einstein made important contributions to quantum theory, but he wanted to extend the special theory of relativity to phenomena involving acceleration. The key appeared in 1907 with the principle of equivalence, in which gravitational acceleration was held to be indistinguishable from acceleration caused by mechanical forces. From then on, gravitational mass was identical with inertial mass. 1909 recognized Einstein as a leading scientific thinker and in the same year he resigned from the patent office. He was appointed a full professor at the Karl Ferdinand University in Prague in 1911.

Literature critique

IntroductionStrohschein’s (2005) report discusses a research conducted among Canadian children over a five year period. The children’s level of anxiety/depression and their tendency towards anti-social behavior were analyzed at specified intervals during the five-year period assessing mental health adjustment to changes in the family in the form of a divorce between children whose parents eventually divorced and those whose parents remained together. Children in families considered dysfunctional prior to the divorce were assessed for improvements in mental health.The primary objective of the study is to determine a connection between divorce and mental health in children. This research assesses the children’s home environment both prior to and after a divorce to determine any correlation. There is need for this because prior researches that did not take into account this factor. The literature review reveals that the current research is distinguished based on the methodology used.MethodologyA qualitative approach is taken. The anxiety/depression state of children is examined over a five-year period my means of interviews and their relative state of mental health is assessed. The longitudinal survey methodology employed is justified on the grounds that alternative methods such as two-wave panel studies that assess developmental changes between two set time-periods for comparison as well as cross-sectional data used to pit children in divorced families against those in intact families, have been deficient.The multi-wave, longitudinal approach of the current study is clearly detailed as the better alternative. The researchers assume that the home environment prior to a divorce could determine divorce effects on children. They also assume that even prior to a divorce the mental health of children of divorced parents may be substantially different from those whose parents remain together and that divorce could positively alter the mental health of children.Two specific research questions are posed – are there negative effects of divorce on children’s mental health and is anxiety/depression diminished by a divorce within a dysfunctional family. A clear definition of what constitutes a dysfunctional family was given. The target population as well as exclusions is described by the researchers. The initial longitudinal sample was reduced after excluding children not 4 to 11 years, single-parent homes and children losing a parent by death. The final sample size was 2,819 with 5.9% experiencing divorce within the research period. The selection criteria appear unbiased and equitable given the requirements of the research. The data instrument used was a national survey the 5 year period covered lends much validity to the data collected as it allows for equitability in responses over time.FindingsThe findings of the research are consistent with the data gathered and analyzed. There is enough evidence to conclude that there is a greater prevalence of anxiety and antisocial behavior in children whose parents divorce than in those whose parents remain together. However the research does not show any correlation between preexisting family problems and decreased anxiety levels subsequent to a divorce. These findings cannot, however be generalized outside the context of children below the age of 11 years.Discussion & ConclusionTwo research limitations are highlighted. Only a single informant, a parent, was used for the assessment of the child’s mental health and no effective mechanism to determine the nature and distribution of resources in the household was possible; only inventory type data collection was conducted for this variable. The researchers suggest that the methodology of analysis used has proved to be effective in gauging children’s reactions to parental divorce and therefore future research on the issue on a broader scale should employ similar techniques.REFERENCESStrohschei n, L. (2005, Dec). Parental Divorce and Child Mental Health Trajectories. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67(5),  1286-1300.

Milk Healthy or Not? Essay

Most people drink milk everyday because it has been proven to increase bone strength and also helps slow down bone loss as we age. However, this seemingly harmless drink may be more harmful than it is healthy. Milk and other dairy products are packed with a lot of different nutrients that are essential for human survival and growth. As well as calcium, milk also has protein, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin A, Riboflavin, and Niacin. The National Dairy Council states that with just one eight ounce glass of milk a day provides the same amount of vitamin D you would get from 3. 5 ounces of salmon and more than 2 ? cups of broccoli. Milk helps build strong bones and teeth where most of the body’s calcium is held. It also improves bone density, which means a lower risk of fractures and osteoporosis. After working out its proven that drinking chocolate milk can increase your results. This is because after you workout, your body is more receptive to using amino acids to repair muscle tissue. It is also beneficial because of its protein content. Dairy products in general carry a lot of calcium, but they might not be the best source. Good, non-dairy sources of calcium include soy milk, beans, and supplements that have calcium and vitamin D. Another good way to get calcium is to eat dark green vegetables; that is how cows get their calcium. High intake of milk and other dairy products can increase the risk of prostate cancer. They can also have high levels of saturated fat and vitamin A, which can actually weaken the bones. Milk from a cow is rich in phosphorous which can potentially fuse with calcium and that can prevent us from absorbing the calcium in the milk. Milk’s protein also quickens calcium emission from the blood through the kidneys. People can also be allergic to dairy products and it is called lactose intolerance. This is because those allergic cannot produce the enzyme lactase essential for digesting dairy. The FDA has just recently approved the use of Bovine Growth Hormones, or BGH, for dairy farmers to increase their cows’ milk production. This is a very bad thing because those hormones go right into the milk. BGH causes an increase in an insulin-like growth factor than can be absorbed directly into our bloodstream. Before I researched this topic I thought the milk was undoubtedly good for us, but now I realize that it may actually be bad for you. You can get all the nutrients that are in milk from other products. There are more factual examples of risks than benefits with people that ingest dairy products than those who do not. After researching this topic I will not drink as much milk as I have in the past. Works Cited Bayer, Jeff. â€Å"Benefits of Chocolate Milk After Your Workout. † Fox News. FOX News Network, 23 Dec. 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. Mercola, Joseph, Dr. â€Å"Don’t Drink Your Milk! † Mercola. com. N. p. , 17 Feb. 2013. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.

Factory Outlet vs Departmental Outlets

CUSTOMER PERCEPTIONS OF FACTORY OUTLET STORES VERSUS TRADITIONAL DEPARTMENT STORES Dr. G. S. Shergill* Department of Commerce, Massey University, Albany Campus, Private Bag 102 904 NSMC, Auckland, NEW ZEALAND Ph: 0064 9 414 0800 x9466, Email: G. S. [email  protected] ac. nz & Y. Chen Department of Commerce, Massey University, Auckland, NEW ZEALAND, Email: [email  protected] com CUSTOMER PERCEPTIONS OF FACTORY OUTLET STORES VERSUS TRADITIONAL DEPARTMENT STORES Abstract This paper examines customers’ perceptions of two different types of retail stores; factory outlet stores and traditional department stores; as well as their purchasing preferences. In addition, the paper compares these preferences across demographics. It explores four critical factors which significantly influence customers’ perceptions of both types of retail store. Findings are base on a mall intercept survey with 205 respondents across a range of demographics. The results indicate that factory outlet stores are perceived as having comparatively lower prices and attractive promotions in comparison to traditional department stores, while traditional department stores have competitive advantages in terms of the other three factors. Also it is found that different demographic characteristics play an important role in influencing differences in customer perceptions regarding the different types of stores. The main implication of these findings is that factory outlet stores are perceived favourably and that they need to build more positive marketing strategies accordingly. Keywords- Factory outlet stores, Traditional department stores, Customer preferences. Nowadays, an increasing number of customers choose factory outlet stores as their alternative shopping places, rather than continuing to shop at traditional department stores. Since customer loyalty is becoming more important for marketers in achieving sales performance goals (Kulpa, 1998), this increase in the use of factory outlet stores as an alternative choice poses a significant challenge to traditional department stores. This circumstance means that the competition between these different retail channels has become extremely intense. A factory outlet store is owned and operated directly by a manufacturer to sell only its brand of merchandise, whereas a traditional department store does not manufacture products itself but instead sells a variety of products manufactured by independent firms (Meyers, 1995). In a factory outlet store, the manufacturer has full control over the product offering, in-store customer service and the quality and price of the product sold, as well as the physical attributes of the store. Traditional department stores are owned 1 and operated independent of manufacturers. Manufacturers of the products sold at these stores have limited control over in-store customer service, prices of the products sold and the physical attributes of the stores. Initially factory outlet stores were established to offer end-of-line goods and seconds at the lowest possible prices (Lombart, 2004). As a result it was mainly customers in lower socio-economic groups who were willing to buy through this channel. These outlets have begun, however, to be gradually accepted by more customers, in part due to special annual sale promotions which began during the 1980s (Lombart, 2004). Additionally, customers’ increasing value-consciousness has stimulated the development of factory outlet stores. This has especially been the case in the United States, where there are over 10,000 factory outlet stores now in operation (Meyers, 1995). Nowadays, factory outlet stores which provide the same range of brand name merchandise attract more and more customers, and have developed into showcases in much the same form as that of traditional department stores (Fernie and Fernie, 1997). It is unclear, however, whether customer perceptions of factory outlet stores versus traditional department stores may differ in general and across demographics, as well as how such differences may be seen. The findings will assist marketers, particularly those employed by manufacturers, in understanding the ways in which customers view both traditional department stores and factory outlet stores. This insight will allow such marketers to set more suitable customer-oriented marketing strategies and business objectives, achieve superior financial performance and develop their marketing performance in the retail industry. The main objective of this paper is to explore customers’ perceptions of these different types of retail stores, as well as their purchasing preferences. In addition, the paper examines customer preferences across demographics regarding customers’ perceptions of factory outlet stores and traditional department stores. The paper contains five sections. Following the introduction is an overview of literature, summarising previous studies, and sets the hypotheses to be tested. The next two 2 sections deal with research methodology, data analysis and findings. Conclusions and implications are discussed in the last section. LITERATURE REVIEW Factory outlet stores vs. Traditional department stores Factory outlet stores An increasing number of factory outlet stores have been built for various reasons. Some of these stores have been created to deal with seconds’ products, some are presented as discount stores associated with new distribution channels, and some have been designed by manufacturers in order to reduce the price of their products through savings on overhead costs (Parker et al. , 2002). This last reason has been pursued in order to attract more current and potential customers in price-oriented and price-sensitive markets and satisfy customers’ varying needs and wants (Parker et al. , 2002). Initially, the factory outlet store was identified and established as an off-price retailer (Joshi, 2003). Internationally, especially in Europe, factory outlet stores were built and developed for four basic reasons: to sell discounted products; to reduce overhead costs and carry out sales promotions; to create flexibility of stock running; and to achieve brand promotion (Joshi, 2003). The roles and functions of factory outlet stores have changed significantly over the past few decades. They are no longer designed only as low price stores, but are also used for branded product promotions, especially in Europe and the US. For example, manufacturers of the Reebok, Levi, Gap and Warnaco brands regard their brand promotion to be one of the key functions of their factory outlet stores (Joshi, 2003). Factory outlet stores have also been designed as specific seconds stores and discount stores, and are located in many of Japan’s major cities (Joshi, 2003). There has been a 62% increase in factory outlet stores since 1990 and the trend is for this increase to continue (Rudnitsky, 1994). Factory outlet stores have been developed using original styles by including some specific characteristics of conventional shopping centres in order to provide products with attractive prices and a leisurely shopping environment for most price-oriented customers (Golub and Winston, 1983). 3 Nowadays, the factory outlet stores are normally recognised as â€Å"†¦ gaining a larger market share through price reductions, which are aimed at capturing the mass market† (Hellofs and Jacobson, 1999, p. 3). Therefore, the factory outlet stores need to develop their level of customer satisfaction and ensure that the products sold in these stores are of a reasonable quality in comparison to the previously built brand images (Parker et al. , 2002). Overall, the trend in factory outlet store development is quite satisfactory. For example, according to a sur vey discussed in Happy Campers at Outlets (Rauch, 2005), around 84% of respondents agreed that the prices in these stores met, and even exceeded, their expectations. Also, nearly 93% of the respondents indicated their intention of making a return visit (Rauch, 2005). In summary, the development of factory outlet stores is rapid. They are seen as offering reasonable and lower prices than traditional department stores, and a much better shopping environment and atmosphere than ever before. Therefore, the sales performances achieved by factory outlet stores are satisfactory, tending towards positive maintenance and a continuous increase in this type of store. Traditional Department Stores Nowadays, traditional department stores are facing a significant threat because the number of consumers who shop at traditional department stores is decreasing, although the sales of these stores have increased (Nasri, 1999). The number of customers who shop at traditional department stores has dropped sharply (Li, 2003). This means that department stores are in an endangered situation, and are receiving a lessening portion of the total retail sales. This situation has led to a significant decrease in the number of department stores (Li, 2003). Traditional department stores are perceived by customers as playing a distinctive fashion role and offering a range of up-to-date fashion merchandise with reasonable prices, high levels of customer service and a comfortable shopping atmosphere 4 (Johnson, 1994). Customers are more willing to enter into, and purchase products in, traditional department stores, which offer more excitement and emotional attachment than do outlet stores. As a result traditional department stores tend to be developed to create and satisfy various demands of customers of different ages and with differing perceptions of fashion trends (Facenda, 2005). This could be a competitive advantage which traditional department stores can utilise to attract and maintain customers, as well as increase market share as an effective defence against the threat presented by factory outlet stores. In summary, unlike discount stores, traditional department stores tend to be challenged into finding and creating a winning combination of a diverse customer and merchandise mix, along with service and price expectations, rather than addressing and focusing on attracting bargain-seeking customers through niche target marketing (Coward, 2003). Therefore, the first hypothesis to be tested in the research can be stated as follows: H1: There is a significant difference in customers’ store preferences (traditional department stores, or factory outlet stores) across their demographics. Product Brand Image Loyal customers may hold strong and positive images of a brand which are hard to change and lead to long-term sales revenue (Wyner, 2003). A well-known brand as one important extrinsic factor can significantly affect customer perceptions (Ailawadi and Keller, 2004). Retailers have an obvious opportunity, and are in an ideal position to build these kinds of positive experiences for customers (Schmitt, 2003). Brookman (2004) noted that brand images should be used to link merchandise ranges and store design. Parker et al. (2002) also recommended that good brand imagery leads to good sales revenues. Ailawadi and Keller (2004) pointed out that there was a direct relevance between branding and customer perceptions of retailer imagery, which has been confirmed by a large number of researches in this topic area. Inman et al. 2004) pointed out that customers associate different branded product ranges with different types of retail stores. Accordingly, store image is impacted significantly by customer perceptions 5 of the different branded products and services offered by retailers (Ailawadi and Keller, 2004). The greater the breadth of different products and services offered by a retail store, the greater the number of customers who will frequently patro nage the store, as the variety of product categories provided in the same store provides a much more convenient shopping experience for customers (Messinger and Narasimhan, 1997). Furthermore, the depth of within-category brand products is another very important factor in influencing store image in customer perceptions, and could be a main stimulator in the customer store choice decision (Ailawadi and Keller, 2004). Developing a selection, a range of styles, and favourable categories of branded products are the most important keys to increasing customer perceptions of store image and, as a consequence, achieving higher sales (Dreze et al. , 1994). Therefore, the design of brand-name products can be a comparable factor in creating images for factory outlet stores and traditional department stores. The customer image of retail stores is highly and positively influenced by the quality of the manufactured product brands (Ailawadi and Keller, 2004). Accordingly, Jacoby and Mazursky (1984) noted that carrying strong positive images of brands could improve the positive image of retail stores. Furthermore, they noted that it was much easier to increase sales and achieve market share by increasing both the images of the brands and of the retail stores in the current saturated retail environment (Jacoby and Mazursky, 1984). Nevertheless, Jacoby and Mazursky (1984) also mentioned that a good product brand image would be damaged if it was associated with a retail store which had a poor image. Therefore, brand products sold in either type of retail store should be designed and managed to create and improve relevant customer perceptions. In summary, customers having good brand image tend to be much more loyal in their shopping patterns, whether at traditional department stores, or factory outlet stores. Also, customers who wish to purchase high quality branded products would consider whether the quality and value of the brand products sold in traditional retail stores is higher than those products sold in factory outlet stores (Parker et al. , 2002). So, the second hypothesis to be tested in the research could be stated as follows: 6 H2: The brand images of those products sold in traditional department stores are higher than for those products sold in factory outlet stores. Retail Store Image The store image plays a very important role in creating profit and maintaining customer loyalty. Therefore, it could be a determining factor in customer perceptions (Parker et al. , 2002). A high quality store image implies the possibility of differentiation, loyalty and profitability, while a low-quality store image paves the way for price wars by emphasising and intensifying customer price sensitivity (Hallanan, 1994). The conclusion that retail stores should develop a positive, clear and favourable self-image to be an alternative choice in customers’ minds was drawn by Martineau (1958). Understanding the impact of product brand image, and how a retailer should be positioned, is extremely important in building the image of a retail store (Ailawadi et al. , 1995). Building the image of a retail store requires the identification of sufficiently different goods and services from those of their competitors, which tends to increase customers’ appreciation (Keller, 2003). There are lots of different attributes which significantly influence store image. These include the quality of merchandise and services, the tore appearance, the quality of the purchase service, the physical facilities, the behaviour and service of employees, the price levels, the depth and frequency of promotions and the store shopping atmosphere (Lindquist, 1974). Two basic dimensions can be used to analyse the store image. These dimensions are in-store atmosphere, and price and promotion (Ailawadi and Keller, 2004, p. 333). In-store atmosphere is one of the most important factors in the influenc e of customer perceptions of retail stores. Baker et al. 2002) pointed out that a store’s shopping environment plays an extremely important role in providing information and shopping guides to customers, and is the key attribute in building store image. The in-store environment; particularly physical features such as merchandise pricing, quality and store design and layout, as well as social service facilities such as employees’ service 7 and friendliness, as well as food-court service; can influence customers’ economic and psychological shopping behaviours (Baker et al. , 2002). Certainly, store environment plays a major role in providing informational cues and signals to customers about the type of merchandise and service they should expect (Parker et al. , 2002). Merchandise quality and service quality are key variables in influencing store image (Parker et al. , 2002). This indicates that service attributes might be some of the most important factors in store image brand building, and deeply influence consumer purchase behaviours (Hicks, 2000). This leads to the creation of long-term sales revenue and profitability (Hicks, 2000). Furthermore, when different retailers stock similar products and brands, an appealing in-store atmosphere can play a critical role in building retailer brand image (Ailawadi and Keller, 2004). In this research, the in-store atmospheres of factory outlet stores and traditional department stores are compared, especially in terms of the physical characteristics and social service features. Two further hypotheses need to be tested, as follow: H3: The physical features (such as lighting, air conditioning, washrooms, music, cleanliness, displays, etc. of traditional department stores are perceived to be better than those of factory outlet stores. H4: The in-store customer service features (such as friendliness, helpfulness of salespeople, etc. ) of traditional department stores are perceived to be better than those of factory outlet stores. Price and promotion is another factor which directly affects customer perceptions of different types of retail stores and their images. A store’ s image in terms of price and promotion will be influenced by average levels of prices, seasonal variations in prices, and the frequency and depth of promotions (Dickson and Sawyer, 1990). Different customers hold different perceptions of the store choice decision, according to the different images of stores. For example, large basket shoppers like every-day low price stores, while small basket shoppers prefer high-low promotional pricing stores (Bell and Lattin, 1998). Traditional department stores tend to create â€Å"†¦ a diverse customer and merchandise mix, service expectations and price point †¦Ã¢â‚¬  in order to design a desirable shopping experience (Coward, 2003, p. 27). For example, Coward (2003) suggested that 8 stores needed to rethink convenient designs, return policies and commission policies in order to make their service more flexible and satisfying for customers. Parker et al. (2002) pointed out that there is an incredible interaction between price levels and customer perceptions of product brand images and store images. In particular, comparatively lower price levels would lead to negative customer perceptions of the retail stores (Parker et al. , 2002). To identify the different price and promotion images of retail stores, the hypotheses formulated are: H5: The price and promotion features of products sold in traditional department stores are perceived as being higher than that of factory outlet stores. H6: There is a significant difference in customers’ store ratings (traditional department stores vs. factory outlet stores) across their demographics. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The study was conducted in a mid-sized multicultural city with a range of local and international retailers, including a number of traditional department stores and factory outlet stores. Using Parker et al. ’s (2002) nineteen items developed for measuring store characteristics, a questionnaire was constructed which measured preferences for generic stores. A five point scale was used in the questionnaire, anchored by 1=very poor and 5=very good. In addition, four items designed to measure the demographic characteristics of the respondents were also included. The data was collected using intercept surveys. The respondents were selected equally at both types of retail outlets. The usable sample was 205 respondents. The sample profile is given in Table I. DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS Sample Profile The sample profile of 205 respondents is summarised in Table I below. There are 107 female and 98 male respondents in the survey. The majority of the respondents are less than forty-five years of age (approximately 71% of the total sample). Furthermore, the majority of the respondents had completed secondary school and completed at least one trade diploma, or certificate degree. Additionally, around 78% of the respondents earned 9 a yearly gross income (before tax) of over NZ$20,000. Respondents with a yearly income over NZ$60,000 only comprised 9. % of the sample, with the majority having a yearly income of between NZ$20,000 and NZ$40,000. Table I: Gender Sample Profile (N=205) Percentage Female Male Total Under 25yr 52. 2 47. 8 100 15. 6 25. 9 29. 8 18. 5 7. 8 2. 4 100 16. 6 30. 2 38. 5 14. 6 100 21. 5 45. 4 23. 9 9. 3 100 Demographics Formatted: Swedish (Sweden) Age 25-34yr 35-44yr 45-54yr 55-64yr Over 64yr Total High School Degree Educati on Trade Diploma/Certificate Bachelor Degree Masters Degree Total Individual tax) yearly Less than NZ$20,000 NZ$20,001–$40,000 NZ$40,001–$60,000 Over NZ$60,000 Total ross income (before The reliability analysis was utilised to test whether the nineteen questions used in the questionnaire fit the factor analysis criteria. Using Cronbach alpha, we found that the nineteen items’ reliability for traditional department stores was . 889 and for factory outlet stores was . 880, both figures being at an acceptable level (Nunnally, 1978). Factors which Customers keep in mind while Shopping at Traditional Department Stores (TDS) and Factory Outlet Stores (FOS) Table II displays the factor analysis results for different scales of TDS in the questionnaire. Four factors were extracted through the factor analysis for TDS. Factor 1 concerns the in-store customer service characteristics of TDS. The variables relating to 10 customer service in the stores; such as friendly, helpful, familiar with merchandise, exchanges, salespeople’s’ pressure and enough salespeople; are loaded more highly than other variables contained in Factor 1. Customers are especially concerned with whether the salespeople in traditional department stores are helpful. Within Factor 2, higher loadings are given to quality, wide selection, newest styles and fully stocked in regards to the products sold in the stores. These loadings indicate that Factor 2 largely displays concerns about the brand images of products sold in TDS. Table II: Factor Analysis Results for Traditional Department Stores and Factory Outlet Stores Traditional Department Stores Factor 1: In-store customer service features Factor 1: In-store customer service features Factory Outlet Stores Variables Factor 2: Brand images of products Factor 2: Brand images of products Factor 4: Price & promotion features Salespeople are friendly Salespeople are helpful Salespeople are familiar with merchandise Exchanges happily Less pressure from salespeople Enough salespeople Quality is good Selection of products is wide Styles of products are newest Stock level Store is attractive Store is not crowded Store is clean Store is neat Store is bright .600 . 746 . 637 . 571 . 601 . 580 . 449 . 763 . 771 . 702 . 458 . 545 . 763 . 745 . 672 .628 . 717 . 652 . 590 . 640 . 639 . 471 . 694 . 779 . 740 . 556 . 697 . 822 . 677 . 160 Factor 4: Price & promotion features Factor 3: Physical features Factor 3: Physical features 11 Prices are good Value for price Markdowns are attractive Prices of products are marked clearly .655 . 810 . 468 . 360 .359 . 325 . 882 . 739 Customers shopping in TDS tend to pay more attention to whether products sold in the stores display a wide selection, with the newest styles and are fully stocked, rather than being concerned about their quality, as the loadings of these three variables are 0. 763, 0. 771 and 0. 702, respectively, while the loading of quality is only 0. 49. Furthermore, Factor 3 shows significant loadings on the variables of attractive, not crowded, clean, neat and bright, at 0. 458, 0. 545, 0. 763, 0. 745 and 0. 672, respectively. Therefore, Factor 3 can be identified as containing the physical features of TDS. Specifically, the variables of clean and neat have much higher loadings than the others. This implies that these two factors significantly influence customer perceptions of the physical features of TDS. Factor 4 shows customers’ considerations regarding the price and promotion features of products sold in TDS. Within the fourth factor, comparatively higher loadings are found for the variables of price, value for price, markdowns and clearly marked price. These loadings are 0. 655, 0. 810, 0. 468 and 0. 360, respectively. In particular, customers’ who preferred traditional department stores tended to give more consideration to whether they could gain reasonable value from their purchase. Table II also displays the factor analysis results for the different variables of the factory outlet stores (FOS) in the questionnaire. Again, a similar group of four factors is extracted through factor analysis. As in the TDS analysis, Factor 1 concerns the in-store customer service features of FOS. The variables regarding customer service have higher loadings than the other variables contained in Factor 1. Respondents were concerned as to whether the service offered by the salespeople is helpful or not, as it is given the highest loading, at 0. 717. The variables of quality, wide selection, newest styles and fully stocked, regarding the products sold in FOS are included in Factor 2. Their high loadings indicate that Factor 2 is related to measuring the brand images of the products 12 sold in the retail stores. The customers who shop in FOS tend to give more consideration as to whether the products sold in these stores are comparatively new styles and have satisfactory stock levels, as shown in the related high loadings of these two variables (0. 779 and 0. 740, respectively). These customers do not pay much attention to the quality of the products sold in FOS, however, as this variable’s loading is only 0. 471. Moreover, Factor 3’s variables of attractive, not crowded, cleanliness, neat and bright have loadings of 0. 556, 0. 697, 0. 822, 0. 677 and 0. 160, respectively. Thus, Factor 3 can be identified as concerning the physical features of FOS. More specifically, customers tend to be concerned about the cleanliness of FOS, but few of them indicate that store brightness is important. Lastly, Factor 4 concerns the price and promotion features of the products sold in FOS. Higher loadings are given to the price, reasonable price for value, markdowns and clearly marked price variables included in the fourth factor, at 0. 359, 0. 325, 0. 882 and 0. 739, respectively. Customers of factory outlet stores tend to be more concerned as to whether the markdowns of the products sold in the stores are attractive, and whether the prices of the products are clearly marked. Customer Store Preference across Demographics To know if there is a trend to shop at factory outlet stores, we asked respondents which store they normally prefer to shop. To control for any possible response bias, we selected respondents equally at both types of retail outlets. As shown in Table III, the number of respondents who prefer TDS as their shopping place is 113, compared to 92 respondents choosing FOS as their preferred shopping place. This implies that a sizable number of customers prefer and/or are shopping at factory outlet stores. Table III: Frequency analysis of store choice Frequency Traditional department stores Factory outlet stores 113 92 Percentage 55. 1 44. 9 13 Total 205 100. 0 Chi-square is next used in order to examine whether there are any significant effects from the different demographic characteristics on customer decision-making in regards to shopping choices. As shown in Table IV, significant differences exist in customers’ store choice as regards to their different genders, levels of education and gross yearly income, as the relative P-values for these variables are 0. 001, 0. 000 and 0. 003, respectively. Nevertheless, there are no significant differences between customers’ shopping preferences in regard to age, as the P-value is 0. 690. Table IV: Store choices and demographic characteristics Department Chi-squa re values 11. 343 Traditional Demographics Gender Female Male Total 47 66 113 19 28 36 18 8 4 113 13 24 56 20 113 60 32 92 13 25 25 20 8 1 92 21 38 23 10 92 107 98 205 32 53 61 38 16 5 205 34 62 79 30 205 20. 223 . 000 3. 065 . 690 . 001 P-values Factory Total Outlet Stores Stores Age Under 25yr 25-34yr 35-44yr 45-54yr 55-64yr Over 64yr Total Formatted: Swedish (Sweden) Education High School Grad. Trade Diploma/Certificate Bachelor Degree Master Degree Total Individual yearly tax) gross income (before Less than NZ$20,000 NZ$20,001–$40,000 NZ$40,001–$60,000 Over NZ$60,000 Total 18 46 33 16 113 26 47 16 3 92 44 93 49 19 205 14. 256 . 003 14 More specifically, female respondents tend to prefer shopping in factory outlet stores, while nearly two-thirds of the male respondents prefer to shop in traditional department stores. Furthermore, customers with higher levels of education are more likely to choose traditional department stores as their shopping preference. As shown in Table IV, the number of customers who possess degrees and prefer shopping at traditional department stores is much higher than the number of those customers who are willing to go to factory outlet stores. In addition, customers who earn a higher yearly income; particularly those whose gross yearly income is between NZ$40,001 and NZ$60,000, or over NZ $60,000; tend to choose traditional department stores over factory outlet stores. These statistics are summarised in Table IV above. Therefore, H1 is supported on gender, education and income, but not on the demographic of age. Customer Perceptions of Brand Images of Products Sold in Traditional Department Stores and Factory Outlet Stores Table V below provides a comparison of the brand images and T-test results of products sold in traditional department stores and factory outlet stores. According to these results, H2; which holds that the brand images of products sold in TDS are higher than those of products sold in FOS; is supported (see Table V). In other words, the overall mean rating of TDS branded products is significantly higher than that of FOS branded products, at 16. 02 and 9. 1, respectively. Specifically; according to the analysis of the individual items of product features; the respondents gave higher ratings for products sold in TDS (regarding their wide selection, newer styles and satisfactory stock levels), than for the products sold in FOS. There is a significant difference between the mean ratings of the branded products sold in TDS and FOS. Thus, the results from the data analysis show th at there is a significant difference in the brand images of the products sold in traditional department stores and factory outlet stores. Customers tend to have higher, and more positive, images of branded products sold in traditional department stores than they do for branded products sold in factory outlet stores. 15 16 Table V: Comparison of brand images of products sold in stores Factory Outlet Brand Images of Products Sold Traditional Stores in the stores Department Stores Mean SD Mean SD P-values Quality is good Selection of products is wide Styles of products are newest Stock level 3. 88 4. 05 4. 02 4. 07 16. 02 .70 . 81 . 93 . 88 2. 69 3. 11 2. 53 2. 16 1. 91 9. 71 .77 . 89 . 87 . 94 2. 73 .000 . 000 . 00 . 000 . 000 Overall Customer Perceptions of Store Images of Traditional Department Stores and Factory Outlet Stores Table VI below provides a comparison of the store images and T-Test results of both types of retail stores. As shown, the respondents’ overall mean ratings, as well as their item-wise mean ratings of TDS physical features are significantly higher than for FOS, at 19. 87 and 16. 13, respect ively. Therefore, H3 is accepted. That is, the physical features of traditional department stores are perceived as being better than those of the factory outlet stores. There is a significant difference between the mean ratings of the physical features of TDS and FOS. Thus, the respondents indicated that the physical characteristics of traditional department stores are more attractive than those of factory outlet stores. Further to this finding, the respondents’ overall mean ratings, as well as their item-wise mean ratings of TDS in-store customer service features are significantly higher than those for FOS, at 22. 18 and 20. 48, respectively. Therefore, H4 is accepted. That is, in-store customer service features of traditional department stores are perceived as being better than those of factory outlet stores in New Zealand Furthermore, H5; which holds that the price and promotion features of products sold in traditional department stores are perceived as being significantly higher than those of factory outlet stores; is accepted, as indicated in Table V. The applicable overall mean ratings of TDS and FOS are 12. 70 and 16. 11, respectively. Also, the individual scale 17 items of price and promotion features are much higher for the factory outlet stores. This finding indicates that respondents consider the prices of products sold in FOS to be comparative lower than those sold in TDS and that the promotions offered by FOS are more attractive and satisfactory. Table VI: Comparison of the features of traditional department stores (TDS) and factory outlet stores (FOS) Features Traditional Factory Outlet P-values Department Stores Stores SD Mean SD Physical Features: Mean Store is attractive . 000 . 94 3. 32 . 84 3. 63 Store is not crowded . 000 . 85 3. 25 . 81 3. 70 Store is clean . 000 . 83 3. 44 . 75 4. 10 Store is neat . 000 . 86 3. 49 . 73 4. 16 Store is bright . 00 . 70 2. 62 . 73 4. 28 Overall In-store Customer Service Features: Salespeople are friendly Salespeople are helpful Salespeople are familiar with merchandise Exchanges happily Less pressure from salespeople Enough salespeople 19. 87 Mean 3. 86 3. 76 3. 77 3. 39 3. 48 3. 91 22. 18 Mean 2. 88 2. 82 3. 38 3. 63 12. 70 2. 96 SD . 67 . 73 . 86 . 84 . 81 . 85 3. 45 SD . 83 . 88 . 91 . 88 2. 71 16. 13 Mean 3. 59 3. 52 3. 42 3. 07 3. 36 3. 51 20. 48 Mean 3. 99 3. 66 4. 22 4. 24 16. 11 3. 10 SD . 82 . 82 . 88 . 87 . 87 . 96 3. 95 SD . 65 . 76 . 79 . 84 2. 26 .000 . 000 . 000 . 000 . 000 . 000 . 000 . 000 Overall Price & Promotion Features of Products Sold in the stores: Prices are good Value for price Markdowns are attractive Prices of products are marked clearly .000 . 000 . 000 . 000 . 000 Overall Customer Perceptions of Traditional Department Stores and Factory Outlet Stores across Demographics To investigate Objective 4 (to evaluate whether demographic characteristics are related to customer perceptions of traditional department stores and factory outlet stores), the ANOVA and T-tests are used to determine whether there are significant relationships between customers’ store ratings and their demographic characteristics. Table VII 18 displays the customer perceptions of overall store ratings and their relevant four demographic characteristics. As shown in Table VII, only the income level shows significant mean differences in the ratings of TDS. In other words, customers’ concerns regarding the physical features and price and promotion features of TDS are highly influenced by their income level. More specifically, the higher the customer’s income is the more favourable will be the mean ratings for physical features and price and promotion of TDS. There is, however, no difference in the customer perceptions of TDS and FOS across gender, age groups and educational levels, as the respective P-values are all much higher than 0. 05. Therefore, H6 is supported only on income, but not on gender and education levels. Table VII: Store ratings and Demographic Characteristics Demographics Traditional Department Stores Physical Physical features features In-store customer service features In-store customer service features Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Price & promotion features Price & promotion features Product features Product features Factory Outlet Stores Traditional Department Stores Factory Outlet Stores Traditional Department Stores Factory Outlet Stores Traditional Department Stores Factory Outlet Stores Formatted Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Gender: Female Male P-value 3. 93 4. 02 . 682 . 54 . 64 3. 32 3. 12 . 059 . 60 . 63 3. 66 3. 74 . 307 . 58 . 57 3. 43 3. 40 . 832 . 64 . 68 3. 14 3. 22 . 636 . 70 . 65 4. 02 4. 03 . 635 . 58 . 56 3. 97 4. 04 . 734 . 65 . 69 2. 48 2. 7 . 476 . 74 . 61 Age: Under 25yr 25-34yr 35-44yr 45-54yr 55-64yr Over 64yr 3. 88 3. 95 4. 05 3. 94 3. 86 4. 48 . 270 . 55 . 60 . 57 . 59 . 66 . 74 3. 23 3. 22 3. 20 3. 38 3. 14 2. 76 . 330 . 69 . 62 . 64 . 44 . 69 . 82 3. 82 3. 63 3. 71 3. 59 3. 85 3. 73 . 450 . 56 . 57 . 60 . 52 . 57 . 89 3. 47 3. 39 3. 38 3. 59 3. 28 2. 73 . 097 . 59 . 66 . 64 . 57 . 76 . 66 3. 24 2. 99 3. 31 3. 13 3. 27 3. 10 . 206 . 69 . 70 . 58 . 65 . 77 . 68 4. 09 3. 88 4. 05 4. 14 4. 09 3. 80 . 225 . 48 . 57 . 60 . 46 . 56 . 56 4. 13 3. 90 4. 09 3. 99 3. 86 3. 90 . 532 . 58 . 8 . 63 . 72 . 75 . 67 2. 54 2. 32 2. 44 2. 50 2. 44 2. 10 . 572 . 80 . 64 . 65 . 74 . 56 . 65 Formatted: Swedish (Sweden) P-value 19 Education: High School Grad. Diploma/Certificate Bachelor Degree Masters Degree 3. 96 3. 85 4. 02 4. 11 . 201 . 62 . 53 . 60 . 65 3. 38 3. 34 3. 11 3. 14 . 058 . 68 . 52 . 68 . 53 3. 59 3. 70 3. 76 3. 63 . 480 . 55 . 50 . 60 . 67 3. 51 3. 55 3. 26 3. 42 . 590 . 74 . 56 . 65 . 71 2. 94 3. 15 3. 31 3. 15 . 066 . 72 . 65 . 65 . 72 3. 99 4. 09 3. 97 4. 08 . 552 . 60 . 50 . 63 . 45 3. 83 3. 99 4. 10 4. 00 . 281 . 85 . 59 . 6 . 85 2. 57 2. 41 2. 30 2. 63 . 075 . 72 . 52 . 70 . 82 P-value Yearly gross income: Less than NZ$20,000 NZ$20,001–$40,000 NZ$40,001–$60,000 Over NZ$60,000 3. 90 3. 87 4. 11 4. 27 .64 . 54 . 58 . 62 3. 22 3. 28 3. 19 3. 06 . 524 .66 . 63 . 59 . 55 3. 67 3. 66 3. 78 3. 74 . 674 .56 . 59 . 56 . 58 3. 44 3. 48 3. 29 3. 34 . 413 .68 . 67 . 63 . 65 2. 88 3. 20 3. 30 3. 43 .71 . 67 . 59 . 68 4. 02 4. 05 4. 01 3. 99 . 960 .57 . 57 . 53 . 66 3. 85 3. 97 4. 12 4. 28 . 060 .76 . 65 . 62 . 58 2. 61 2. 38 2. 31 2. 55 . 130 .75 . 61 . 63 . 93 P-value .010 .005 CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The findings on customer store preference across demographics show that customers with different genders, levels of education and gross yearly incomes tend to make different store choices, however, they perceive traditional department stores and factory outlet stores similarly regardless of their age. More specifically, male customers regard traditional department stores offering famous branded products as their first choice, however, female customers are willing to shop at factory outlet stores in order to seek branded products with comparatively lower prices. Female customers tend to be more price oriented and price sensitive. Furthermore, the higher the level of education customers have the more likely they are to choose traditional department stores as their shopping preference. This finding indicates that more highly educated customers tend to have greater concerns in regards to the shopping environment and atmosphere offered by traditional department stores. In addition, customers earning higher yearly incomes are more willing to choose traditional department stores over factory outlet stores. In regards to customer perceptions of brand images of products sold in traditional department stores and factory outlet stores, there is a significant difference in the brand images of products sold across these stores. The brand images of products sold in traditional department stores are perceived more positively than are those of products 20 sold in factory outlet stores. Customers perceive traditional department stores as offering wider and more satisfactory selections of various types of merchandise in comparison to factory outlet stores. The stock levels in traditional department stores are also seen as being superior. Obviously, the wider selection and greater breadth of different branded products offered in the stores, the greater the number of customers who will be more attracted to TDS. In regard to customer perceptions of store images of traditional department stores and factory outlet stores, there is a significant difference between traditional department stores and factory outlet stores. Firstly, respondents feel that the physical features of traditional department stores are more satisfactory, comfortable and attractive than those of the factory outlet stores. Customers believe that they will enjoy shopping at traditional department stores, as they provide them with a more comfortable in-store shopping environment and atmosphere. Secondly, there are significant differences in the in-store customer service features of traditional department stores and factory outlet stores. Customers believe that traditional department stores provide a higher quality of in-store customer services. TDS are also seen as having better exchange policies and an adequate number of salespeople offering to meet customers’ different wants and needs. Therefore, traditional department stores do have distinctive advantages in terms of their in-store customer services, in comparison to those offered by factory outlet stores. Thirdly, traditional department stores have much higher prices when compared with factory outlet stores. This is due to their different marketing orientation and segmentation. Customers tend to be attracted by the prices and value of products sold in factory outlet stores. Schneiderman (1998) found in his research that customers believed that factory outlet stores could provide greater value for their money than did traditional department stores. Results on the examination of customer perceptions of traditional department stores and factory outlet stores across demographics indicate that only income levels have any significant effects on customers’ mean ratings of traditional department stores, but that 21 o significant differences exist across the variables of gender, age and education. This means that customer perceptions of physical features and price and promotion features of traditional department stores are highly influenced by their different income levels. Customers with higher incomes tend to be attracted to physical features and price and promotion features of traditional department stores. They are interested in shopping in a comfortable environment and seeking famous and fashionable branded products, rather than being price sensitive, bargain seeking customers. The implications of these research findings include the point that traditional department stores should maintain their competitive positions by continuing to offer good physical facilities and environments, satisfactory in-store customer services and famous branded products, in order to maintain and attract more customers. This will also help to maintain their market share and gain competitive advantage against the intense competition created by factory outlet stores. Customers perceive that the prices offered in traditional department stores are much higher than those of factory outlet stores. Therefore, department stores are facing a big challenge from factory outlet stores in terms of price and promotion strategies. As a result, they need to assess their value positions and adapt more reasonable prices to provide satisfactory value for customers. Clearly identifying and dividing their current and potential customers into different target segments is necessary for retailers in setting differing price strategies. During sales seasons, more attractive promotion of branded products could be undertaken in traditional department stores. Certainly, customers tend to purchase more when there are large sales and attractive promotions of branded products in traditional department stores. In order to target appropriate segments, traditional department stores need to identify what relevant level of branded products should be sold and assign these products reasonable prices in stores across different ages, genders, and levels of education and income. Traditional department retail stores also need to provide more selection characteristics (in terms of their branded products adapting to the newest styles frequently and maintain good stocks level), in order to 22 eep their competitive advantages through being perceived as offering more positive brand images of the products sold in their stores. Furthermore, strategic alliances between different traditional department stores and their distributors could also be developed. In such an alliance, competitive advantages (such as better offerings of quality in-store services and pro viding similar branded products with reasonable prices and promotions) could be shared by traditional department stores, , which should reduce costs for the alliance partners. Regarding implications for factory outlet stores, they need to learn from the comparative disadvantages of traditional department stores and engage in enhancing their current competitive positions on price and promotion offerings, in order to improve customer perceptions of their stores. Maintaining their comparatively lower prices and providing frequent promotions of branded products is one of the most useful price and promotion strategies for factory outlet stores in maintaining and enhancing their competitive positions in this area. Meanwhile, manufacturers which utilise factory outlet stores need to control the values of the products through assessments. As a result, customers who are not only price sensitive, but are also value seeking will be satisfied with the prices and promotion features of the products sold in the factory outlet stores. It is extremely important for manufacturers to immediately improve their products’ brand images. Widening the selection of characteristics, improving stock levels and offering positive branded products in the stores are ways which this could be achieved. Nowadays, factory outlet stores are no longer established for the sale of seconds or comparatively lower quality products with lower prices. Therefore, they need to build more positive brand images for the products sold in the stores instead of being perceived as discount stores. They need to invest more in the stores’ physical facilities to offer a better shopping environment and atmosphere. 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