Aldi, Lidl and Netto Supermarkets Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Aldi, Lidl and Netto Supermarkets - Case Study Example The macro economic players include government's regulations, global economic trends, development of technology, and social aspects of living. Analysis of the business environment is very important before coming up with a marketing strategy. The marketing style adopted by the three supermarkets (Aldi, Lidl and Natto). The most important players to consider when designing a marketing scheme are the clients and the competitors so that the buyer behaviour can be manipulated to benefit the business by purchasing more while keeping a competitive advantage over competitors (Creevy 2008). Basically the current business environment shows that the number of buyers is reducing as the credit crisis has led to loss of jobs and the consequence of this is reduced purchases as many people cut down of some expenditure. The current estimated consumer cut down is about 57%. The prices of basic products increased considerably over the past few years according to the Mysupermarket.co.uk estimated at 11% per year. The three supermarkets are struggling very had to stay at the top of the business and also venturing into other countries like Germany where they have already won the war. The risk of recession presents an opportunity and the three supermarkets have advertised their land requirements in the media and have predicted an enormous increase (Creevy 2008). The three supermarkets should strife to maintain and increase the market share which is currently at 40% combined with over 500 stores. The marketing mix has been very unique approach as the supermarkets stock assortment of well recognised brands like Nescafe and Heinz plus other Dutch and German products. Over the next twelve to eighteen months, the Aldi, Lidl and Netto supermarkets should improve on their display of products to add glamour. The products range from alcohol brands, bakery, cereals, desserts, sweets, fruits and vegetables, pasta and dried foods, pets and health and beauty. The foods are displayed in fridges and this offers wide-ranging effects of sausage and other snacks. The aisles should be designed in attractive manner in that the discount tags are colorfully displayed with the clothing stacked in an organized manner (Leroux 2009). To diverse the product portfolio, the supermarkets should provide seasonal delicacies like barbecues. Aldi, Lidl and Netto should adopt price cuts and give offers in order to keep up with the competition from other players in the market like Tesco which is greatly competing with them. The current statistics reveals that the value line of Tesco products is lower making these gods cheaper than those offered by Aldi, Lidl and Netto (Leroux 2009). These supermarkets should now realise that customers are very informed and they a understand that discounts do not imply poor quality hence if the use of offering discounts as a marketing strategy is implemented, then the supermarkets are bound to increase their sales by a greater margin. Lidl property director has confirmed that the supermarket is ready to take an extra mile in order to keep competitors at bay and this would include stocking and dealing in any product that would make commercial sense (Duxbury 2008). For this purposes the supermarkets have placed their interests to purchase land on the media as mentioned before, this is as a result of property slump. The supermarket need to maintain good working

Summary response paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Summary response paper - Essay Example in Durham Regional Hospital where educational events were held for the purposes of instructing the hospital staff on the aims of RRT as well as the criteria for calling a rapid response. Further, the critical care unit (CCU) got trained on ways of assisting floor nurses asses and stabilize patients as well as on the means of communicating with physicians through Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation (SBAR) method (Critical Care Nurse, 1). After education and update of policies, the RRT process was implemented and then later evaluation and review of the outcomes of the process. The review results indicated that the Rapid response calls had a significant increase while a decrease in the number of code blue calls. The findings facilitated the creation of action plans with a focus on safety and education. Additionally, according to the findings of the survey, there should be supplies that lead to standardized box placed at the bedside of every RRT call. Consequently, staff and patient satisfaction was on the rise as outcomes improved (Critical Care Nurse, 1). The aim of the program is to advocate and initiate enteral nutrition for critically ill patients within 24 to 48 hours as means of improving outcomes (Critical Care Nurse, 1). Feeding into stomach normally leads to suboptimal enteral intakes due to the feedings being held for gastric residual volumes (GRV) or can also lead to patient intolerance due to ileus. The shared governance committee decided upon the use of an Electromagnetic Placement System (EMPS) to achieve safe enteral access beyond the pylorus. Postpyloric feeding is advantageous since it leads to greater enteral nutrition delivery to patients, as there are minimal interruptions of feeding (Critical Care Nurse, 1). Collaborative efforts also led to the establishment of a training program together with hands – on opportunities for bedside placement of the tube by the nurse. Furthermore, additional online support was availed on the

Swot Analysis and Weaknesses Essay Example for Free

Swot Analysis and Weaknesses Essay SWOT Analysis is an effective way of identifying your Strengths and Weaknesses, and of examining the Opportunities and Threats you face. How to use tool: To carry out a SWOT Analysis, write down answers to the following questions. Where appropriate, use similar questions: Strengths: * What advantages do you have? * What do you do well? * What relevant resources do you have access to? * What do other people see as your strengths? Consider this from your own point of view and from the point of view of the people you deal with. Dont be modest. Be realistic. If you are having any difficulty with this, try writing down a list of your characteristics. Some of these will hopefully be strengths! In looking at your strengths, think about them in relation to your competitors for example, if all your competitors provide high quality products, then a high quality production process is not strength in the market, it is a necessity. Weaknesses: * What could you improve? * What do you do badly? * What should you avoid? Again, consider this from an internal and external basis: Do other people seem to perceive weaknesses that you do not see? Are your competitors doing any better than you? It is best to be realistic now, and face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible. Opportunities: * Where are the good opportunities facing you? * What are the interesting trends you are aware of? Useful opportunities can come from such things as: * Changes in technology and markets on both a broad and narrow scale * Changes in government policy related to your field * Changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes, etc. * Local Events A useful approach to looking at opportunities is to look at your strengths and ask yourself whether these open up any opportunities. Alternatively, look at your weaknesses and ask yourself whether you could open up opportunities by eliminating them. Threats: * What obstacles do you face? * What is your competition doing? * Are the required specifications for your job, products or services changing? * Is changing technology threatening your position? * Do you have bad debt or cash-flow problems? * Could any of your weaknesses seriously threaten your business? Carrying out this analysis will often be illuminating both in terms of pointing out what needs to be done, and in putting problems into perspective. You can also apply SWOT analysis to your competitors. This may produce some interesting insights! Example: A start-up small consultancy business might carry out the following SWOT analysis: Strengths: * We are able to respond very quickly as we have no red tape, no need for higher management approval, etc. * We are able to give really good customer care, as the current small amount of work means we have plenty of time to devote to customers * Our lead consultant has strong reputation within the market * We can change direction quickly if we find that our marketing is not working * We have little overhead, so can offer good value to customers Weaknesses: * Our company has no market presence or reputation * We have a small staff with a shallow skills base in many areas * We are vulnerable to vital staff being sick, leaving, etc. * Our cash flow will be unreliable in the early stages Opportunities: * Our business sector is expanding, with many future opportunities for success * Our local council wants to encourage local businesses with work where possible * Our competitors may be slow to adopt new technologies Threats: * Will developments in technology change this market beyond our ability to adapt? * A small change in focus of a large competitor might wipe out any market position we achieve The consultancy might therefore decide to specialize in rapid response, good value services to local businesses. Marketing would be in selected local publications, to get the greatest possible market presence for a set advertising budget. The consultancy should keep up-to-date with changes in technology where possible. Key points: SWOT analysis is a framework for analyzing your strengths and weaknesses, and the opportunities and threats you face. Â  This will help you to focus on your strengths, minimize weaknesses, and take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities available. SWOT analysis becomes a USELESS exercise if it is not extended TOWS where * the strengths are used to capitalize on opportunities and to counter threats, * the weaknesses are minimized using opportunities and both weaknesses and threats are avioided Carrying out a personal SWOT Analysis is an important step in finding life and career direction. Case Study-SWOT Analysis Wal-Mart Strengths * Wal-Mart is a powerful retail brand. It has a reputation for value for money, convenience and a wide range of products all in one store. * Wal-Mart has grown substantially over recent years, and has experienced global expansion (for example its purchase of the United Kingdom based retailer ASDA). * The company has a core competence involving its use of information technology to support its international logistics system. For example, it can see how individual products are performing country-wide, store-by-store at a glance. IT also supports Wal-Marts efficient procurement. * A focused strategy is in place for human resource management and development. People are key to Wal-Marts business and it invests time and money in training people, and retaining a developing them. Weaknesses * Wal-Mart is the Worlds largest grocery retailer and control of its empire, despite its IT advantages, could leave it weak in some areas due to the huge span of control. * Since Wal-Mart sell products across many sectors (such as clothing, food, or stationary), it may not have the flexibility of some of its more focused competitors. * The company is global, but has has a presence in relatively few countries Worldwide. Opportunities * To take over, merge with, or form strategic alliances with other global retailers, focusing on specific markets such as Europe or the Greater China Region. * The stores are currently only trade in a relatively small number of countries. Therefore there are tremendous opportunities for future business in expanding consumer markets, such as China and India. * New locations and store types offer Wal-Mart opportunities to exploit market development. They diversified from large super centers, to local and mall-based sites. * Opportunities exist for Wal-Mart to continue with its current strategy of large, super centers. Threats * Being number one means that you are the target of competition, locally and globally. * Being a global retailer means that you are exposed to political problems in the countries that you operate in. * The cost of producing many consumer products tends to have fallen because of lower manufacturing costs. Manufacturing cost has fallen due to outsourcing to low-cost regions of the World. This has lead to price competition, resulting in price deflation in some ranges. Intense price competition is a threat. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the worlds largest retailer, with $256.3 billion in sales in the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2004. The company employs 1.6 million associates worldwide through more than 3,600 facilities in the United States and more than 1,570 units . . . Case Study-SWOT Analysis Starbucks Strengths * Starbucks Corporation is a very profitable organization, earning in excess of $600 million in 2004.The company generated revenue of more than $5000 million in the same year. * It is a global coffee brand built upon a reputation for fine products and services. It has almost 9000 cafes in almost 40 countries. * Starbucks was one of the Fortune Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2005. The company is a respected employer that values its workforce. * The organization has strong ethical values and an ethical mission statement as follows, Starbucks is committed to a role of environmental leadership in all facets of our business. Weaknesses * Starbucks has a reputation for new product development and creativity. However, they remain vulnerable to the possibility that their innovation may falter over time. * The organization has a strong presence in the United States of America with more than three quarters of their cafes located in the home market. It is often argued that they need to look for a portfolio of countries, in order to spread business risk. * The organization is dependant on a main competitive advantage, the retail of coffee. This could make them slow to diversify into other sectors should the need arise. Opportunities * Starbucks are very good at taking advantage of opportunities. * In 2004 the company created a CD-burning service in their Santa Monica (California USA) cafe with Hewlett Packard, where customers create their own music CD. * New products and services that can be retailed in their cafes, such as Fair Trade products. * The company has the opportunity to expand its global operations. New markets for coffee such as India and the Pacific Rim nations are beginning to emerge. * Co-branding with other manufacturers of food and drink, and brand franchising to manufacturers of other goods and services both have potential. Threats * Who knows if the market for coffee will grow and stay in favor with customers, or whether another type of beverage or leisure activity will replace coffee in the future? * Starbucks are exposed to rises in the cost of coffee and dairy products. * Since its conception in Pine Place Park, Seattle in 1971, Starbucks success has lead to the market entry of many competitors and copy cat brands that pose potential threats. Starbucks mission statement is Establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow. Understanding TOWS Matrix Why use the tool? TOWS Analysis is an effective way of combining a) internal strengths with external opportunities and threats, and b) internal weaknesses with external opportunities and threats to develop a strategy. How to use tool: To carry out a TOWS Analysis, consider the following combinations: Strengths/Opportunities: Consider all strengths one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each opportunity to determine how each internal strength can help you capitalize on each external opportunity. Strength/Threats: Consider all strengths one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each threat to determine how each internal strength can help you avoid every external threat. Weaknesses/Opportunities: Consider all weaknesses one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each opportunity to determine how each internal weakness can be eliminated by using each external opportunity. Weaknesses/Threats: Consider all weaknesses one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each threat to determine both can be avoided. Case Study- Application of the TOWS Matrix to Volkswagen Volkswagen (VW) was chosen because it demonstrates how a successful company experienced great difficulties in the early 1970s, but then developed a strategy that resulted in an excellent market position in the late 1970s. The TOWS Matrix shown in Figure 1 will focus on the crucial period from late 1973 to early 1975. The external threats and opportunities pertain mostly to the situation VW faced in the United States, but a similar situation prevailed in Europe at that time. Weaknesses and Threats (WT) A company with great weaknesses often has to resort to a survival strategy. VW could have seriously considered the option of a joint operation with Chrysler or American Motors. Another alternative would have been to withdraw from the American market altogether. Although in difficulties VW did not have to resort to a survival strategy because the company still had much strength. Consequently, a more appropriate strategy was to attempt to overcome the weaknesses and develop them into strengths. In other words, the direction was toward the strength-opportunity position (SO) in the matrix shown as Figure 1. Specifically, the strategy was to reduce the competitive threat by developing a more flexible new product line that would accommodate the needs and desires of the car-buying public. Weaknesses and Opportunities (WO) The growing affluence of customers has resulted in trading up to more luxurious cars. Yet, VW had essentially followed a one-model policy which presented a problem when the design of the Beetle became obsolete A new model line had to be introduced to reach a wider spectrum of buyers. In order to minimize the additional costs of a multi product line, the building block principle was employed in the design of the new cars. This allowed using the same parts for different models that ranged from the relatively low-priced Rabbit to the higher priced Audi line. Another weakness at VW was the rising costs in Germany. For example, in 1973 wages and salaries rose 19 per cent over the previous year. Similarly, increased fuel costs made the shipping of cars to the United States more costly. This situation favored setting up an assembly plant in the United States. However, this also created some problems for VW because it had no experience in dealing with American organized labor. To overcome this weakness, VWs tactic was to recruit managers from Detroit who were capable of establishing good union relations. Strengths and Threats (ST) One of the greatest threats to VW was the continuing appreciation of the Deutsche Mark against the dollar. For example, from October 1972 to November 1973 the mark appreciated 35 percent. This meant higher prices for the buyer. The result, of course, was a less competitive posture. Japanese and American automakers obtained an increasingly larger share of the small-car market. To reduce the threats of competition and the effects of the unfavorable exchange rate, VW was forced to build an assembly plant in the United States. Another strategy for meeting competitive pressures was to build on VWs strengths by developing a car based on advanced-design technology. The result of this effort was the Rabbit, a model with features later adopted by many other car manufacturers. The oil crisis in 1973-1974 not only caused a fuel shortage, but also price rises, a trend that has continued. To meet this threat, VW used its technological capabilities not only to improve its engines (through the use of fuel injection, for examples), but also to develop the very fuel-efficient Diesel engine. This tactic, which was congruent with its general strategy, helped improve the firm’s market position. Strengths and Opportunities (SO) In general, successful firms build on their strengths to take advantage of opportunities. VW is no exception. Throughout this discussion VWs strengths in research, development, engineering, and its experience m production technology became evident. These strengths, under the leadership of Rudolf Leiding, enabled the company to develop a product line that met market demands for an economical car (the Rabbit, successor to the Beetle), as well as the tastes for more luxurious cars with many available options (Scirocco and the Audi line). Eventually the same companys strengths enabled VW to plan and build the assembly facility in New Stanton, Pennsylvania. Thus, YW could benefit from substantial concessions granted by the state government to attract VW which, in turn, provided many employment opportunities. In another tactical move, VW manufactured and sold small engines to Chrysler and American Motors. These companies urgently needed small engines for installation in their own cars and revenues from these sales improved the financial position of VW.

Investment Decisions In Different Insurance Policies

Investment Decisions In Different Insurance Policies There are three types of investors: conservative, moderate, and aggressive. The different types of investments also cater to the two levels of risk tolerance: high risk and low risk. Conservative investors often invest in cash. This means that they put their money in interest bearing savings accounts, money market accounts, mutual funds, US Treasury bills, and Certificates of Deposit. These are very safe investments that grow over a long period of time. These are also low risk investments. Moderate investors often invest in cash and bonds, and may dabble in the stock market. Moderate investing may be low or moderate risks. Moderate investors often also invest in real estate, providing that it is low risk real estate. Aggressive investor is an investor who is willing to accept a higher degree of investment risk in exchange for a chance to earn a higher rate of return. Investment risk is the volatility of investment returns. A basic investing principle states that a higher degree of investment risk is required to earn a potential higher rate of return. What is insurance Meaning of Insurance Insurance provides financial protection against a loss arising out of happening of an uncertain event. A person can avail this protection by paying premium to an insurance company. A pool is created through contributions made by persons seeking to protect themselves from common risk. Premium is collected by insurance companies which also act as trustee to the pool. Any loss to the insured in case of happening of an uncertain event is paid out of this pool. Insurance works on the basic principle of risk-sharing. A great advantage of insurance is that it spreads the risk of a few people over a large group of people exposed to risk of similar type. Definition Insurance is a contract between two parties whereby one party agrees to undertake the risk of another in exchange for consideration known as premium and promises to pay a fixed sum of money to the other party on happening of an uncertain event (death) or after the expiry of a certain period in case of life insurance or to indemnify the other party on happening of an uncertain event in case of general insurance. The party bearing the risk is known as the insurer or assurer and the party whose risk is covered is known as the insured or assured. Definition A promise of compensation for specific potential future losses in exchange for a periodic payment. Insurance is designed to protect the financial well-being of an individual, company or other entity in the case of unexpected loss. Some forms of insurance are required by law, while others are optional. Agreeing to the terms of an insurance policy creates a contract between the insured and the insurer. In exchange for payments from the insured (called premiums), the insurer agrees to pay the policy holder a sum of money upon the occurrence of a specific event. In most cases, the policy holder pays part of the loss (called the deductible), and the insurer pays the rest. Examples include car insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, and business insurance. Insurance, in law and economics, is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for a premium, and can be thought of as a guaranteed and known small loss to prevent a large, possibly devastating loss. An insurer is a company selling the insurance; an insured or policyholder is the person or entity buying the insurance. The insurance rate is a factor used to determine the amount to be charged for a certain amount of insurance coverage, called the premium. Cultural factor; Culture is fundamental determinant of a persons needs and behavior. People acquire a set of value, perception and behaviors through his or her family and other institution. Indian people want achievement and success, comfortable efficiency and practicality, freedom and youthfulness. In other word there are multicultural environment in India. Indian loves their family and they want to secure their family from unnatural event. Indian give first preference to his family after than others. They do not want to take loan and they want to invest their money in long-term investment for child education and marriage. When we say about metropolitan city, dependency on old age on son is decreasing. People want to accumulate some fund for old age so ICICI Prudential should concentrate on gratuity or pension plan. Indian people also affected from sub culture. Urban people want to take more insurance comparison than rural (due to high per capita income, insurance awareness, social security, investment purpose, tax saving purpose). Religion also effect on insurance. ICICI Prudential is using this thing very well. They use sinduor and marriage in their advertisement and show that when you marriage from someone, her all liabilities is your liabilities and we will help you in this situation. We will make relation as like as sindur (here means long term stable relationship). In other word ICICI Prudential want to say that we will cover you at every step in life (sorrow or happiness). Consumer behavior is also affected from reference group. Firstly, people see that which insurance is bestseller after that they purchase. They also influence from agent. People do not concentrate on their need due to agents influence. Social class also affect on consumer behavior. Lower class does not want insurance. Up per lower class wants insurance for saving purpose. Working and middle class want insurance for protection and saving purpose and lastly, upper class want to purchase insurance for investment tax benefit and saving purpose. Social factor; Consumers are also influenced by social factor for example; reference group, family, and social role and status. Consumer behavior is firstly influenced from membership group such as family, neighbor and co-worker. Insurance is such type of product where people awareness is very low so people do not very much about insurance. They think, insurance is only tax saving instrument so they fully dependent on agent for taking insurance. When agent say about any product, that time they inquiry from neighbor and co-worker about that product. If any body suggests that, this product and I have also taken this product. Individual think that, this product also best for him. He does not concentrate on his need and requirement. Secondly, he is influenced by information influences. If he goes to purchase insurance, he makes enquiry about this product from his personal sources. He study newspaper and search on Internet and gather all information related product. If he is satisfied from that information, he decides to buy insurance. People also influence from opinion leader, this opinion leader may be Mukhiya, or Surpanch in rural area or this may be any leader, actor or cricket player in urban area. If opinion leader say or advertise about any product, people are influenced from opinion leader because opinion leader keep good position in society. Family and household pattern also influence consumer behavior. Due to less security of individual family, people want to purchase insurance, but in joint family people give less attention in buying insurance. If all family are well earning, there are given less attention on insurance in such family. But if earning member is less and dependent is more in such type of family insurance is very important. Women want more security so women are taking main role in purchase decision where, women influence consumer behavior. Personal factor; A consumer decision is also influenced by personal characteristics for example the buyer age and stage in life cycle, occupation and economics circumstances, personality, self-concept, life style and value. When we say about age and life, first is bachelor stage. They are generally young independent and they are in early stage of his carrier and earning. They mostly think that they have no need of insurance because in that time they have no dependent. However, some people have some dream and dependent also. They are in such stage where they can take more risk so they mostly prefer to invest in ULIP. Second stage is newly married. In that stage people need and buying decision is influenced from their future plan and earning capability. If they have to plan for purchase flat that time, they will need term insurance. There after stage is one or two children after marriage, they will be influenced from future need. They will accumulate fund for children marriage and education, they can be plan time-to-time vacation. In forth stage, they want to accumulate for retirement. People want to live alone after old age or in peaceful place so they are ready to start saving for old age. Attitude also affect consumer behavior positive attitude (about his life) person will take pension plan because people think that they will live more. But negative attitude person will take life insurance because they worry about their life. Review of Literature Mehr and Cammack (1976) agrees that Insurance is usually thought of as a product that spreads the risk of serious, but low-probability, losses among a group of individuals, thus providing some financial protection to each individual. Kunreuther, (1979) said that his product makes good sense, particularly when the protection is purchased against potential losses so large as to be catastrophic, such as total destruction of ones home, a large accident liability judgment, or death of primary family breadwinner. However, it has long been recognized that this sensible product is difficult to sell.v Kotler, (1973) considers insurance to be in the category of unsought goods, along with products such as preventive dental services and burial plots.He notes that unsought goods pose special challenges to the marketer. Slovic, Fischhoff, Lichtenstein, Corrigan, and Combs (1977) found that subjects were more likely to buy insurance against small, high-probability losses than insurance against large, lowprobability losses, Hershey and Schoemaker (1980) reported the opposite result. Kunreuther (1979) It is not the magnitude of a potential loss that inspires people to buy insurance voluntarily it is the frequency with which a loss is likely to occur. Kahneman Tversky, (1979) reported a risk-averse individual, therefore, should avoid nearly all types of risk. Empirical evidence, however, suggests most people are risk averse for gains and risk seeking for losses. Kahneman Tversky, (1984) stated indeed, repeated demonstrations have shown most people lack an adequate understanding of probability and risk concepts Dhar, (1997) Greenleaf and Lehmann, (1995) Tversky and Shafir, (1992) have shown that offering more options can generate decision conflict and preference uncertainty, leading to decision deferral. Michael L. Smith (1982) said that a typical life insurance contract provides a package of options or rights to the policy owner that is not precisely duplicated by any other combination of commonly available contracts. Viewed from this perspecti ve, life insurance enjoys a unique position in the field of investments and should be judged in this light. The paper shows that an options viewpoint provides a more complete explanation of policy owner behavior towards life insurance than the conventional savings-and-protection view. Michael L. Walden (1985) told that the options package view of the whole life insurance policy suggests that a whole life policy is a package of options, each of which has value and is expected to influence the price of the policy. This viewpoint implies the general hypothesis that price differences between whole life policies can be explained by differences in policy contract provisions and differences in selected company characteristics. The options package theory was empirically investigated using regression analysis on data from a sample of policies marketed in North Carolina. The results suggest support for the options package theory. Kirchler and Angela-Christian Hubert (1999) found that the present study aims at describing spouses relative dominance in decisions concerning different forms of investment. As determinants of spouses dominance, partnership characteristics, such as partnership role attitudes, marital satisfaction and individual expertise in relation to different investments, were considered. A questionnaire on spouses dominance in making decisions on various investments, on the characteristics of particular investments and on partnership characteristics was completed by 142 Austrian couples. Basically, wives appeared to adapt to the dominance exerted by their husbands in savings and investment decisions. Wives dominance was highest in egalitarian partnerships, where autonomic and wife dominated decisions were reported m ore frequently than in traditional partnerships. Additionally, spouses relative expertise in relation to the investments in question showed strong effects on dominance distribution: Spouses with higher expertise than their partners exerted more dominance in decision-making processes. Amy Wong, (2004) empirically examined the role of emotional satisfaction in service encounters. Specifically, this study seeks to: investigate the relationship between emotional satisfaction and key concepts, such as service quality, customer loyalty, and relationship quality, and clarify the role of emotional satisfaction in predicting customer loyalty and relationship quality. In doing so, this study used the relationship between emotional satisfaction, service quality, customer loyalty, and relationship quality as a context, as well as data from a sample survey of 1,261 Australian retail customers concerning their evaluation of their shopping experiences to address this issue. The results show that s ervice quality is positively associated with emotional satisfaction, which is positively associated with both customer loyalty and relationship quality. Further investigations showed that customers feelings of enjoyment serve as the best predictor of customer loyalty, while feelings of happiness serve as the best predictor of relationship quality. The findings imply the need for a service firm to strategically leverage on the key antecedents of customer loyalty and relationship quality in its pursuit of customer retention and longterm profitability. Stephen Diacon (2004) presents the results of a detailed comparison of the perceptions by individual consumers and expert financial advisers of the investment risk involved in various UK personal financial services products. Factor similarity tests show that there are significant differences between expert and lay investors in the way financial risks are perceived. Financial experts are likely to be less loss averse than lay investors, b ut are prone to affiliation bias (trusting providers and salesmen more than lay investors do), believe that the products are less complex, and are less cynical and distrustful about the protection provided by the regulators. The traditional response to the finding that experts and non-experts have different perceptions and understanding about risk is to institute risk communication programmes designed to re-educate consumers. However, this approach is unlikely to be successful in an environment where individual consumers distrust regulators and other experts. Helmut Grà ¼ndl, Thomas Post, Roman Schulze, (2005) found that demographic risk, i.e., the risk that life tables change in a nondeterministic way, is a serious threat to the financial stability of an insurance company having underwritten life insurance and annuity business. The inverse influence of changes in mortality laws on the market value of life insurance and annuity liabilities creates natural hedging opportunities. Eva n Mills, Ph.D.(1999) Studied the insurance industry is rarely thought of as having much concern about energy issues. However, the historical involvement by insurers and allied industries in the development and deployment of familiar technologies such as automobile air bags, fire prevention/suppression systems, and anti-theft devices, shows that this industry has a long history of utilizing technology to improve safety andotherwise reduce the likelihood of losses for which they would otherwise have to pay. We have identified nearly 80 examples of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies that offer loss-prevention benefits, and have mapped these opportunities onto the appropriate segments of the very diverse insurance sector (life, health, property, liability, business interruption, etc.). Some insurers and risk managers are beginning to recognize these previously hidden benefits. Roger. A. Formisano (1981) examined, via consumer interviews, the impact of the National Associ ation of Insurance Commissioners Model Life Insurance Solicitation Regulation as implemented in New Jersey. A substantial portion of the insurance buyers sampled did not become aware of the provisions of the regulation aimed to improve their buying ability. Further, many life insurance buyers were not well informed concerning the nature and operation of life insurance contracts, and in particular, the life insurance policies that they had purchased. theory was empirically investigated using regression analysis on data from a sample of policies marketed in NorthCarolina. The results suggest support for the options package theory. Kirchler and Angela-Christian Hubert (1999) found that the present study aims at describing spouses relative dominance in decisions concerning different forms of investment. As determinants of spouses dominance, partnership characteristics, such as partnership role attitudes, marital satisfaction and individual expertise in relation to different investments, were considered. A questionnaire on spouses dominance in making decisions on various investments, on the characteristics of particular investments and on partnership characteristics was completed by 142 Austrian couples. Basically, wives appeared to adapt to the dominance exerted by their husbands in savings and investment decisions Wives dominance was highest in egalitarian partnerships, where autonomic and wife-dominated decisions were reported more frequently than in traditional partnerships. Additionally, spouses relative expertise in relation to the investments in question showed strong effects on dominance distribution: Spouses with higher expertise than their partners exerted more dominance in decision-making processes. Amy Wong, (2004) empirically examined the role of emotional satisfaction in service encounters. Specifically, this study seeks to: investigate the relationship between emotional satisfaction and key concepts, such as service quality, customer loyalty, and rel ationship quality, and clarify the role of emotional satisfaction in predicting customer loyalty and relationship quality. In doing so, this study used the relationship between emotional satisfaction, service quality, customer loyalty, and relationship quality as a context, as well as data from a sample survey of 1,261 Australian retail customers concerning their evaluation of their shopping experiences to address this issue. The results show that service quality is positively associated with emotional satisfaction, which is positively associated with both customer loyalty and relationship quality. Further investigations showed that customers feelings of enjoyment serve as the best predictor of customer loyalty, while feelings of happiness serve as the best predictor of relationship quality. The findings imply the need for a service firm to strategically leverage on the key antecedents of customer loyalty and relationship quality in its pursuit of customer retention and longterm pro fitability. Stephen Diacon (2004) presents the results of a detailed comparison of the perceptions by individual consumers and expert financial advisers of the investment risk involved in various UK personal financial services products. Factor similarity tests show that there are significant differences between expert and lay investors in the way financial risks are perceived. Financial experts are likely to be less loss averse than lay investors, but are prone to affiliation bias (trusting providers and salesmen more than lay investors do), believe that the products are less complex, and are less cynical and distrustful about the protection provided by the regulators. The traditional response to the finding that experts and non-experts have different perceptions and understandings 4 about risk is to institute risk communication programmes designed to re-educate consumers. However, this approach is unlikely to be successful in an environment where individual consumers distrust regul ators and other experts. Helmut Grà ¼ndl, Thomas Post, Roman Schulze, (2005) found that demographic risk, i.e., the risk that life tables change in a nondeterministic ay, is a serious threat to the financial stability of an insurance company having underwritten life insurance and annuity business. The inverse influence of changes in mortality laws on the market value of life insurance and annuity liabilities creates natural hedging opportunities. Evan Mills, Ph.D.(1999) Studied the insurance industry is rarely thought of as having much concern about energy issues. However, the historical involvement by insurers and allied industries in the development and deployment of familiar technologies such as automobile air bags, fire prevention/suppression systems, and anti-theft devices, shows that this industry has a long history of utilizing technology to improve safety and otherwise reduce the likelihood of losses for which they would otherwise have to pay. We have identified nearly 80 e xamples of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies that offer loss-prevention benefits, and have mapped these opportunities onto the appropriate segments of the very diverse insurance sector (life, health, property, liability, business interruption, etc.). Some insurers and risk managers are beginning to recognize these previously hidden benefits. Roger. A. Formisano (1981) examined, via consumer interviews, the impact of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Model Life Insurance Solicitation Regulation as implemented in New Jersey. A substantial portion of the insurance buyers sampled did not become aware of the provisions of the regulation aimed to improve their buying ability. Further, many life insurance buyers were not well informed concerning the nature and operation of life insurance contracts, and in particular, the life insurance policies that they had purchased. Description of factors 1. Company Loyalty This factor includes that this is the only company the consumer wants to associate himself with, in future .himself would purchase more policies from the same company , suggest friends and family to purchase policy from the same company , company able to fulfill expectation, , Policy benefits benchmarks . The highest Eigen value lies in this factor 35.213. So it is been considered as the highly contributing factor towards study. Therefore it is clear that company loyalty plays an important role in investment decisions of investors. 2. Services Quality This factor includes hassle free settlements , employees responsible towards customers agents respond promptly , investment in life insurance is more secure than stock market satisfy with relationship to company . . Ease of Procedures This factor includes the company provides claims on time cooperative and friendly agent , settlement of claims easy and timely , agent is well informed about policies. As we can see, that the Eigen value for factor ease of procedures is 5.830 , which is also a contributing factor towards the study, so it can also be considered as an important factor in the study. 4. Satisfaction Level This factor includes that the suggested benefits of Insurance Policy should be met to the investors, Company provides them satisfactory services , fulfill its promise about life insurance policy , Services should be provided on time, and awareness of terms and conditions of policies. As we can see, that the Eigen value for factor satisfaction level is 5.008 , which is also a contributing factor towards the study, so it can also be considered as an important factor in the study. 5. Company Image This factor includes that the insurance company should be well known in the industry , insurance provider should have goodwill in market (0.758),and company of high repute As we can see, that the Eigen value for factor company image is 4.878, which is also a contributing factor towards the study, so it can also be considered as an important factor in the study. 6. Company-Client Relationship This factor includes that the agent remind about premium installments. personal attention on every consumer and understand consumers financial needs . As we can see, that the Eigen value for factor company client relationship is 4.051, which is also a contributing factor towards the study, so it can also be considered as an important factor in the study. CONCLUSION In present Indian market, the investment habits of Indian consumers are changing very frequently. The individuals have their own perception towards various types of investment plans. The study of this research work was focused over consumers perception on investment towards Life Insurance Services. The consumers perception towards Life Insurance Policies is positive. It developed a positive mind sets for their investment pattern, in insurance policies. Still some actions are needed for developing insurance market. The major factors playing the role in developing consumers perception towards Life Insurance Policies are Consumer Loyalty, Service Quality, Ease of Procedures, Satisfaction Level, Company Image, and Company-Client Relationship. Insurance industry has to go ahead. A lot of opportunities are still waiting. This research will help in developing the market share, loyalty and further development in insurance sector. .

Choosing a Major Essay -- University College Education Essays

Choosing a Major Some people already know by the age of seven that they want to become a pilot or nurse; others, however, have more difficulties deciding what to do with their future. People who decided to go to a university or college have to make an important choice: what major are they going into? For many people this is a very difficult question. As the statistics show, one out of five students change their major between admission and the first day of classes. Nearly three out of four students change majors at least twice before they graduate. And three out of four college students express uncertainly about their major. These striking results raised some questions for me. Is it really necessary to choose a major? What influence has the choice of a specific major on the student and his or her education? What are the opportunities for the future? And how can these students be helped? Since I am still having trouble choosing a major myself, I decided to do some research on this topic and I hope it w ill help you a little bit to make the right choice. Before you start to think about a major, you might ask yourself why you should choose a major in the first place. There are several answers to this question. The first one is very simple: choosing a major is required by the university. Every college will request you to select an area of concentration, usually called a major. Each major has a set of requirements: number of courses, electives, and comprehensive examination. The general goal is to require the exploration and understanding of a body of material and of the techniques needed for mastery of that material. This is the university’s view on the requirement of a major. However, there are some other perspectives on t... ...y you have enthusiasm for and do well in,† is advice often given by employers. Lynn Cheney, former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, agrees: â€Å"Students who follow their hearts in choosing majors will most likely end up laboring at what they love. They’re the ones who will put in the long hours and intense effort that achievement requires. And they’re the ones who will find the sense of purpose that underlies most human happiness.† Indeed, a major is required, but it will also influence your education and the perspective from which you will view the world around you. You don’t have to worry too much about your job opportunities, so choose a major you like. It will not only make your education more enjoyable, so you can get the best out of it, but it will also provide you with a more positive view of the world and make your life more pleasant.

The Study of Si Surface Structures Essay examples -- Science Experimen

The Study of Si Surface Structures The goal of this study is to determine the ratios of surface type upon the Si sample. Data is collected from the Si samples using SPALEED. By analyzing the data from dates where combined surfaces are present it is possible to determine the amount of certain types of surfaces present on the sample. The ultimate goal is the ability to control the growth of Pb islands upon the Si crystal. Applications of this research include the design of advanced microprocessors and quantum wires. Introduction: The goal of the REU project to which I was assigned is to determine the amounts of certain types of crystalline surface structures present upon the Si crystal that had been used in previous experiments involving the formation of Pb islands at low temperature. This is accomplished by analyzing certain aspects of the data collected by Spot Profile Analysis Low Energy Electron Diffraction (SPALEED). The data sets are taken from different experimental runs involving various surfaces and are compared to one another. These surfaces include combined types of surface structures as well as those with only a single surface structure present. Background and Experimental Procedure: Within ultra-high vacuum and at very low temperature, a Si crystal is placed. This crystal is heated by use of a tungsten filament to high temperatures in order to eliminate impurities. The Si is then heated again at certain temperatures and for specific durations of time in order to create particular crystalline surface structures. Atoms of Pb are then deposited upon the Si crystal by a process of evaporation. The amount of Pb deposited is known and is measured in terms of monolayers, or layers of Pb upon the surface measu... ...is known through previous experiments that the surface of the Si upon which the Pb is deposited can change the height of the Pb islands formed. By altering the silicon surface upon which the Pb is deposited it is hoped that the Pb islands can be controlled. The hope is that the work here can help pave the way for computer chip architecture in the next fifty years. If the Pb islands can be deposited evenly and placed in specific locations it is believed that they can be use as quantum wires, dramatically increasing the speed of the silicon chip computer. At this time the data is promising. With more data and further analysis the problems of controllable Pb island formation are sure to be solved. The use of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and SPA-LEED are the keys to unlocking the mysteries of the Si surface and it’s connection to the formation of the Pb islands.

Education Essay

This word is an important element that a person should have. You are said to be a professional if you have proper education. People will respect you when you have been to school and finished you studies. Some said that you are nothing if you haven’t gone to school and learn things. People will just look down to you if you are not an educated person. You have no direction in your life if you don’t have this element in your life. Others said that you have no directions in your life. But what is really the meaning of this so called education? For me, I do believe in the meaning that Socrates stated, that â€Å"education is not the process of inserting information into a person, but rather eliciting knowledge out from him; it is the drawing out of what is in the mind†. This statement is really proven. Our minds when were born in this world has already something on it. God already put ideas and knowledge on it. But we just don’t know about it. It needs to be developed. We don’t know how to use our ideas or for what is it. We can compare it into a skill. If a skill of a person is not to be developed, then, the person will never know that he/she posses that kind of ability or talent. The person will never know that he/she posses that kind of talent if he will not try to explore things. So, the job of a teacher in is to bring out what is inside of the person. Her job is to bring out or draw out what is in the mind of the person. This is how a teacher educates the child. If we will observe in the class, we can see that some students can get easily the point on what the teacher was trying to say. The pupil can understand the topic simply by just listening to the teacher. It is because our minds already posses those kind of information but we just don’t know that it is for that certain topic. This hidden ideas or information that we have can be developed in so many ways. These are also some ways on how the person can be educated. First is through reading books, comics, magazines and other reading materials. The person can learn something out of these things. These is an aid for him in learning things. The second is through teachings. The information that is stock in the mind of the person can be educed by teaching him some things. By giving him ideas of those things. This is the most common way in educating the person. A person really knows but the information inside him needs to be extracted so that he may able to use this in his daily life. There are also some proofs that can support the definition of Socrates. Examples are the primitive people. They don’t go school and no one also teaches them on how to use different tools in cutting woods, slaying animals and even on how to build houses. But why is it that they are capable of doing those things during their time? It is because there are already set of information that is inside their mind that is ready to extract. That is the reason why even if no one teaches them on how to make tools and how to use it, they still invent tools out of rocks so that they will have things that can help them in their every day living in the jungle. Education is the process of developing the information that is already in the mind of a person. The role of the teacher is just not to teach as if there is nothing in the mind of the person. She should not teach as if she is the only person that knows the things that she is teaching. Even if we said that there is already information in the mind of the person that is being stock their, it is not understood that all the students that being educated can easily get what the teacher is trying to say. Not all students read in advance about their lessons. It is only through reading that some students can get it easily the things that being discussed in the class. It is the time that they refreshed their minds. The paper tells us that when we heard of the word education, the first thing that comes up into our mind is that the teacher will stuff knowledge or information to the minds of the student. But according to Socrates, education is â€Å"not the stuffing of information into a person†, but instead, extracting knowledge out from him. â€Å"He said that it is the process of drawing out what is in the mind†. So, generally speaking, the mind of the person is not empty of information and ideas. There are already ideas that are stock in the person that it needs to be brought out. Therefore, it is not needed to cram ideas into the person. As Errest Hocking also stated in his theory that the most important of what a man has is the instruction that he has inside of him. So, these means that it is important that every person must have a principle in his life of an instruction so that he may able to understand things well. Socrates has proven to us his definition of education through the dialogue, the meno, when he takes a boy that has never been to school in his whole life. When he told the boy about geometry, the spectators were amazed that in the first place the boy really knows about geometry because the ideology of geometry is really in him. It’s like that it is in the tip of his tongue. It is waiting to be awaked. So this tragedy tells us that each one of us has the knowledge of all things but it is just waiting to be called by the educators. This is the job of the educators; it’s not their job to fill in ideas to the minds of the people but to awaken their knowledge in them. The paper also said that the teacher must let his student think on her own and let her use the resources and not just stuffing too many miscellaneous things to her. That is also one reason that the person could not learn to develop her own idea inside her mind. A student once said that â€Å"as she spend more time studying and reading the things that her taught her, she was not able to think in her self and she was not able to express her own thinking about the certain topic because of it. Teaching is not just to stuff information and ideas and then seal them up afterward, but it is the process of opening it and learns how to cultivate them. If each one of us just knows how to develop our thinking and our ideas, then for sure, we will be what we want our selves to be. Because deep inside us, there is something that needs to be develop. Some teachers just stuff things in our mind not knowing that there is something that needs to be developed in the mint of the student. She is not applying the real definition of â€Å"education†.