Standardization Adaptation - 15058 Words

Halmstad University School of Business and Engineering Business and Marketing Standardizing or Adapting the Marketing Mix across Culture A case study: Agatha Thesis in Marketing, 15 ECTS credits Final seminar: 25.05.2010 Authors : Elise MEYER (890511) Ingrid BERNIER (901218) Supervisor: Jean-Charles LANGUILAIRE Examiner: Roger STRÃâ€"M Summary of thesis Title: Standardizing or adapting the marketing mix across culture Authors: Ingrid Bernier and Elise Meyer Supervisor: Jean-Charles Languilaire Level: Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration, Marketing Key words: Culture, international marketing, marketing strategies, standardization and adaptation Purpose: Compare two strategies, standardization and adaptation,†¦show more content†¦Adaptation of the marketing mix..........................................................................10 2.2.1 Standardization vs. Adaptation of products ...........................................................................................12 2.2.2 Standardization vs. Adaptation of pricing.................................................................................................12 2.2.3 Standardization vs. Adaptation of promotion.........................................................................................13 2.2.4 Standardization vs. Adaptation od distribution (place)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 2.3 Conclusions of the theoretical framework..................................................................................................15 3 Method............................................................................................................................................................................16 3.1 Research purpose...................................................................................................................................................16 3.2 Qualitative vs. quantitative approach..........................................................................................................16 3.3 ResearchShow MoreRelatedGlobal Marketing Strategy - Standardization vs. Adaptation Essay2170 Words   |  9 PagesINTRODUCTION The debate of standardization versus adaptation has lasted for the last 52 years.(The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2003) . To standardize or adapt when going or planning to go international is the most difficult and delicate decision to make for any company. This decision may affect all the operations of businesses of the company i.e. Human Resources, Marketing, Research development, Production and Finance. Every company has a different outlook towards foreign markets, this outlook isRead MoreStandardization And Adaptation Of International Marketing1832 Words   |  8 Pages 1.2 standardization vs adaptation Nowadays people always argue should we use the same standard for worldwide or using different strategies for different countries in the modern world. People who are using standardization strategy in international marketing. First of all, the development of the technology had made the world become a village, that means each country and their people are closer than ever before. (David A, 2013) Base on this opinion, the individual markets are not along isolated atRead MoreStandardization Versus Adaptation in International Marketing2213 Words   |  9 PagesStandardization versus Adaptation in International Marketing Introduction The most challenging decision that a company may face in internationalization is the degree of standardization or adaptation in its operations. The question of standardization or adaptation affects all avenues of a business’ operations, such as RD, finance, production, organizational structure, procurement, and the marketing mix. Whether a company chooses to standardize or adapt its operations depends on its attitudesRead MoreStandardization Versus Adaptation in International Marketing2205 Words   |  9 PagesStandardization versus Adaptation in International Marketing Introduction The most challenging decision that a company may face in internationalization is the degree of standardization or adaptation in its operations. The question of standardization or adaptation affects all avenues of a business’ operations, such as RD, finance, production, organizational structure, procurement, and the marketing mix. Whether a company chooses to standardize or adapt its operations depends on its attitudesRead MoreStarbucks Coffee: Standardization and Adaptation Strategy Essay1598 Words   |  7 PagesStarbucks Coffee: Standardization and Adaptation Strategy Introduction Starbucks’ Business Concept and History When academics Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegel, and Gordon Bowker established Starbucks Coffee Company in 1971, their vision of Starbucks was that of a local business specialising in â€Å"selling fresh roasted whole beans in ...specialty stores.† (Darguste et al., 2006 p.655). Fearing commoditization of the brand, the founders were opposed to the idea of broadening the appeal of StarbucksRead MoreCritical Analysis of Standardization and Adaptation in International Marketing2462 Words   |  10 Pagesâ ¦  Introduction: In internationalization, the most challenging decision faced by the company to choose between standardization and adaptation in its operations, products or services. It has been one of the important and most popular research topics since 1960s to understand whether standardization is better or adaptation for marketing mix in international marketing. The increasing role of international expansion of business across the borders has also increased the focus of companies towards the internationalRead MoreBMWs Extent of Standardization and the Degree of Adaptation: An Evaluation2155 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿BMW 1.1 EVALUATE TION OF THE EXTENT OF STANDARDIZATION AND THE DEGREE OF ADAPATION OF BMW. BMW marketing veers towards standardization rather than towards adaptation although it has a combination of both. The aesthetics for instance on its websites and the rest of its marketing mix are similar on all its material reflecting standardization. The classic design accords with the image of the company and does not differentiate according to specific country. So, for instance, users switching fromRead MoreStarbucks Coffee: Standardization and Adaptation Strategy14327 Words   |  58 Pagesdisappointing. In other words, this product category poses a challenge as the objective is to launch Starbucks in the Netherlands and serious decreases in any of the product categories could seriously harm this ambitious goal. Needless to say, an adaptation within this snack product category should be made to fit Dutch quality standards, behaviour and culture. Donuts and muffins could easily stay in the product portfolio, but they should not be characterized as breakfast or lunch products. The y shouldRead MoreInternational Standardization And Adaptation Of Shiseido s Marketing Strategy1944 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction The aim of this essay is explain how do internal (culture) and external (Climate and Ethnic) factors influence the standardisation and adaptation of Shiseido’s marketing strategy in Chinese and U.K market. The first part is literature review on the topic of international standardization and adaptation. The second part is the main body of the essay. Then last part will give companies some marketing recommendations according to the analysis of internal and external. 1. Literature ReviewRead MoreAdaptation vs. Standardization in International Marketing – the Country-of-Origin Effect9552 Words   |  39 PagesThrassou (Cyprus) Adaptation vs. standardization in international marketing – the country-of-origin effect Abstract The literature on international marketing presents a confrontation between two mainstream schools of thought regarding international marketing. The one supports the standardization approach and argues that multinational companies’ behavior should be uniform to minimize total costs and promote a global corporate image. The other argues for the need for adaptation to fit the unique

Aristotle Essay examples - 1049 Words

Aristotle believes that happiness is the ultimate goal in life. You can’t reach happiness unless you work hard and become successful. That is where virtue comes into play. A human’s function is to engage in â€Å"an activity of the soul which is in accordance with virtue† and which â€Å"is in conformity with reason† (page 76, Palmer). The two kinds of virtue are intellectual and moral. Our virtues are what make us all individual and all different. Intellectual virtues are what we are born with and what we learn. It is our nature as humans and what we have inherited that makes desire to learn. As humans, we develop wisdom to help guide us to a good life. With the intellectual virtue you develop two different kinds of wisdom: practical and†¦show more content†¦We are born with faculties like we are with passions. â€Å"We are not made up of good or bad nature; we are not praised nor blamed†(page 225, Mayfield). This quote is explaining with passions and faculties are how we feel and desire which is neither right nor wrong, good or bad. Since passions and faculties are not defined, state of character is virtue. State of character is our actions and our habits. â€Å"The virtue of man also will be the state of character which makes a man good and which makes him do his own work well† (page 225, Mayfield). In order to have true virtue you need to act to â€Å"accordance with a golden mean of moderation† (page 78, Palmer). This means that you need to find an intermediate so you will be praised and succeed. You can’t take too much or too little. Too much for someone could be too little for someone else, therefore each person needs to find their own individual mean. â€Å"For we may be said to desire all things as means to something else except indeed happiness, as happiness is the end or perfect state† (page 230, Mayfield). As Aristotle said that our ultimate goal is happiness but in order to reach happiness you have to succeed. â€Å"Relaxation then is not an end. We enjoy it as a means to activity; but it seems that the happy life is a life of virtue, and such a life is serious, it is not one of mere amusement. We speak of serious things too as better than things which are ridiculous and amusing, and of the activity ofShow MoreRelatedAristotle And Aristotle On Education1262 Words   |  6 Pages2.2.2 Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) Another great influence on Education was the Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle who came later after Confucius, who was born in Stagira, Chalcidice. Aristotle was first a student in Plato’s philosophy school for around twenty years. Later on he was a philosophy teacher in Atarneus which is located in Asia Minor. Aristotle is known for his school named â€Å"Lyceum† which is located in Athens, and he is also known for teaching Alexander the Great who can later. AccordingRead MoreAristotle s Contributions Of Aristotle931 Words   |  4 PagesBiography of Aristotle Aristotle Headshot Aristotle was born in 384 BC, in Stagira, near Macedonia at the northern end of the Aegean Sea. His father, Nicomachus, was the family physician of King Amyntas of Macedonia. It is believed that Aristotle s ancestors had been the physicians of the Macedonian royal family for several generations. Having come from a long line of physicians, Aristotle received training and education that inclined his mind toward the study of natural phenomena. This educationRead MoreAristotle Of Aristotle : Nicomachean Ethics1487 Words   |  6 PagesAristotle: Nicomachean Ethics Happiness: it’s something we humans search far and wide for, to attain before we are called home at death. We go through our daily lives, making choices, commitments, changes, decisions. We set goals for ourselves, push ourselves, hurt ourselves, inspire ourselves, lose ourselves, find ourselves†¦but why? Whether it is a conscious effort or not, no matter who you are or where you find yourself at this very moment, there is one ultimately satisfying hope that brings usRead MoreAristotle s Theories Of Aristotle729 Words   |  3 PagesAristotle’s Theories Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher. He was born in 384 B.C in Stagira, Northern Greece. At an early age he went to study at Plato’s Academy. Aristotle was the student of Plato. However, Aristotle’s scientific approach was much different than Plato’s. Aristotle was known as teacher to famous Alexander the Great. Later on Aristotle opened his own school, the Lyceum at Athens. Aristotle is an important image because he is the father of Science. Aristotle had many contributionsRead MoreAristotle s Theory Of Aristotle1629 Words   |  7 PagesAristotle Exam Similar to the teachings of his mentor, Plato, Aristotle’s philosophy finds its answers to major questions from the perspective of the teleological worldview. In the very first sentence of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle introduces his teleological world view by asserting that every activity is aimed at a telos, or end, and how men move from potency to act. Aristotle then proceeds to outline his argument using the Teleological approach as he tries to answer the question: â€Å"what isRead MoreAristotle And Aristotle s Philosophy1782 Words   |  8 PagesBoth Plato and Aristotle were prominent philosophers during their time and even today remain some of the most well-known philosophers ever. Aristotle was a student of Plato’s and Plato’s influence was noticeable throughout Aristotle’s work. Though Aristotle believed and would later teach a lot of Platonic philosophy, that did not mean that he agreed with everything that Plato taught. One thing that Ari stotle would critique about Plato’s teaching was his idea of what he called â€Å"Forms† and their roleRead More Aristotle Essay777 Words   |  4 PagesAristotle Aristotle was born in 384 BC, at Stagira, in Macedonia, the son of a physician to the royal court. At the age of 17, he went to Athens to study at Platos Academy. He remained there for about 20 years, as a student and then as a teacher. When Plato died in 347BC, Aristotle moved to Assos, a city in Asia Minor, to counsel Hermias, the ruler. After Hermias was captured and executed by the Persians in 345BC, Aristotle went to Pella, the Macedonian capital, where he became the tutorRead More Aristotle Essay568 Words   |  3 Pages Aristotle (384 BC -322 BC) was a Greek philosopher, logician, and scientist. Along with his teacher Plato (author of The Republic), Aristotle is generally regarded as one of the most influential ancient thinkers in a number of philosophical fields, including political theory. Aristotle’s’ writing reflects his time, background, and beliefs. Aristotle was born in Stagira, Macedonia. His father, Nichomacus, was the personal physician to the King of Macedonia, Amyntas. At the age of seventeen, AristotleRead More Aristotle Essay1208 Words   |  5 PagesAristotle   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In our fast paced technologically advanced society today, our governments have evolved into supposedly well oiled machines effectively managing budgets, jails, militaries, as well as many other programs. Unfortunately, many of these governments are not as well organized, as they could be. Democratic countries like France, Germany, and even the United States have some very serious shortcomings to the way their governments are managed. These problems occur, many times at a very basicRead MoreAristotle Essay1238 Words   |  5 PagesAristotle The primary concern of political theorists is to determine by what form of constitution the state will most likely succeed. According to Aristotle the definition of political success means the general happiness of the citizenry. Both Aristotle and James Q. Wilson share the belief that molding excellent character within the citizenry is the first and most important step towards solidifying the happiness of the state as a whole. The basic structure of Aristotle’s philosophies

A Hope to Acquire a Masters Degree in Organization Development and

Essays on A Hope to Acquire a Masters Degree in Organization Development and Knowledge Management from George Mason University to Become a Professional Manager Personal Statement ment of Purpose The world has advanced a lot in terms of technology in this era of globalization. It is therefore, important to have a wide andpolished worldwide outlook on management issues. One of the worldwide nations that boast of having an outstanding cultural atmosphere and more advanced commercial sector is the United States of America and particularly in Gorge Maison University. The university has also registered increased levels of the sophistication of humanities and areas of technological and scientific advancements. It is in this regards that I hope to acquire my masters degree in organization development and knowledge management from Gorge Maison University. I prefer the university because I will get first-hand information from reputable professors who are armed with legitimate research facilities in the area. The experience will enable me to be exposed to ideas and skills that will make it possible for me to raise the ladder in management and become a professional manager with many unlimited potentials. From an early age, I had an inspiration to pursue a career in management, which was drawn from my cousin’s business activities. He was a business-oriented entrepreneur in the electronics field and was so much dedicated to his work. I was positioned to acquire a lot of ideas and skills that related to business management from him. I developed some interest to read business related books and journals, and this made me realize that I will work in some business in the future. The recognition of my cousin being limited by his qualifications in the business field has pushed me to aspire pursuing a masters degree. My cousin solely depended on his high school certificate and his perseverance and diligence in his success in the business sector. After my studies, I hope to assist him in managing his company as a professional manager with high qualifications that I will acquire from your institution. As Maan Shata, I did my undergraduate studies and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business administration- Human resource management and organization in the year 2009 from King Abdul-Aziz University (KAU) Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia , Jeddah. While still at school, I attended a lot of management- related courses that included computer science, introduction to management, information management and international relations together with mass communication. Throughout my university education, I developed good relationships and positive attitude with those who we were in the same class and the professors who taught me too. One of the most important virtues that I learned while at the university was that of being patient when dealing with people who are in need. In an example, in my social case study, I involved myself with many situations that required a great deal of talking and communication skills. The experience helped me to grow lots of patience and become tolerant in times of frustrating situations as most managers do. Besides working with the needy, we had the chance to have self-reflection and growth like when at times we disagreed with our very own who we were coexisting. In many of these situations, it was paramount to be patient with the people I worked and interacted with as well as being communicative to mediate and solve conflicts. It is through my work that I gained precious experience and knowledge that is of great use in my future management-related jobs that will require the communication skills I developed for their successes. I also worked as an administrator in HR from 2005 to 2010 where I gained valuable experience adding to the one that I acquired while still at the university. I acquired this through customer relations, engaging myself in companies’ promotional activities and in other administrative duties. I then worked as a banker from 2010 to 2013 and got involved in the planning of bank promotions, sales, monitoring and evaluation of the banks progress. These were precious chances that made me learn about management while in the bank. It also helped me to obtain experience and acquire knowledge that is not learned in school through books and the classes. To finalize, it is my hope that in the coming future, with the help and the guidance of the highly learned and experienced professors in your university, I will have systematically cultured my sole thinking and my research capabilities too. I ultimately plan to carry out my duties as a qualified professional manager in the international market being convinced that, studying together with the dedicated professors and students in your university, I will be able to connect to informative research and get more stable academic foundation. Works Cited Harrington, H. J, Frank Voehl, and Donald S Feigenbaum. Knowledge Management Excellence. Chico, Calif.: Paton Press, 2007. Print.

Explore the differences between working with individuals and working with groups in the community context Free Essays

When looking at community work firstly one must try ad define what is meant when talking about the community. Community can have many different meaning and due to this can be very hard to find one answer to help us to understand the word community. According to the dictionary community is ‘a group of people living in one place, the public in general’ ( Collins pocket dictionary, Collins, 1982) although this offers a place to start it doesn’t help us to understand community it’s self. We will write a custom essay sample on Explore the differences between working with individuals and working with groups in the community context or any similar topic only for you Order Now Both community and youth work both have totally different aims and have changed over the years. Youth work traditionally started as a form of informal education as a way of getting children involved with different activities although now it is becoming more and more formal. It started of as a collective idea where young people in the same social background could meet and the youth workers could work with them around these issues. Ultimately until very recently youth workers just helped the youth to over come their problems. Now in the modern society it is moving much more towards formal education where the youth workers take an active role on the administrating of the education of the youth. Working with individuals compared to groups of the community is totally different and throws up totally different problems. I’m going to look at the advantages of both first and then apply them to some common community issues to see which works best when put into perspective. Individual work usually involves working on a one to one basis with some one either simply talking about issues that worry them or offering help with a problem that they have. A huge advantage of working one to one is the fact that you can offer confidentiality to that person who has approached you. Due to this it enables the person the open up a lot more as they know that it isn’t going to be over heard by any other person. Working on this basis also allows much more sensitive issues to be addressed, like the issues of the home background. By working one to one it enables you to get a lot more information out of the individual that maybe they are ashamed to address in public. By using this way of helping people you can form strong bonds between you and the person who you are helping and trust can be built up from here. Eventually becoming a friend of the person and being seen less as a helper but more of an equal, this type of relationship can also a big help when dealing with emotional problems. Since the worker becomes more of an equal rather than a helper it can be addressed in a more relaxed way and hopefully be more beneficial to the individual. Although individual work has many strengths it doesn’t go without its weaknesses. By just having a one to one session the person does not have the social contact with they may need and attain by talking it though as a group. It also fails to let the individual know that they are not the only one with the problem that they have. By addressing it as a group the whole group can share their feeling on the issue but one a one to one basis the person becomes very self reliant on that issue and can some times fail to notice tat they aren’t the only ones suffering form that problem. Community workers only a have small money pots. By offering one to one help for everyone with a problem would be stupid. Individual sessions take up more time than group work and therefore allow the money that would be spent on the workers hours to be spent on other things like a project for raising awareness of sexual health. One aim of community work is to gain a sense of belonging and togetherness within that chosen area. By address each problem on a one to one basis it defeats the problem. Surely by addressing the problem as a group it would bring about a sense of understanding. By working with just individual people there is always the problem with the fact that they could become attached to that person or even dependant on you, which ideally should not happen as they should be learning to trust their peer group not an outsider. Although it may not happen on a regular basis it is still a problem of one on one interview. Group work although at first many seem a good idea has its down falls as well. Originally used on mass by the uniformed organisations, it offers a way of getting to know each other in a relaxed environment. Using group worked in the community has big advantages. Since community can mean togetherness by addressing a problem as a group it allows everyone to be come involed. Take for example crime. By working as group to address it, it is both easier and How to cite Explore the differences between working with individuals and working with groups in the community context, Papers

Finance Portfolio Management

Question: Discuss about theFinance Portfolio Management. Answer: Brazilian Stock Market Brazilian Stock Market, commonly known as BOVESPA, is one of the oldest stock market in the world. BOVESPA, founded on 23rd August, 1890, is situated at Sao Paulo, Brazil. There is a long history of Brazilian Stock Market. The year of 90s was the time of straggle for the Brazilian Stock Market. The market was losing ground in the world economy due to the lack of protection for shareholders, uncertainty in investment and the lack of technology. There was not proper management and transparency. However, Plano Real was the game changer for the Brazilian Share Market. Plano Real was an initiative taken by the Brazilian Government to revive the share market of Brazil (Hennings and Rocha 2013). The growth was due to a significant inflow of capital from the foreign market. This is the reason that BOVESPA is the fifth largest bourse in the world from the perspective of the participation from the foreign investors. The main reasons behind this significant participation of foreign investors are the high rate of internal interest and the revitalization initiatives taken by the Government. The percentage investment of foreign investors in July, August and September of 2011 was 33%, 34% and 36%. The growing investment percentages are showing the progress of The Brazilian Share Market (Sum and Wang 2014). There is a huge role of the Brazilian Share Market in the economic development of the country. First of all, this progress has improved the international image of Brazil to the whole world. On the other hand, the deficit management system has been improved as the Government is able to finance the deficits for much longer period of time with less interest rate. There is a good opportunity of costs reductions and capital expenditures (Janakiraman and Radhakrishnan 2015). The Brazilian Security Market is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil, widely known as CVM. The full form of CVM is Commissao de Valores Mobiliarios. CVM has the authority to monitor the stock exchange and securities market as well as the Central Bank. The laws which govern the Brazilian Stock Market is Law no. 10,198 dated 14th February 2001, Law no. 10,303 dated 31st October 2001 and Law no. 10,411 dated 26th February. These laws have all the necessary rules, regulations and descriptions for the smooth running of the share market of Brazil. CVM has many works to regulate the share market of Brazil. CVM continuously monitor the share market to know where development is necessary. CVM is responsible for the efficient functioning of the share market of the Brazil. Protection of investors is another job of CVM (www.cvm.gov.br 2016). Difference Between ASX and BOVESPA The function of a share market is same all over the world. However, there are some differences exist due to the change in country. Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) and Brazilian Stock Exchange (BOVESPA) are two best stock exchanges in the world. The differences between these two stock exchanges are discussed below: The ASX is the ninth largest stock market in the world by market capitalization. The amount of average daily turnover in ASX is $ 4,685 million. SP/ASX 200 is the most important market index in ASX. The market capitalization amount of ASX is $ 1.6 trillion. The main products and services of ASX is shares, exchange trade options, warrants, options, real estate investment, listed investments and others. The trading currency of Australian Share Market is Australian Dollar (www.asx.com.au 2016). The BOVESPA or Brazilian Stock Market is the fifth largest stock market in the world by the amount of foreign investments. The capitalization amount of BOVESPA is US $ 1.22 trillion. This significant amount of market capitalization has made BOVESPA the 13 the larger stock market at the end of 2011. There are 381 companies trading in the Brazilian Stock Market. The currency of Brazilian Share Market is Brazilian Real (www.bmfbovespa.com.br 2016). From the above discussion it is clear that there is some major difference between ASX and BOVESPA. The difference is the raking. ASX is the 9th largest bourse in the world where the BOURSE is the 13th largest bourse in the world. There is also difference in the market capitalization amount. The market capitalization amount in ASX is higher than the BOVESPA. The reason is the condition of economy. The Australian economy is better than the Brazilian Economy. The Brazilian economy went through a very tough time. However, it is commendable that Brazil has recovered from that bad time and today BOVESPA is the 5th largest bourse in terms of the foreign investors. References Asx.com.au. (2016).Home - Australian Securities Exchange - ASX. [online] Available at: https://www.asx.com.au/ [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016]. Bmfbovespa.com.br. (2016).BMFBOVESPA Securities, Commodities and Futures Exchange. [online] Available at: https://www.bmfbovespa.com.br/en_us/index.htm [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016]. Cvm.gov.br. (2016).HOME. [online] Available at: https://www.cvm.gov.br/subportal_ingles/ [Accessed 29 Sep. 2016]. Hennings, K. and Rocha, F.A., 2013. Evolution of Capital Flows to the Brazilian Economy after 2008.Banco Central del Brasil, indito. Janakiraman, S. and Radhakrishnan, S., 2015. Discussion of The Effects of Corporate Governance and Product Market Competition on Analysts' Forecasts: Evidence from the Brazilian Capital Market.The International Journal of Accounting,50(3), pp.340-346. Sum, V. and Wang, A., 2014. Economic Growth, Stock Market Performance, Economic Growth Uncertainty and Foreign Participation in Local Equity Market: A Cross-Sectional Examination of 63 Countries.Stock Market Performance, Economic Growth Uncertainty and Foreign

Impact of Brand Image on Consumer Buying Behavior

Question: Discuss about the Impact of Brand Image on Consumer Buying Behavior. Answer: Introduction: Accounting is a technique of identifying, recording, analyzing, evaluating, summarizing and communicating important financial information to internal and external users with an aim to assist them in interpreting relevant data (Weil, Schipper Francis, 2013). Managers use accounting information to understand consumers preference and their buying behavior. Every organization must design effective accounting system to provide timely and accurate report to various departments including the marketing department so that these departments can use the information for understanding and forecasting important matters (Aguilar et al., 2013). Thus, effective accounting practice is beneficial to entire organization. Profession and being professional: Profession is an occupation for which individuals undergo formal training and acquire intensive education through professional courses from recognized university or educational institution. Professionals provide counseling and services to clients and charge a predetermined compensation in turn, irrespective of whether the client incurs loss or earns profitability from the business (Aguilar et al., 2013). Professionals are generally not involved in any physical labor. They are competent in providing mental labor in the area of their expertise. They follow strict code of conduct and represent a body of professionals (King Fitzgerald, 2016). Accounting as a profession: Accounting profession has definite principles, methods and fundamentals and thus it is actually a pure profession. Accounting professionals can be private accounting professionals who work as an employee in an organization or public accounting professionals who are self employed and obtain a license to practice on their own. Accounting professionals can be engaged in different areas of specialization depending on the degree that they obtained and keen interest that they have in a particular subject (Carrington et al., 2013). The demand for accounting professionals has been rising continuously. Every economy is suffering from big corporate frauds and scams. Professional accountants play an important role in fighting corporate corruptions and fraud. The role of professionals like Income Tax officers and auditors in the corporate world is given due importance. Various legislations have made the audit of company by independent auditor mandatory for every accounting period. The auditors can help in preventing fraud by giving an independent, true and fair view of the accounting position of the company (Rezaee Kedia, 2012). Income Tax Officers ensure that the tax obligations are met within due date. Buying behavior is the study of pattern of purchase and consumption of various products and services by ultimate consumers be it individuals or group of individuals for personal consumption or organizations for business purpose (Solomon, 2014). Brand image is the set of beliefs and overall impression of prospective customers about a particular brand (Rocereto, Kwak Puzakova, 2015). It indicates the position of a brand in the market as compared to other substitute and competitive products. Consumers form an emotional and mental image with regard to a brand through observation and accumulation of knowledge about the company (Anselmsson, Vestman Bondesson Johansson, 2014). Accounting plays an important role in formation of brand image and thus it affects consumers buying behavior as well. Companys Income Statement and Balance Sheet shows the financial position of the company. It helps consumers to understand the liquidity, cash flow, net worth status of the company. Consumers use annual reports and other available data to evaluate the reputation of the company. Accounting also provides data, which are specific to customers. These data give details about the order processing, shipping details and commitment of the company to deliver the products on time. Thus, if a company fails to meet the expectation of customers, it affects the buying behavior negatively. If the reports show that the company is committed to provide quality service, the consumers tend to get attracted towards the brand. To explain the concept of brand image and consumer buying behavior To indicate the components of consumer buying behavior To discuss the impact of brand image on consumer buying behavior. Objectives and Research Questions: Which the term brand image means What is the concept of consumer buying behavior What is the impact of brand image on consumer buying behavior? How can the company create a good brand image? Time Horizon: Main activities Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Study of Contextual Background v Selection of the Topic v Collection of secondary data v Composition of literature review v Results and findings v Analysis of the report v Conclusion v Final submission v Figure 1: Gantt chart Created by: Author Consumer Buying Behavior: Consumer buying behavior is a complex term, which is concerned with different aspects of buying behavior from the decision to purchase to the final disposal and use of the product or service (Solomon, 2014) The following diagram shows systematic process of consumer purchasing decision influenced by consumer buying behavior: Different research methods are used to analyze what makes a particular consumer to buy a product and reject another (Claiborne Sirgy, 2015). Consumer buying behavior is influenced by various factors like personal psychological factors, prevailing political and legal factors, the existing geographical social conditions and marketing promotion strategies adopted by the company. While studying consumer behavior, not only the activities and decisions undertaken by consumers before purchase of the product, service, experience or ideas are considered but also the disposal and consumption activities of consumers are taken into account. It is a difficult task for marketing managers to predict and understand the consumers and their buying behavior (Juster, 2015). Consumer buying behavior is affected by following factors: The cultural factors Social factors like family, friends and other reference groups Personal factors like age group, gender, nationality Psychological factors like motivation and perception. Brand Image: Marketing managers are always concerned about maintenance of brand image. Brand is a unique feature of a product, which distinguishes it from the products of the competitors. A brand may be the name of the company, its logo or any other sign or symbol which defines and differentiates the product (Anselmsson, Vestman Bondesson Johansson, 2014). A customer evaluates all the available brands to which he has access and develops brand relationship based on the differentiating features, which attract mind of the customer (Tukej, Golob Podnar, 2013). Brand image is considered one of the most valuable assets a company can have and indicates all the visible traits, visible representations, tangible and intangible qualities of the product (Rocereto, Kwak Puzakova, 2015). Brand image is specifically related to a product or service and indicates expectation of the customers to meet the promises . Impact of Brand Image on Consumer Buying Behavior: Brand image is one of the most important factors that influence the consumer buying behavior. In industries like banking and tele- communication, brand image plays significant role in influencing consumer-buying behavior. Consumers evaluate different attributes of a product before making a purchase decision (lensen, 2015). If the product has a great brand image, it directly influences consumer perception about the product, which ultimately affects the purchase decision-making process. Researchers consider study of brand awareness and brand image as the first step in conducting the research on consumer behavior (Malik et al., 2013). A great brand is the psychological and intangible value of a product that the customers have in their mind. Customer satisfaction creates customer loyalty and customer preference, which ultimately result in brand image. If a product has a good brand image but the consumers have negative buying behavior, the company has scope to increase the sales by creating good brand image through various marketing strategies. Good brand image and positive buying behavior is the win-win situation. If the consumers have positive buying behavior towards a product but the product has a bad brand image, there are high chances that consumers will change their preferences. Again bad brand image and negative behavior requires urgent attention of marketing managers to improve the situation. Findings and analysis: Consumer buying pattern is very unpredictable and is a matter of concern for marketing managers (Kardes, Cronley Cline, 2014). The main motive of a company engaged in providing any kind of services, ideas, knowledge or product is to beat the competition and attract consumers to buy their product instead of those of the competitors. In formulating the marketing strategies, the companies always consider how consumers perceive the products that the company is offering. The consumer perception depends on the ability of the company to meet their expectation and is termed as brand image. If the company fails to keep the promises it makes, it affects the brand image. The consumers shift their buying decision to some other alternative. Brand image is an invaluable asset, which is difficult to regain in this competitive market. Thus, every company tries to maintain and improve the brand image in the eyes of customers. Conclusion: It can be concluded that accounting as a profession has very bright future. The importance of accounting professionals is rising day by day. Accounting plays an important role in marketing management too (van Helden Alsem, 2016). It provides information to consumers on which the consumers base their decision. Apart from the financial position, brand image is a factor, which influences the buying decision of consumers. Consumers make their purchase decision after evaluating a number of tangible and intangible key attributes of the product. Brand image reflects these attributes and is a sign, symbol, name or logo of the company, which is widely used by the consumers to recognize the product. Brand image is considered the most important factor in influencing consumer buying behavior. The consumer perception about the quality is influenced by the brand image. This perception has direct impact on consumer buying behavior. Hence, it can be said that brand image has direct impact on consum er buying behavior. References: Aguilar, A., Stupans, I., Scutter, S., King, S. (2013). Towards a definition of professionalism in Australian occupational therapy: Using the Delphi technique to obtain consensus on essential values and behaviours.Australian occupational therapy journal,60(3), 206-216. Anselmsson, J., Vestman Bondesson, N., Johansson, U. (2014). Brand image and customers' willingness to pay a price premium for food brands.Journal of Product Brand Management,23(2), 90-102. Carrington, T., Johansson, T., Johed, G., hman, P. (2013). An empirical test of the hierarchical construct of professionalism and managerialism in the accounting profession.Behavioral Research in Accounting,25(2), 1-20. Claiborne, C. B., Sirgy, M. J. (2015). Self-image congruence as a model of consumer attitude formation and behavior: A conceptual review and guide for future research. InProceedings of the 1990 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference(pp. 1-7). Springer International Publishing. Hollensen, S. (2015).Marketing management: A relationship approach. Pearson Education. Juster, F. T. (2015).Anticipations and purchases: An analysis of consumer behavior. Princeton University Press. Kardes, F., Cronley, M., Cline, T. (2014).Consumer behavior. Cengage Learning. King, R., Fitzgerald, L. (2016). 10. Challenges facing the accounting profession: maintaining relevance in a changing environment.Perspectives on Contemporary Professional Work: Challenges and Experiences, 187. Malik, M. E., Ghafoor, M. M., Iqbal, H. K., Ali, Q., Hunbal, H., Noman, M., Ahmad, B. (2013). Impact of brand image and advertisement on consumer buying behavior.World Applied Sciences Journal,23(1), 117-122. Rezaee, Z., Kedia, B. L. (2012). Role of corporate governance participants in preventing and detecting financial statement fraud.Journal of Forensic Investigative Accounting,4(2), 176-205. Rocereto, J. F., Kwak, H., Puzakova, M. (2015). The Role of Self-Concept Brand Image Congruity in Consumers Attitudinal Formation and Attitudinal Brand Loyalty: A View From Utilitarian and Hedonic Product Brands. InProceedings of the 2009 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference(pp. 141-141). Springer International Publishing. Solomon, M. R. (2014).Consumer behavior: Buying, having, and being. Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: prentice Hall. Tukej, U., Golob, U., Podnar, K. (2013). The role of consumerbrand identification in building brand relationships.Journal of business research,66(1), 53-59. van Helden, J., Alsem, K. J. (2016). The Delicate Interface between Management Accounting and Marketing Management.J Account Mark,5(179), 2. Weil, R. L., Schipper, K., Francis, J. (2013).Financial accounting: an introduction to concepts, methods and uses. Cengage Learning. YourArticleLibrary.com: The Next Generation Library. (2016). Top 5 Stages of Consumer Buying Process. [online] Available at: https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/consumers/top-5-stages-of-consumer-buying-process/48596/ [Accessed 22 Dec. 2016].

Material Selection and Process Office Chair

Introduction It has been argued that the success of a product depends heavily on its industrial design through visual and emotional appeal to the customer. This conclusion can be drawn based on the role of technical design which in turn relies on sound information on material (Ashby and Johnson 56). For this reason the material used in production of a product is very essential to the usefulness and effectiveness of the end product.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Material Selection and Process: Office Chair specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Data on materials can be found from a wide variety of sources including data sheets from material suppliers. Other sources of data included those tabulated in hand books. These data sheets are essential as they provide a source of vital information that needs to be considered in technical design (Ashby and Johnson 56). This information includes engineering data such as str ess analysis, thermal analysis, methods fro optimization and simulation. In addition to such data there is the role of sophisticated software tools that can be used in the design process. The design process is crucial to avoid issues related to poor design interface. For example, a TV switch so cleverly integrated into the body panel it can not be located with ease, or a tap designed too smooth for soapy fingers to turn, etc (Ashby and Johnson 56). A well designed product on the other hand will not only work well but will be easy to work with, thus user friendly. It is essential therefore to take into consideration the user friendliness of a product during design to improve the potential success of the product. In this report the product being considered for design is an office chair. As it has been established that material selection is crucial to this process, the report will concern itself with making appropriate decisions for material selection. It is hoped that by the end of th e report the major considerations will be understood and some potential candidates identified for the design of an office chair. Ergonomics Ergonomics is a discipline that is concerned with the study of work performance with special emphasis placed on worker safety and performance. This discipline developed form the interests of experts in various fields including medicine, physiology and engineering. This came following the realization that many work related injuries and diseases could be avoided through improvements in design of equipment and the workspace (Jacobs 5). The study of ergonomics is crucial as it is through such improvements that both the organization and individual can maximize performance and results (Jacobs 18). It has already been established that prevention of work related injuries is far cheaper than the treatment and potential litigation that may arise from negligence.Advertising Looking for assessment on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get yo ur first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Within an organization the prevention of accidents and disability management are the responsibility of all members of the organization. Such initiatives success relies entirely on the continuous support and commitment of the staff and and employers (Jacobs 278). This may be at times difficult given that occupational therapists may not be conversant with business and management concerns such as cost benefit analysis. For this reason it has been suggested that for improved acceptance it is important to consider business terms when preparing a proposal for ergonomic adjustments. Common Issues with Poor Chair Design It is not uncommon to receive complaints from workers whose duties require them to be seated for long hours. It is sometimes difficult to establish whether the chair itself is poorly designed or poorly suited for the individual. More often than not the case is the chair is not suited for the individual raising the question of a djustments (Jacobs 197). A poorly designed ergonomic chair design will be difficult to adjust and has poor access to features for height, inclination, a back rest and appropriate lumbar support (Jacobs 199). As opposed to this a good seat design will thus provide stability through the buttocks via the seat pan and the to the back via the back rest. In addition to this it may necessary to provide the seated individual easy movement while seated to allow to the user shift easily to various positions. There are three basic chair designs to consider when selecting an appropriate office chair. The first design is the fixed posture chair. This design tends to lock the user in an ‘ideal’ position by static posture settings. Alternatively the chair can be designed using a dynamic chair design which allows the user to move freely. These allow relatively easy adjustments in the features such as the backrest and in movement. The last option is the combination chair which allow the user to lock the chair in a suitable position as well as automatic changes (Jacobs 199). Regardless of the design selected it is crucial that the chair provide a satisfactory experience to the user. The Role of Material in Form The material selected plays a major role in the final form of the end product. This relationship is most visible in the case of architecture. The Eiffel tower, Parthenon and Golden gate bridge are well known symbols of specific ages expressing the possibilities using varied materials (Ashby and Johnson 99). However, a change in material would render the artistic concept of the architect useless and possibly destroy the renown of these well known structures.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Material Selection and Process: Office Chair specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This direct link arises due to the forces that materials possess thus suggesting varied capabilities with each new mate rial. Consideration must be given to the varied needs of the material in question during design to ensure the safety and suitability of the completed product. Due to this it has commonly been quoted that ‘form follows material’ (Ashby and Johnson 101). Though chairs must meet certain mechanical constraints these are not fixed thus allowing choice in material and form of the completed chair. That being said it is clear to see that the form desired will have some effect on the choice of material. In relation to form it is also essential to consider the organizational theme where possible. It is common for some organizations to use a theme in their premises to improve their competitive position. Such themes include sporting themes, outdoor themes that are designed to attract clientà ¨le (Stephenson and Thurman 119). In such cases it will be essential to consider selection of a material that can be customized to suit the existing theme. In relation to the form of material it is essential to consider several physical factors such as the size, shape and weight of the desired material (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 94). This is useful as the size is relative to the available space on the site. Thus an appropriate material will allow the company to provide an adequate number of seats within the required space. Further in relation to the shape is the complexity required to shape the material to the required dimensions. In addition to this consideration must be made to account for the mechanical factors in relation to the material in question. This should be done because different materials will reflect varied mechanical considerations. Some mechanical considerations worth mentioning at this point include strength, ductility, modulus, fatigue strength and creep (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 95). In addition to this it is also vital to consider environmental factors and their effect on these mechanical factors. One concerned with designing a pr oduct will typically consider the static strength needs of the product. In addition to this it is essential to know whether the product will experience a static or dynamic load and what are the parameters expected. It will also be important to consider the products ability to cope with wear and tear and if there is a need to incorporate additional material to reduce wear and tear (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 95). Other factors in relation to material selection include processing and fabricating factors. These influence the ability or responsiveness of the material with regard to forming a shape. This is most commonly achieved by casting and deformation procedures (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 95).Advertising Looking for assessment on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Based on these factors it will be possible to assess whether the design can easily be achieved and manufactured. These factors will be useful in determination of potential production rates of the completed product. Through these factors it can be determined whether the desired quality level can be attained. Other essential factors include the life of components and availability. The components selected are likely to be affected by environmental factors such as corrosion and oxidation which need to be considered when selecting an appropriate material. It has been reported that performance of materials based on these properties is very difficult to predict thus it is important to make such consideration beforehand (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 95). Further, there is the question of availability of the preferred material. In some cases a material may be very well suited for a particular design but unavailable in the desired quantities. In such cases the selection of the material may have been done after identification of the first suitable material. This suggests that it is better to go through a whole range of materials while making a selection to allow for the identification of several options (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 96). Another consideration to make when selecting material for an office chair is the personality of the product. This is best described by the color, texture, feel and form of the end product (Ashby and Johnson 116). These aspects are useful in describing the perception that will be aroused on observing the product and can be seen in the use of terms such as ‘rugged’, ‘feminine’, etc. This aspect will be heavily influenced by the nature of business the organization is engaging on the premises. Types of Design In selecting material for a product it is also essential to consider the type of design in question. An original design is an approach that requires the creation of a working principle from scratc h (Ashby 115). In such cases it is common for the designer to be working with an entirely new concept such as the ball point pen, compact disk, etc. In such a case the designer has no choice but to make decisions based on tests carried out and individual design decisions (Ashby 2002, 15). In such cases the designer is free to experiment with new materials that can offer unique combination of properties that enhance the originality of the design. Another type of design the developmental or adaptive design that involves an existing concept and making some incremental improvements to the product. In the case where this is the approach used to design the chair in question it is possible to perform experiments with various existing materials. New materials may not necessarily be appropriate as the new product need not necessarily cost much more than its predecessor (Ashby 2002,16). In many cases this approach has been the force behind major improvements in product performance. Another ap proach to design that will affect the selection of material is the variant concept of design. In this case the objective of the design process would be to alter the colors, size or details of the product without making any significant changes to the function (Ashby 16). In some cases such as change of scale the designer may change the material due to changes in performance requirements. It has been noted in other variant design efforts that a change in material can provide significant improvements in performance. For example, in the use of fiber glass to design smaller boats (Ashby 2002, 16). Selection Procedures Having mentioned some of the important factors to consider in selecting an appropriate material to use the report will now briefly discuss procedures to use when making a selection. One approach is the use of screening to filter from a list of possible materials (Ashby 2009, 167). In this approach the constraints act as gates and if satisfied the material passes or else it is excluded. An example ,of a constraint is, ‘the chair must allow the user adjust height and inclinations’. Based on this therefore only materials that can be attached with components that handle such actions can be considered for the final product (Ashby 2009, 167). After completing the screening process what remains is a list of potentially useful materials. To achieve this you need to have an excellence criteria which can be used to rank the materials (Ashby 2009, 167). This can be based on what may be defined as objectives. Performance is sometimes limited by a single property or through a combination of properties. Based on this procedure the best candidate will be the material that satisfies the greatest number of objectives. Having established the best candidate it is also useful to provide some documentation on the material. This will include its potential weaknesses, reputation, track record, etc (Ashby 2009, 170). This documentation typically is in the form o f some graphical material and case studies on the material. In addition to this there may be some information on its corrosion behavior in specific environments. Other useful information to include will be the price and availability of the material and any environmental warnings in relations to its use. In the text above the methods of selection have focused on a manual approach to selecting the appropriate material to use. This approach to selection is useful when the constraints are not that many and thus the process is easily completed. However, when the set of constraints is long a more apt solution maybe the use of computer aided selection (Ashby 2009, 184). This software comes with a database of records arranged in a hierarchical manner. Every record in the database contains data relating to properties of the material, and some pictorial data and sources of reference for the material. Through this scheme the data is interrogated using a search engine that provides the user sys tematically arranged search interfaces. Other Considerations Though the report has already mentioned that cost is an important consideration in the selection of an appropriate material for an office chair, there are other cost related factors that may need to be kept in mind. For example the constraint the budget places on the entire process. Through the screening process it is possible several options may be identified. Despite of this it is necessary to keep in mind that the company has a budget for the entire activity and as such the best material may not be suitable for the budgetary requirements (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 96). In addition to this there are other hidden costs that need to be considered in addition to the cost of the material. As mentioned earlier in the report the selection of material must take into consideration the additional effort to produce the desired product from the material (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 96). Such costs include discrete costs such as fabrication costs. These discrete costs are likely to make major adjustments in the final figures thus resulting in selection of an alternative material. An important consideration that has been ignored through the report but is essential nonetheless is the purpose of the product. In this case the product is an office chair but the purpose is not clearly defined. Where the chair is for the computer operator it can be expected that whereas quality is essential cost will be also very crucial in choosing the material. However, if the seat was to be designed for the CEO of a huge multi national cost may not be a factor and thus the aspect of prestige may be considered. In the design of such a chair quality will be given the highest priority in comparison to all other factors. Based on this approach cost becomes a less crucial factor and quality becomes the dominant requirement (Kutz 1253). Having provided some information on possible and useful considerations when selecti ng the materials to use in designing an office chair, the report will conclude the report. Conclusion In this report the discussion presented was focused on the considerations to make in selecting material for building an office chair. The report began by mentioning the importance of design and its role in the success of the end product. In this regard it was noted that a good design does not just consider the physical components but also the materials used in construction of the end product. In a similar fashion the report continues to provide a brief description on ergonomics and its role in the workplace. It is observed that through a well designed and efficient workplace the degree of injury and disease can be reduced significantly. Further it is noted that through appropriate ergonomic design the cost of potential litigation can be significantly reduced. Therefore it would appear that the time taken in selecting an appropriate material is useful as it can directly influence the productivity of the organization. The report continues to provide information that can assist in the selection of appropriate material to be used to accomplish the design process. Further the report provides some of the basic issues that arise in the case of office chairs as reported by the users. In line with this the report mentions the role of the selected material in the form of the final product. It is noted that based on a selection of material there specific constraints that the user is bound to based upon the chosen material. Because of this above position the report concludes that material has a strong influence on the form of the final product. It is also mentioned that the type of design in this case will also influence the material selection made. In addition to this the report also touches briefly on other considerations such as prestige. In line with this it was noted that costs such as those associated with crafting the material to the desired shape need to be consid ered so as not to over step the budget. Lastly it was noted that the budget will influence the choice of material in terms of expected quantity as well. It is hoped that by going through these requirements it is possible to make a suitable choice for the production of the office chair. Works Cited Ashby, M. F. Materials Selection in Mechanical Design. Burlington: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2005. Print. Ashby, M. F. Materials and the environment: Eco-informed material choice. Burlington: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2009, Print. Ashby, Mike, and Kara Johnson. Materials and Design: the art and science of material selection in product design. Woburn: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002. Print. Jacobs, Karen. Ergonomics for Therapists. Philadelphia: Mosby Inc, 2008. Print. Kutz, Myer. Handbook of Materials Selection. New York: John Wiley Sons Inc, 2002. Print. Mital, Anil, Anoop Desai, Anand Subramanian, and Aashi Mital. Product Development: a structured approach to customer product development,design a nd manufacture. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2008. Print. Stephenson, James, and Courtney Thurman. Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide. Dubuque: Entrepreneur Media Inc, 2007. Print. This assessment on Material Selection and Process: Office Chair was written and submitted by user Eli W. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.