Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) (by Aroop) is the disciplined and unified management of the technical logistic disciplines that plan and develop Logistics Support Requirements for military forces and which will ensure System product Quality in terms of reliability, availability, maintainability and testability (RAMT). ILS is sometimes integrated with System Safety engineering (RAMS). In general, this means that ILS is the management organization that plans and directs the activities of many technical disciplines associated with the identification and development of logistics support and system RAMT/S requirements for military systems or equipment / parts. There are comparable organizations outside the military which provide the same capabilities. In a commercial company this organization may be called product support, customer service or many other similar names. ILS is a technique introduced by the US Army to ensure that the supportability of an equipment item is considered during its design and development. The technique was adopted by the UK MOD in 1993 and made compulsory for the procurement of the majority of MOD equipment. The end goal of ILS is to create systems that last longer and require less support and thereby to Save Money by achieving a higher return on long term investments. The aim of ILS is to address three aspects of supportability during the acquisition and whole life cycle of the system / equipment. The word system is here defined as: "The whole composite of hardware, software, personnel, procedures, tools and facilities. The elements hereof are used together in the intended operational or support environment to perform a given task or achieve a specific purpose, support or mission requirement"
Influence on Design. Integrated Logistic Support will provide important means to identify (as early as possible) reliability issues / problems and can initiate system or part design improvements based on reliability, maintainability, testability or system availability analysis (for example by the proper use of detailed functional and/or piece part FMECA techniques, Event tree and Fault tree analysis / assessments, Reliability Block Diagrams, Importance measurements, Reliability centered maintenance (RCM) / Maintenance steering Group 3 (=civil aerospace variant of RCM) and Monte-Carlo techniques). Influence on design can also be the result of the use of a Failure Reporting and Corrective Action Systems (FRACAS) during in-service phases. ILS can have a strong link with System Safety engineering due to the common use of several sources of data (like: failure mode- and failure rate- and failure mechanism information, system effect (criticality) behavior, fault detection, human error (maintenance task related or operational task related) predictions, human factors, and system basic reliability or operational reliability (availability) calculations. ILS is an iterative process during the design of the equipment to ensure that supportability aspects are adequately addressed. This ensures that user maintenance and routine servicing tasks are minimized (optimized) and can be performed with sufficient ease, and that utilization of existing tools and techniques is maximized. Further, it may be required to demonstrate supportability of the equipment during LMMD (Logistics, Maintenance & Manpower Demonstration) to ensure that supportability has been adequately addressed. ILS can furthermore provide input or be part of a Quality Control system, because it has the capability to identify the most critical parts for system operation and support, which should need the most attention from a quality point of view.
About Me
- SLEVEN
- i love games as you have probably realised, so much infact i am pursuing a career in it. at the moment i work in a meat factory as a quality control officer, not the best of jobs but it pays.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
location
Not only will your business depend on your location, but you will be "planting your business tree" there and will need to be able to maintain it for years to come. Things to keep in mind when deciding on a place to open your business:
Local Economy
Is your local area growing and building? Are the market trends good? Even if you have to locate your business further from you home, try to find a place that is building up and bringing people in. The worst thing you can do is pick a place that is in the "bad area of town" because it is less expensive. Your address can be the first thing people will ask for, and it can say a lot about your business.
Job Market
Since unemployment is low in most areas in the U.S., consider what type of employees you will need and find out if there are many in your area. The amount of money that you will have to spend to pay top dollar or in the recruiting phase could be indicators that you should locate the business in an area with a different employee pool.
Do You Love It?
It really helps if you love the community in which you work. Become "vested" in the community by joining the local Chamber of Commerce, Business Association, Visitor and Convention Bureau, City Council Committees, and other local organizations that could use your help. Why plan on retiring "one day" to some great location- why not move there now and start your dream business there? It?s like a partial early retirement!
Local Economy
Is your local area growing and building? Are the market trends good? Even if you have to locate your business further from you home, try to find a place that is building up and bringing people in. The worst thing you can do is pick a place that is in the "bad area of town" because it is less expensive. Your address can be the first thing people will ask for, and it can say a lot about your business.
Job Market
Since unemployment is low in most areas in the U.S., consider what type of employees you will need and find out if there are many in your area. The amount of money that you will have to spend to pay top dollar or in the recruiting phase could be indicators that you should locate the business in an area with a different employee pool.
Do You Love It?
It really helps if you love the community in which you work. Become "vested" in the community by joining the local Chamber of Commerce, Business Association, Visitor and Convention Bureau, City Council Committees, and other local organizations that could use your help. Why plan on retiring "one day" to some great location- why not move there now and start your dream business there? It?s like a partial early retirement!
facilities
Unique Attributes
Covers the multidisciplinary topics of people, property and process management expertise which underpin successful organizational functions in the workplace. Monitors innovations in theory, tools, legislation, analysis techniques and applications of new ideas in the wide spectrum of facilities management. Publishes original and refereed material that contributes to the advancement of the research and practice.
Topicality
As economic and social factors play an increasingly important role in the way we use building space, it is essential that facilities managers are kept in touch with current thinking so that they can plan, develop and equip buildings to meet the needs of their users fully in the most cost-effective and environmentally responsible ways. This important journal offers serious discussion of key issues in facilities management to help managers, architects and other interested parties maximize building space resources.
Key Benefits
Internationally distinguished contributors regularly address major topics of relevance to bring subscribers independent, expert and practical information. The consistently high calibre of the journal's contributors has added to its reputation, and it enjoys an influential role in the field.
Covers the multidisciplinary topics of people, property and process management expertise which underpin successful organizational functions in the workplace. Monitors innovations in theory, tools, legislation, analysis techniques and applications of new ideas in the wide spectrum of facilities management. Publishes original and refereed material that contributes to the advancement of the research and practice.
Topicality
As economic and social factors play an increasingly important role in the way we use building space, it is essential that facilities managers are kept in touch with current thinking so that they can plan, develop and equip buildings to meet the needs of their users fully in the most cost-effective and environmentally responsible ways. This important journal offers serious discussion of key issues in facilities management to help managers, architects and other interested parties maximize building space resources.
Key Benefits
Internationally distinguished contributors regularly address major topics of relevance to bring subscribers independent, expert and practical information. The consistently high calibre of the journal's contributors has added to its reputation, and it enjoys an influential role in the field.
suppliers
In industry, a company must find suppliers that have a customer-driven focus and exceed expectations. This is an extremely important task that takes time and effort. The rewards are fewer errors, better value, less frustration and new ideas. A great supplier base also allows company employees to focus more on delivering excellent products and services to their own customers.
Communication is one vital consideration when choosing suppliers. Will you be able to communicate well with them? Do they listen and understand the problem you describe, or do they formulate a solution before you have completely explained? Does the supplier make an effort to communicate on a level you can understand? If you have difficulty relating to your supplier, you will not be able to communicate all of the relevant details needed to maintain a successful operation.
It is often said, "The supplier needs to be involved up front." What does this really mean and how do you do it? Before committing to them, try reaching them by phone, fax and e-mail. A responsive supplier will quickly develop strong communication ties and understand your objectives.
Another important factor is the physical distance between you and your suppliers. They should be no more than a few hours drive away. More frequent in-person communication provides a better understanding of the details, data and information. The ideal situation is to have the supplier in-house.
Working a couple of days a week or more, the supplier can take charge of inventories, lead improvement teams and provide other valuable services. They also can stay informed about problems and upcoming projects. Technology, such as video conferencing and digital cameras, can help overcome a distance barrier; however, it is not as effective as in-person communication.
Trust, honesty and integrity are powerful assets for a supplier. They are shown over time, so it is difficult for a company to evaluate them in an interview. A good solution is to ask for references, particularly ones with working relationships of five years or longer. Ask for contacts who deal directly with the suppliers, and speak to their supervisors to confirm their performance. Ask about their ability to meet
Communication is one vital consideration when choosing suppliers. Will you be able to communicate well with them? Do they listen and understand the problem you describe, or do they formulate a solution before you have completely explained? Does the supplier make an effort to communicate on a level you can understand? If you have difficulty relating to your supplier, you will not be able to communicate all of the relevant details needed to maintain a successful operation.
It is often said, "The supplier needs to be involved up front." What does this really mean and how do you do it? Before committing to them, try reaching them by phone, fax and e-mail. A responsive supplier will quickly develop strong communication ties and understand your objectives.
Another important factor is the physical distance between you and your suppliers. They should be no more than a few hours drive away. More frequent in-person communication provides a better understanding of the details, data and information. The ideal situation is to have the supplier in-house.
Working a couple of days a week or more, the supplier can take charge of inventories, lead improvement teams and provide other valuable services. They also can stay informed about problems and upcoming projects. Technology, such as video conferencing and digital cameras, can help overcome a distance barrier; however, it is not as effective as in-person communication.
Trust, honesty and integrity are powerful assets for a supplier. They are shown over time, so it is difficult for a company to evaluate them in an interview. A good solution is to ask for references, particularly ones with working relationships of five years or longer. Ask for contacts who deal directly with the suppliers, and speak to their supervisors to confirm their performance. Ask about their ability to meet
finance
Finance is the life blood of business. It flows in mostly from scale of goods and services. It flows out for meeting various types of expenditure. The activating element in any business which may be on industrial or commercial undertaking is the finance.
Business finance has been defined as those activities which have to do with the provision and management of funds for the satisfactory conduct of a business. Business finance is defined as that business activity which is concerned with the acquisition and conservation of capital funds in meeting the financial needs and overall objectives of business enterprise.
So we can say business finance is mainly developed around three major objectives. Firstly, to obtain an adequate supply of capital for the needs of the business, Secondly, to conserve and increase the capital through better management, Thirdly, to make profit from the use of funds which is an overall objectives of a business enterprise.
Business finance has been defined as those activities which have to do with the provision and management of funds for the satisfactory conduct of a business. Business finance is defined as that business activity which is concerned with the acquisition and conservation of capital funds in meeting the financial needs and overall objectives of business enterprise.
So we can say business finance is mainly developed around three major objectives. Firstly, to obtain an adequate supply of capital for the needs of the business, Secondly, to conserve and increase the capital through better management, Thirdly, to make profit from the use of funds which is an overall objectives of a business enterprise.
personal talent
What does talent mean in the context of the Personal Talent Skills Inventory?
These days, business success is measured by talent--the right skills and abilities for the job. Job performance, hiring decisions and turnover are directly related to the bottom line and represent business opportunities and capital. This means that the most effective managers and leaders are now looking for better ways to accurately assess, develop and retain top talent--an organization's most valuable asset. Now, to support you in the process, here's a state of the art assessment that will help you identify, develop and retain that talent.
What is the Personal Talent Skills Inventory?
Unique to this assessment is its ability to measure an individual's cognitive structure (how your mind perceives itself and the world around you). Unlike any other instrument, the Personal Talent Skills Inventory has a direct relationship with mathematics and this is the secret behind its ability to accurately determine the core dimensions of how you think. The result is an accurate ranking of personal ATTRIBUTES describing individual and team potential for workplace and personal performance.
Unlike other instruments that are intended for a clinical setting and adapted to a business environment, the Personal Talent Skills Inventory was designed from the get go exclusively for use in a business environment. Its overall intent, format and output are specifically tailored to meet the needs of today's business managers, leaders, and executives.
When combined with an assessment of behavioral traits (DISC) and values (PIAV), the Personal Talent Skills Inventory presents a complete picture of individual talent.
These days, business success is measured by talent--the right skills and abilities for the job. Job performance, hiring decisions and turnover are directly related to the bottom line and represent business opportunities and capital. This means that the most effective managers and leaders are now looking for better ways to accurately assess, develop and retain top talent--an organization's most valuable asset. Now, to support you in the process, here's a state of the art assessment that will help you identify, develop and retain that talent.
What is the Personal Talent Skills Inventory?
Unique to this assessment is its ability to measure an individual's cognitive structure (how your mind perceives itself and the world around you). Unlike any other instrument, the Personal Talent Skills Inventory has a direct relationship with mathematics and this is the secret behind its ability to accurately determine the core dimensions of how you think. The result is an accurate ranking of personal ATTRIBUTES describing individual and team potential for workplace and personal performance.
Unlike other instruments that are intended for a clinical setting and adapted to a business environment, the Personal Talent Skills Inventory was designed from the get go exclusively for use in a business environment. Its overall intent, format and output are specifically tailored to meet the needs of today's business managers, leaders, and executives.
When combined with an assessment of behavioral traits (DISC) and values (PIAV), the Personal Talent Skills Inventory presents a complete picture of individual talent.
product research - game content
This tutorial presents an overview of the data management
issues faced by computer games today. While many games
do not use databases directly, they still have to process large
amounts of data, and could bene t from the application of
database technology. Other games, such as massively multi-
player online games (MMOs), must communicate with com-
mercial databases and have their own unique challenges. In
this tutorial we will present the state-of-the-art of data man-
agement in games that we learned from our interaction with
various game studios. We will show how the issues involved
motivate current research, and illustrate several possibilities
for future work.
Our tutorial will start with a description of data-driven
design, which is the source of many of the data manage-
ment issues that games face. We will show some of the tools
that game developers use to create and manage content. We
will discuss how this type of design can a ect performance,
and the data structures and techniques that developers use
to ensure that the game is responsive. We will discuss the
problem of consistency in games, and how games ensure that
players all share the same view of the world. Finally, we
will examine some of the engineering issues that game de-
velopers have to deal with when interacting with traditional
databases.
This tutorial is intended to be self-contained, and provides
the background necessary for understanding how databases
and database technology are relevant to computer games.
This tutorial is accessible to students and researchers who,
while perhaps not hardcore gamers themselves, are inter-
ested in ways in which they can use their expertise to solve
problems in computer games.
issues faced by computer games today. While many games
do not use databases directly, they still have to process large
amounts of data, and could bene t from the application of
database technology. Other games, such as massively multi-
player online games (MMOs), must communicate with com-
mercial databases and have their own unique challenges. In
this tutorial we will present the state-of-the-art of data man-
agement in games that we learned from our interaction with
various game studios. We will show how the issues involved
motivate current research, and illustrate several possibilities
for future work.
Our tutorial will start with a description of data-driven
design, which is the source of many of the data manage-
ment issues that games face. We will show some of the tools
that game developers use to create and manage content. We
will discuss how this type of design can a ect performance,
and the data structures and techniques that developers use
to ensure that the game is responsive. We will discuss the
problem of consistency in games, and how games ensure that
players all share the same view of the world. Finally, we
will examine some of the engineering issues that game de-
velopers have to deal with when interacting with traditional
databases.
This tutorial is intended to be self-contained, and provides
the background necessary for understanding how databases
and database technology are relevant to computer games.
This tutorial is accessible to students and researchers who,
while perhaps not hardcore gamers themselves, are inter-
ested in ways in which they can use their expertise to solve
problems in computer games.
advertisement effects
Advertising is paid, nonpersonal communication that is designed to communicate in a creative manner, through the use of mass or information-directed media, the nature of products, services, and ideas. It is a form of persuasive communication that offers information about products, ideas, and services that serves the objectives determined by the advertiser. Advertising may influence consumers in many different ways, but the primary goal of advertising is to increase the probability that consumers exposed to an advertisement will behave or believe as the advertiser wishes. Thus, the ultimate objective of advertising is to sell things persuasively and creatively. Advertising is used by commercial firms trying to sell products and services; by politicians and political interest groups to sell ideas or persuade voters; by not-for-profit organizations to raise funds, solicit volunteers, or influence the actions of viewers; and by governments seeking to encourage or discourage particular activities, such a wearing seatbelts, participating in the census, or ceasing to smoke. The forms that advertising takes and the media in which advertisements appear are as varied as the advertisers themselves and the messages that they wish to deliver.
advertisemennt placement
One of the things that people wonder about when it comes to PPC publishing is where is the best place to put an advertisement? There are three main places that people put PPC advertisement, and both of them have their advantages.
Top of the page
One of the places that people often put advertisements are at the top of a webpage in a banner. They reason that it's a good idea to put it there because people start at the top of a page and make their way down when they are looking at what it has to offer.
Left side of the page
The second spot that a lot of people put their advertisements is on the left side of the page. Why? Because people read from left to right when they are looking at a website and seeing what it has to offer.
Right side of the page
The last popular spot for an advertisement is the right side of the page. People put their advertisements there because visitor's eyes seem to linger when they get to the end of the page and they figure that it's the way that people are going to see their advertisement.
Placing an advertisement on a certain part of the page is the choice of the webmaster. Try the advertisements on different spots and see what ones are the most effective for the different advertisements. But whatever place you choose, the three that are listed above are the ones that people find to be the best.
Top of the page
One of the places that people often put advertisements are at the top of a webpage in a banner. They reason that it's a good idea to put it there because people start at the top of a page and make their way down when they are looking at what it has to offer.
Left side of the page
The second spot that a lot of people put their advertisements is on the left side of the page. Why? Because people read from left to right when they are looking at a website and seeing what it has to offer.
Right side of the page
The last popular spot for an advertisement is the right side of the page. People put their advertisements there because visitor's eyes seem to linger when they get to the end of the page and they figure that it's the way that people are going to see their advertisement.
Placing an advertisement on a certain part of the page is the choice of the webmaster. Try the advertisements on different spots and see what ones are the most effective for the different advertisements. But whatever place you choose, the three that are listed above are the ones that people find to be the best.
competitor analysis
Competitor Analysis is an important part of the strategic planning process. This revision note outlines the main role of, and steps in, competitor analysis
Why bother to analyse competitors?
Some businesses think it is best to get on with their own plans and ignore the competition. Others become obsessed with tracking the actions of competitors (often using underhand or illegal methods). Many businesses are happy simply to track the competition, copying their moves and reacting to changes.
Competitor analysis has several important roles in strategic planning:
• To help management understand their competitive advantages/disadvantages relative to competitors
• To generate understanding of competitors’ past, present (and most importantly) future strategies
• To provide an informed basis to develop strategies to achieve competitive advantage in the future
• To help forecast the returns that may be made from future investments (e.g. how will competitors respond to a new product or pricing strategy?
Questions to ask
What questions should be asked when undertaking competitor analysis? The following is a useful list to bear in mind:
• Who are our competitors? (see the section on identifying competitors further below)
• What threats do they pose?
• What is the profile of our competitors?
• What are the objectives of our competitors?
• What strategies are our competitors pursuing and how successful are these strategies?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of our competitors?
• How are our competitors likely to respond to any changes to the way we do business?
Sources of information for competitor analysis
Davidson (1997) describes how the sources of competitor information can be neatly grouped into three categories:
• Recorded data: this is easily available in published form either internally or externally. Good examples include competitor annual reports and product brochures;
• Observable data: this has to be actively sought and often assembled from several sources. A good example is competitor pricing;
• Opportunistic data: to get hold of this kind of data requires a lot of planning and organisation. Much of it is “anecdotal”, coming from discussions with suppliers, customers and, perhaps, previous management of competitors.
The table below lists possible sources of competitor data using Davidson’s categorisation:
Recorded Data Observable Data Opportunistic Data
Annual report & accounts Pricing / price lists Meetings with suppliers
Press releases Advertising campaigns Trade shows
Newspaper articles Promotions Sales force meetings
Analysts reports Tenders Seminars / conferences
Regulatory reports Patent applications Recruiting ex-employees
Government reports Discussion with shared distributors
Presentations / speeches Social contacts with competitors
Competitor Analysis is an important part of the strategic planning process. This revision note outlines the main role of, and steps in, competitor analysis
Why bother to analyse competitors?
Some businesses think it is best to get on with their own plans and ignore the competition. Others become obsessed with tracking the actions of competitors (often using underhand or illegal methods). Many businesses are happy simply to track the competition, copying their moves and reacting to changes.
Competitor analysis has several important roles in strategic planning:
• To help management understand their competitive advantages/disadvantages relative to competitors
• To generate understanding of competitors’ past, present (and most importantly) future strategies
• To provide an informed basis to develop strategies to achieve competitive advantage in the future
• To help forecast the returns that may be made from future investments (e.g. how will competitors respond to a new product or pricing strategy?
Questions to ask
What questions should be asked when undertaking competitor analysis? The following is a useful list to bear in mind:
• Who are our competitors? (see the section on identifying competitors further below)
• What threats do they pose?
• What is the profile of our competitors?
• What are the objectives of our competitors?
• What strategies are our competitors pursuing and how successful are these strategies?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of our competitors?
• How are our competitors likely to respond to any changes to the way we do business?
Sources of information for competitor analysis
Davidson (1997) describes how the sources of competitor information can be neatly grouped into three categories:
• Recorded data: this is easily available in published form either internally or externally. Good examples include competitor annual reports and product brochures;
• Observable data: this has to be actively sought and often assembled from several sources. A good example is competitor pricing;
• Opportunistic data: to get hold of this kind of data requires a lot of planning and organisation. Much of it is “anecdotal”, coming from discussions with suppliers, customers and, perhaps, previous management of competitors.
The table below lists possible sources of competitor data using Davidson’s categorisation:
Recorded Data Observable Data Opportunistic Data
Annual report & accounts Pricing / price lists Meetings with suppliers
Press releases Advertising campaigns Trade shows
Newspaper articles Promotions Sales force meetings
Analysts reports Tenders Seminars / conferences
Regulatory reports Patent applications Recruiting ex-employees
Government reports Discussion with shared distributors
Presentations / speeches Social contacts with competitors
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
research
Audience Awareness and Purpose
Let’s say you’ve just had a terrible experience with Parking Management and decide to write a letter to The Collegian to complain about this campus service. As you think about writing your letter to The Collegian, you’ll need to think not only about audience but also about why you are writing to those readers. Do you want simply to tell your story? Do you want to argue directly for a change in policy? Do you want to raise fellow students’ consciousness about a problem so that the student senate will eventually take up the issue? Depending on your goal, you might write a narrative, an argument, or a causal analysis. Which approach is most likely to be effective with your readers?
Writers need to consider both audience and purpose in writing because the two elements affect the paper so significantly, and decisions about one will affect the other.
Developing Audience Awareness
When we talk to someone face-to-face, we always know just who we're talking to. We automatically adjust our speech to be sure we communicate our message. For instance, when we talk to three-year olds, we shorten sentences and use simpler words. When we talk to college professors, we use longer sentences and more formal language.
In short, we change what we say because we know our audience.
Interestingly, many writers don’t make the same adjustments when they write to different audiences, usually because they don’t take the time to think about who will be reading what they write. But to be sure that we communicate clearly in writing, we need to adjust our message--how we say it and what information we include--by recognizing that different readers can best understand different messages.
product reach
In consumer marketing 'Product Reach' has to do with the Distribution of the product. One of the four 'Ps' of Marketing Mix. It depicts on the availability of your product to the target market.
The more effective the distribution the more is your product reach to the customers at different stores and places and town and villages.
Audience profiling
A target audience profile (TAP) is a written and very detailed appraisal of your customers' characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors. TAP information typically falls into two categories: demographics and psychographics.
Demographics describe who your customers are. The most frequently used demographic variables include age, gender, occupation, location, marital status, income, education level, and nationality.
Psychographics describe why your customers act as they do. For example, you might determine that you have price-sensitive customers who choose the least expensive option, or trend-conscious customers who prefer the newest, most fashionable option, or early adopters who are open to choosing new, unproven options.
Why do I need to do TAPs?
Sharing high-quality customer profiles across your organization pays off in several important ways. Target audience profiles:
Help the company make better, more consistent customer decisions about how to best market and sell, including which products and services to offer and how to most effectively communicate their features, benefits, and availability.
Reduce confusion among functional areas through a common business foundation for decision-making.
Make it possible for your staff to treat customers more consistently because everyone is working from the same comprehensive information.
Save time and money by minimizing missteps and rework stemming from inconsistent knowledge about the customer base.
Improve overall marketing focus and communication effectiveness.
Who needs to use TAPs?
Traditionally, TAPs are used mostly by marketing communications (marcom) departments. Indeed, marcom departments need highly detailed customer profiles in order to generate effective communications. TAPs do, however, merit a much wider audience.
Everyone in marketing needs — and should demand — this level of information. A clear and accurate understanding of one's customers fosters better market research, better products and services, better marketing strategies, and better communications. In fact, good customer information extends beyond marketing into virtually every functional area of your company.
TAP fundamentals
Before you start building your TAPs, take the time to consider such things as how many TAPs you need, who you need to profile, and how much detail to include in your profiles.
How many TAPs do I need to create?
The answer to this question depends on your objectives. There is no one comprehensive TAP that contains all your customer information insights. You need to produce multiple TAPs as needs arise.
If you're trying to increase the average revenue per current customer, you need to profile existing customers. If you're preparing a communications plan for your expansion into new market segments, you need to profile prospective customers.
Which customers do I need to profile?
Everyone involved in the purchase process should be profiled. Customers can usually be segregated into two categories: decision-makers and influencers.
Decision-makers might include "Mom" or "CIO." Influencers might include "teenager" or "systems analyst." You must understand the specific characteristics of each category and the relationship between them. What are their relevant needs, goals, beliefs, fears, and selection criteria? Where do they get information? Who initiates the purchase?
How detailed does a TAP need to be?
The level of detail depends on the breadth of the customer segment under consideration. TAPs can be prepared for an entire company, for a product line, or for a particular product.
On the one hand, the greater the breadth of the customer segment (that is, company-wide), the more general the information needs to be. On the other hand, TAPs for a particular product or service needs to be quite specific
Consumer behaviour
Consumer behaviour referred to as the study of when, why, how, where and what people do or do not buy products.[1] It blends elements from psychology, sociology,social, anthropology and economics. It attempts to understand the buyer decision making process, both individually and in groups. It studies characteristics of individual consumers such as demographics and behavioural variables in an attempt to understand people's wants. It also tries to assess influences on the consumer from groups such as family, friends, reference groups, and society in general.
Customer behaviour study is based on consumer buying behaviour, with the customer playing the three distinct roles of user, payer and buyer. Relationship marketing is an influential asset for customer behaviour analysis as it has a keen interest in the re-discovery of the true meaning of marketing through the re-affirmation of the importance of the customer or buyer. A greater importance is also placed on consumer retention, customer relationship management, personalisation, customisation and one-to-one marketing. Social functions can be categorized into social choice and welfare functions.
Each method for vote counting is assumed as a social function but if Arrow’s possibility theorem is used for a social function, social welfare function is achieved. Some specifications of the social functions are decisiveness, neutrality, anonymity, monotonocity, unanimity, homogeneity and weak and strong Pareto optimality. No social choice function meets these requirements in an ordinal scale simultaneously. The most important characteristic of a social function is identification of the interactive effect of alternatives and creating a logical relation with the ranks. Marketing provides services in order to satisfy customers. With that in mind, the productive system is considered from its beginning at the production level, to the end of the cycle, the consumer (Kioumarsi et al., 2009).
Consumer Attitudes
What Can Attitudes tell us about Consumers?
Consumers who like sushi are likely to eat it
Consumers who like rich ice cream are likely to eat it
Consumers who like to “eat healthy” will be likely to eat things that are not high in calories
In reality . . .
BUT – having a positive attitude does not mean that we’ll buy a specific product
We distinguish between attitude toward the object and attitude toward the behavior of purchase
What is an Attitude?
It represents what we like and dislike
An attitude is a lasting general evaluation of something - it has knowledge of that something, liking or disliking, and the strength of the feelings.
They are lasting, but changeable
They help to direct behavior – e.g. do you recycle cans?
What functions do attitudes provide?
Utilitarian -does the clothing fit, is it appropriate, does it provide what we need?
Value-expressive: clothing says that you are a professional
Ego-expressive: clothing conveys self-image
Knowledge: summarizes the image we are trying to give, a suit from _______ conveys that you are a professional
The Variety of Consumer Attitudes
Attitudes toward product – Campbell Soup at hand
Attitudes toward company - Philip Morris, Kraft
Attitudes toward a retailer – Wal Mart
Attitudes toward product attributes – salt content
Attitudes toward various types of brand associations
Logos – design – do you like the Nike swoosh?
Symbols – meanings – do you like the Energizer bunny?
Product endorsers – sports figures – do you like Michael Jordan?
Attitudes toward advertising – do you like the ads for the Borgata?
Attitudes: Likes and Dislikes
Beliefs - now that the consumer has learned about our product, we assess their belief system ( may be multiple attributes - running shoe)
Affect (feelings) - whether they like or dislike each attribute which they know?
Behavior - what they do in response
Impact of valued other people
Behavioral intentions vs. Behavior
Beliefs: Cognitive Component of Consumer Attitude
A consumer belief is a psychological association between a product or brand and an attribute or feature of that product or brand
Beliefs are cognitive (based on knowledge)
The stronger the association of features or attributes with the product or brand, the stronger the consumer’s belief
Are the consumers’ beliefs correct?
Affect: Emotive Component of Attitude
Purchase decisions are continually influenced by affective response
Affect—the way in which we feel in response to marketplace stimuli
It is emotive rather than cognitive (beliefs)
It is comprised of both our knowledge of stimuli and our evaluations of them
Affective responses can be very general or very specific
Affective component of attitude: functional theory of attitude, the Fishbein model, and the belief-importance model
The Fishbein Model - discussed in class
An Application of the Fishbein Model
The Fishbein Model—Changing Affective Responses
Change Bi - if the belief is that durability is weak, find out why? Is this true or just a rumor? Can we change the belief?
Change Ei – if consumers don’t like an attribute, can we change their feeling? If they dislike paying over $50, can we explain why it’s worth it? Can we give them rebates?
Add a new Bi/Ei combination – are there other beliefs or attributes that could be added?
Intention: Behavior Component of Consumer Attitude
Affect is not closely linked to actual purchase
Behavioral intention—attitude toward brand purchase
A far better predictor of behavior than either beliefs or affective responses
Behavioral intention models:
Theory of reasoned action
Theory of trying
Let’s say you’ve just had a terrible experience with Parking Management and decide to write a letter to The Collegian to complain about this campus service. As you think about writing your letter to The Collegian, you’ll need to think not only about audience but also about why you are writing to those readers. Do you want simply to tell your story? Do you want to argue directly for a change in policy? Do you want to raise fellow students’ consciousness about a problem so that the student senate will eventually take up the issue? Depending on your goal, you might write a narrative, an argument, or a causal analysis. Which approach is most likely to be effective with your readers?
Writers need to consider both audience and purpose in writing because the two elements affect the paper so significantly, and decisions about one will affect the other.
Developing Audience Awareness
When we talk to someone face-to-face, we always know just who we're talking to. We automatically adjust our speech to be sure we communicate our message. For instance, when we talk to three-year olds, we shorten sentences and use simpler words. When we talk to college professors, we use longer sentences and more formal language.
In short, we change what we say because we know our audience.
Interestingly, many writers don’t make the same adjustments when they write to different audiences, usually because they don’t take the time to think about who will be reading what they write. But to be sure that we communicate clearly in writing, we need to adjust our message--how we say it and what information we include--by recognizing that different readers can best understand different messages.
product reach
In consumer marketing 'Product Reach' has to do with the Distribution of the product. One of the four 'Ps' of Marketing Mix. It depicts on the availability of your product to the target market.
The more effective the distribution the more is your product reach to the customers at different stores and places and town and villages.
Audience profiling
A target audience profile (TAP) is a written and very detailed appraisal of your customers' characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors. TAP information typically falls into two categories: demographics and psychographics.
Demographics describe who your customers are. The most frequently used demographic variables include age, gender, occupation, location, marital status, income, education level, and nationality.
Psychographics describe why your customers act as they do. For example, you might determine that you have price-sensitive customers who choose the least expensive option, or trend-conscious customers who prefer the newest, most fashionable option, or early adopters who are open to choosing new, unproven options.
Why do I need to do TAPs?
Sharing high-quality customer profiles across your organization pays off in several important ways. Target audience profiles:
Help the company make better, more consistent customer decisions about how to best market and sell, including which products and services to offer and how to most effectively communicate their features, benefits, and availability.
Reduce confusion among functional areas through a common business foundation for decision-making.
Make it possible for your staff to treat customers more consistently because everyone is working from the same comprehensive information.
Save time and money by minimizing missteps and rework stemming from inconsistent knowledge about the customer base.
Improve overall marketing focus and communication effectiveness.
Who needs to use TAPs?
Traditionally, TAPs are used mostly by marketing communications (marcom) departments. Indeed, marcom departments need highly detailed customer profiles in order to generate effective communications. TAPs do, however, merit a much wider audience.
Everyone in marketing needs — and should demand — this level of information. A clear and accurate understanding of one's customers fosters better market research, better products and services, better marketing strategies, and better communications. In fact, good customer information extends beyond marketing into virtually every functional area of your company.
TAP fundamentals
Before you start building your TAPs, take the time to consider such things as how many TAPs you need, who you need to profile, and how much detail to include in your profiles.
How many TAPs do I need to create?
The answer to this question depends on your objectives. There is no one comprehensive TAP that contains all your customer information insights. You need to produce multiple TAPs as needs arise.
If you're trying to increase the average revenue per current customer, you need to profile existing customers. If you're preparing a communications plan for your expansion into new market segments, you need to profile prospective customers.
Which customers do I need to profile?
Everyone involved in the purchase process should be profiled. Customers can usually be segregated into two categories: decision-makers and influencers.
Decision-makers might include "Mom" or "CIO." Influencers might include "teenager" or "systems analyst." You must understand the specific characteristics of each category and the relationship between them. What are their relevant needs, goals, beliefs, fears, and selection criteria? Where do they get information? Who initiates the purchase?
How detailed does a TAP need to be?
The level of detail depends on the breadth of the customer segment under consideration. TAPs can be prepared for an entire company, for a product line, or for a particular product.
On the one hand, the greater the breadth of the customer segment (that is, company-wide), the more general the information needs to be. On the other hand, TAPs for a particular product or service needs to be quite specific
Consumer behaviour
Consumer behaviour referred to as the study of when, why, how, where and what people do or do not buy products.[1] It blends elements from psychology, sociology,social, anthropology and economics. It attempts to understand the buyer decision making process, both individually and in groups. It studies characteristics of individual consumers such as demographics and behavioural variables in an attempt to understand people's wants. It also tries to assess influences on the consumer from groups such as family, friends, reference groups, and society in general.
Customer behaviour study is based on consumer buying behaviour, with the customer playing the three distinct roles of user, payer and buyer. Relationship marketing is an influential asset for customer behaviour analysis as it has a keen interest in the re-discovery of the true meaning of marketing through the re-affirmation of the importance of the customer or buyer. A greater importance is also placed on consumer retention, customer relationship management, personalisation, customisation and one-to-one marketing. Social functions can be categorized into social choice and welfare functions.
Each method for vote counting is assumed as a social function but if Arrow’s possibility theorem is used for a social function, social welfare function is achieved. Some specifications of the social functions are decisiveness, neutrality, anonymity, monotonocity, unanimity, homogeneity and weak and strong Pareto optimality. No social choice function meets these requirements in an ordinal scale simultaneously. The most important characteristic of a social function is identification of the interactive effect of alternatives and creating a logical relation with the ranks. Marketing provides services in order to satisfy customers. With that in mind, the productive system is considered from its beginning at the production level, to the end of the cycle, the consumer (Kioumarsi et al., 2009).
Consumer Attitudes
What Can Attitudes tell us about Consumers?
Consumers who like sushi are likely to eat it
Consumers who like rich ice cream are likely to eat it
Consumers who like to “eat healthy” will be likely to eat things that are not high in calories
In reality . . .
BUT – having a positive attitude does not mean that we’ll buy a specific product
We distinguish between attitude toward the object and attitude toward the behavior of purchase
What is an Attitude?
It represents what we like and dislike
An attitude is a lasting general evaluation of something - it has knowledge of that something, liking or disliking, and the strength of the feelings.
They are lasting, but changeable
They help to direct behavior – e.g. do you recycle cans?
What functions do attitudes provide?
Utilitarian -does the clothing fit, is it appropriate, does it provide what we need?
Value-expressive: clothing says that you are a professional
Ego-expressive: clothing conveys self-image
Knowledge: summarizes the image we are trying to give, a suit from _______ conveys that you are a professional
The Variety of Consumer Attitudes
Attitudes toward product – Campbell Soup at hand
Attitudes toward company - Philip Morris, Kraft
Attitudes toward a retailer – Wal Mart
Attitudes toward product attributes – salt content
Attitudes toward various types of brand associations
Logos – design – do you like the Nike swoosh?
Symbols – meanings – do you like the Energizer bunny?
Product endorsers – sports figures – do you like Michael Jordan?
Attitudes toward advertising – do you like the ads for the Borgata?
Attitudes: Likes and Dislikes
Beliefs - now that the consumer has learned about our product, we assess their belief system ( may be multiple attributes - running shoe)
Affect (feelings) - whether they like or dislike each attribute which they know?
Behavior - what they do in response
Impact of valued other people
Behavioral intentions vs. Behavior
Beliefs: Cognitive Component of Consumer Attitude
A consumer belief is a psychological association between a product or brand and an attribute or feature of that product or brand
Beliefs are cognitive (based on knowledge)
The stronger the association of features or attributes with the product or brand, the stronger the consumer’s belief
Are the consumers’ beliefs correct?
Affect: Emotive Component of Attitude
Purchase decisions are continually influenced by affective response
Affect—the way in which we feel in response to marketplace stimuli
It is emotive rather than cognitive (beliefs)
It is comprised of both our knowledge of stimuli and our evaluations of them
Affective responses can be very general or very specific
Affective component of attitude: functional theory of attitude, the Fishbein model, and the belief-importance model
The Fishbein Model - discussed in class
An Application of the Fishbein Model
The Fishbein Model—Changing Affective Responses
Change Bi - if the belief is that durability is weak, find out why? Is this true or just a rumor? Can we change the belief?
Change Ei – if consumers don’t like an attribute, can we change their feeling? If they dislike paying over $50, can we explain why it’s worth it? Can we give them rebates?
Add a new Bi/Ei combination – are there other beliefs or attributes that could be added?
Intention: Behavior Component of Consumer Attitude
Affect is not closely linked to actual purchase
Behavioral intention—attitude toward brand purchase
A far better predictor of behavior than either beliefs or affective responses
Behavioral intention models:
Theory of reasoned action
Theory of trying
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
X BOX 360
The purpose of this blog is to portray my thoughts on different platforms, the platform i am most familiar with is the Xbox 360 so it is this console i am supporting. my two rivals are the PS3 and the Wii.
The customer basis for the Xbox are more hardcore shoot-em-up players, whilst the market for the playstation is more laid back sports and racing games. we then are left with the Wii which is directed towards families.
when researching about Xbox's audience i found an article on how Xbox are following the Wii in that they are releasing more family friendly titles in order to gather younger consumers.
The customer basis for the Xbox are more hardcore shoot-em-up players, whilst the market for the playstation is more laid back sports and racing games. we then are left with the Wii which is directed towards families.
when researching about Xbox's audience i found an article on how Xbox are following the Wii in that they are releasing more family friendly titles in order to gather younger consumers.
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
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