Continuing Professional Education in Nursing

go along captain learning in NursingChapter 2Review of Related LiteratureThis section shows the significant studies about the literatures on factors influencing continue troth reproduction among nurses in selected tertiary hospitals. This section talks about the discussions of the research. It is made up of the pursuit what is chronic original facts of life, pauperizations to CPE, Barriers to CPE and the Requirements for CPE.What is continue Professional teaching method or CPE?Continuing Professional Education is a type of education that is conducted for participants in different pro fields that willing help them hold on their intimacy and skills updated and other relatable information that will aid them to achieve wider understanding of their selected profession. The CPE consist of programs that be properly set and planned set of activities, the implementation of the program requires the participation of well determined group of nonrecreationals that be desire b etterments with their cognition and skill to arrest their capacity to work for their profession.The American Nursing Association defines go along nurse education as education activities planned to construct the educational and experience base for master key nurses and to fix practice, education, regime, research or theoretical development, with a view to improving users wellness (Pea, Castillo, 2006). It is the responsibility and accountability of a original to continue his/her skipper development and is vital to organizational and sea captain success (OSullivan 2004).Continuing Professional Education is considered as the systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of acquaintance and skills, and the development of personal qualities necessary for deed of master copy, technical duties throughout the individuals working life (A.Yfantis et al., 2010). The principal(a) objective of keep original education is to facilitate continuous rusher growth, professional de velopment and to improve treat practices (National League for Nursing, 2001).Motivation to Continue Professional EducationMotivation is what drives a professional to go into in an activity want go along professional education that will help them improve their skills and association regarding their profession to accomplish them to a greater extent competent and more trusty to execute things that should be done in their work ara. In this bea, the former studies showed some motivational factors that affected the decisions of nurses to continue professional education. Improving quality of patient direction involves the participation of nurses in inveterate education (Rebecca, 2000).The previous Jordanian study showed the consistency of result that for nurses to improve their knowledge and skills they have to participate in continuing education (Al-Bakheit, 1991). Professional reasons ar what motivate nurses to participate in continuing education (F. Hayajneh, 2009). Upgrad ing skills and knowledge to increase professionalism be the factors that motivate Malayan nurses to participate in continuing professional education (Muthu, 2006). Increasing professional knowledge, compliance with the policy of the hospital, improvement of skills in taking care of patients and to meet the recommended goal of status are the major factors identified that motivate Hong Kong nurses to participate in continuing professional education (Lai, 2006).The study found that participating in continuing professional development had a great beneficial effect in the planning of nursing care and formulating techniques and thinking what to do in practice (A. Yfantis, I, Tiniakou E, Yfanti, 2010). Those nurses who are less satisfied with their career goals for income and advancement may realize that their work milieu is stressful and they may believe that an additional nursing degree will afford them wider chance, and this will make them more motivated to enroll for higher degree p rogram (J. I. Warren, M. E. Mills, 2009). The results showed that those nurses who are satisfied with their career are less likely to engage in continuing professional education because they are already circumscribe with their job (J. I. Warren, et al., 2009). The patients are expecting high quality wellness care services from health care providers which buy the farm them to enhance their educational status in order to meet the expectations of the patients (A. Yfantis et al., 2010).The main goals of participating in continuing professional education are to enhance and improve practice and to make sure that the care organism delivered is the highest quality that a professional can give for its patient (Claflin, 2005). Nurses obtained the importance of lifelong eruditeness and recognized the value of continuing education that assists them in coping with changes in their work environment (Hayajneh, 2009). The primary motivator to continue extended education came from personal desir e, which quoted as coherent with the literature (Delaney Piscopo, 2004 Reilley, 2003). Professional knowledge, professional advancement, relief from routine, compliance with authority, improvement in social welfare skills, and improvement in social traffic and acquisition of credentials are the most common factors found in the previous studies that motivates professional nurses to participate in continuing education (Kristjanson Scanlon, 1989 Thomas, 1986 Waddell, 1993).Technology and nursing practice continually change, creating a need for nurses to track continuing education to remain competent (D. J. Schweitzer, T. J. Krassa, 2010). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations are the reasons why nurses participate in continuing education (Kubsch, Henniges, Lorenzoni, Eckardt, Oleniczak, 2003). With the attendance to continuing education, job satisfaction increases (Kubsch et al., 2003), burnout decreases (Espeland, 2006 Kubsch et al., 2003), and skills are updated (Sousher et al., 2 999 Wood, 2006). Motivational factors let ins nurses desire to be current, obtain immediate practical benefit, secure advancement, meet formal requirements, and interact with colleagues (Dealy Bass, 1995). One way to keep on nursing advances is to attend continuing professional education opportunities (D. J. Schweitzer, T. J. Krassa, 2010).Barriers to Continuing Professional EducationThe restrictions are the factors that hinder professionals to continue professional education hence, making them less competent or less reliable compared to those who are motivated to enhance their skills and knowledge to perform better in the work area. Here, we will grab the different barriers identified by the previous studies that affect the decision and eligibility of nurses to join in activities that will improve their skills and knowledge as a professional. The common barriers include money, family, time and interest to pursue professional education.These factors are still present since the pa st familys and are not easy to eliminate in the numerate of barriers. The barriers includes the cost of tuition, responsibilities in the family, miss of information about program and work responsibilities, opinion of peers, and the attitudes (Glass, T. Atkinson, 1999).Lack of availability of courses on personal interests, lack of time, and difficulty in requesting time off from work are some of the barrier in continuing professional education (Lee, Tiwari, Choi, Yuen and Wong, 2005). Non supportive supervisors, non-supportive spouses, unchangeable work schedules, not enough cash and time, and distance of travel (Beatty, 2001). Schedule of work and responsibilities, lack of budget, travel distance to CE, and lack of available programs that will provide their needs were major barriers for nurses to continue education (Aucoin, 1998).On the other hand, According to (Yfantis, A., Tiniakou, I., and Yfanti, E, 2010) another decision is that nurses doesnt have past experiences and also cant assess the effectiveness because of the new programs that are established. There were consistent deterrents over the last 20 years of study regarding continuing professional education and these include lack of quality or interesting topics, lack of benefit in attending continuing education, lack of support from the administration, and peer opinions and attitudes (D. J. Schweitzer, T. J. Krassa, 2010).There were five major factors listed that prevented nurses from participating in continuing professional education and these are work commitments, time constraints, schedule of continuing education programs, domestic responsibilities, and the cost of courses which is consistent in the previous studies about continuing professional education (M. C. Chong, K. Francis, K. L. Abdullah, 2011).In the past 20 years, there were identified deterrents that are consistently present in the list of barriers and these are lack of quality or interesting topic for the participants, lack of benefi t in attending Continuing Education, lack of support from the administration and the peer opinions and their attitudes. All these deterrents have a great effect on the motivation of a professional to pursue continuing education (D. J. Schweitzer, T. J. Krassa, 2010). Minimal research has been conducted to investigate the perception of rural health care providers regarding the availability and accessibility of relevant continuing education (A. Jukkala, S. Henly, L. Lindeke, 2008). There are multiple barriers experienced by the rural health care professionals when they try to access continuing professional education, geographic isolation (Curran, Fleet, Kirby, 2006 Hegge, Powers, Hendrickx, Vinson, 2002), lack of financial resources (Alexander, Chadwick, Slay, Petersen, Pass, 2002), and inability to take time away from work (Hendrickx). There are identified indispensable barriers to participation in distant continuing education and these are rough geographic terrain and inclement endure which makes travel in rural areas complicated (A. Jukkala, S. Henly, L. Lindeke, 2008).Top reasons selected for not pursuing higher education include too old, wont earn more money, not undeniable by hospitals, and not needed to give good care (Altmann, 2011). Work commitments, domestic responsibilities, time constraints, scheduling of CPE activities, and cost of course are the top five most important factors that prevented nurses from participating in CPE based on the previous studies (M. C. Chong, K. Francis, K. L. Abdullah, 2011). cadence constraint and family commitment were factors affecting the tractability of the nurses availability for CPE such as arrangement for household chores and fry care, travelling, and access to computers during nonworking time are other barriers (M. C. Chong, K. Francis, K. L. Abdullah, 2011). Younger and less experienced nurses participated in continuing professional education to a lesser level because of the financial implications associ ated with accessing continuing professional education (M. C. Chong, K. Francis, K. L. Abdullah, 2011). Participation in continuing education was made as an obligation to the nurses in other countries because they knew that professionals are lacking in motivation to voluntarily update their skills and knowledge when there is no external pressure (Pea et al., 2006).Requirements for Continuing Professional educationThere are things that a professional must have to make them bailable to participate in an activity that can help them grow as a more certain person in their chosen career. In this area, the different studies showed some of the requirements needed to make a professional be engaged in an activity that will make them more proficient. In continuing professional education it is important to develop a positive attitude to benefit more and to have a significant improvement in professional self-development and growth of an individual (F. Hayajneh, 2009). Professional reasons like improving knowledge and nursing skills to provide better care for patients are stated as the reason why nurses are participating in continuing education. Study showed also that nurses are aware that they need to enhance their knowledge and skills in nursing to provide a more quality care for their patients (F. Hayajneh, 2009).Recent studies showed that senior nurses are more capable of participating in continuing education because of their higher income compared to those nurses in lower military position (M. C. Chong, K. Francis, K. L. Abdullah, 2011). But this finding was contradicted by Bariball and While (1996) stating that younger and less experienced nurses favored continuing professional education. Enabling continuous professional development in health care needs a meliorate work environment, mentoring and support for the registered nurses.Clinical managers in the United Kingdom stated that Continuing Professional knowledge is a very important factor in enhancing job satis faction. Having an attainable and high level continuing educational programs are connected to job satisfaction (Andrews et al., 2005 Levett-Jones, 2005). The capacity of group to encourage and maintain health care professionals is greatly needed to convince nurses to continue professional education (Booth Lawrence, 2001 Brewer, Zayas, Kahn, Sienkiewicz, 2006). Specialization requires that nurses keep current with new information in nursing science (Hayajneh, 2009). Positive attitudes will increase the number of nurses who participate. architectural plan developers can focus on needed continuing education content within their institutions to develop and maintain professionally and scientifically guided care for patients (Hayajneh, 2009). In order for nursing profession to achieve professionalism, nurses must develop greater skills, undertake higher education, and engage in lifelong learning (Happell, 2004). Nursing anxiety demands that nurses continue to advance their knowledge in nursing and its foundational disciplines (Orem, 2001). Full commitment of health care agencies and schools of nursing with dedicated mentors at all sites can identify and motivate nurses to enrol for an advanced degree. Admission, registration, advisement, and instructional support designed to ease transition to the student role are effective. Tuition support and instructional flexibility are major incentives (J. I. Warren, M. E. Mills, 2009).The nursing degree curriculum in Malaysia generally encompasses nursing sciences, behavioral science, health sciences, and information technology and communication skills. Research is an important component of degree program, student are mandatory to attend three doctrine hours of research and biostatic courses, and to conduct a project with contribute six credit hours of the courses (Chong et al., 2011).The Nursing Board of Malaysia in 1998 was influenced by the globalization wave regarding development in nursing to include the requirement of CPE in the Nurses Code of Conduct. All nurses should have at least ten hours in CPE activities per year (Chong et al., 2011). The Malaysian Nurses Board required the participation of nurses in a minimum of hours of education and training distributively year (Chong et al., 2011).ReferencesAndrews,M.E., Stewart,N.J., Pitblado,J.R., Morgan,D.G., Forbes,D., DArcy,C. (2005).Registered nurses working alone in rural and remote Canada.Canadian daybook of Nursing Research,37(1), 14-33.Beatty,R.M. (2001). Continuing professional education, organizational support, and professional competence Dilemmas of rural nurses.The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing,32(5), 203-209.Booth,B., Lawrence,R. (2001). Quality assurance and continuing education needs of rural and remoter general practitioners How are they changing?Australian Journal of bucolic wellness,9(6), 265-274.Deacon,M., Warne,T., McAndrew,S. (2006). Closeness, chaos and crisis The attraction of working in acute mental heal th care.Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing,13, 750-757.Gould,D., Daniel,K., Len,G., Maidwell,A. (2001). The changing training needs of clinical nurse managers exploring issues for continuing professional development.J AdvNurs, 34(1), 7-17.Griscti,O., Jacono,J. (2006). Effectiveness of Continuing education programs in nursing Literature review.Journal of Advanced Nursing,55(4), 449-456.Hayajneh, PhD, RN,F. (2009).Attitudes of Professional Jordanian Nurses toward Continuing Education.The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing,40(1), 44.Huseman,R.C. (2009). The importance of positive culture in hospitals.Journals of Nursing Administration,39, 60-63.Lee,A.C. K., Tiwari,A.F. Y., Choi,E.W. H., Yuen,K.H., Wong,A. (2005). Hong Kong nurses perceptions of and participation in continuing education.The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing,36(5), 205-212.Schweitzer,D.J., Krassa,T.J. (2010). Deterrents to Nurses Participation in Continuing Professional Development.The Journa l of Continuing Education in Nursing,41(10), 441-447.Rebecca,M.B. (2000).Rural nurses attitudes toward participation in continuing professional education.Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Pennsylvania State University, State College.Yfantis,A., Tiniakou,I., Yfanti,E. (2010).Nurses attitudes regarding Continuing Professional Development in a district hospital in Greece.Health Science Journal,4(3), 198.

Gastrointestinal Involvement: Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis

Gastrointestinal Involvement Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis

Security Threats In Cloud Computing

Security Threats In over debauch ComputingWhat is vitiate computing? To rationalize Cloud computing in simple words, lets just say it is Internet computing, if we observe closely the mesh is basically the collection of tarnish thus, the debauch computing word flush toilet be elaborated as using the internet, to its full potential, to provide organization and people, technology enabled oriented go. Cloud computing let consumers access, by the help of the internet, resources online from any corner of the world without the need to worry about physical/technical alimony and management issues of the real original resources.What is cloud computing security? To keep it in simple words, cloud security actually points out to a broad bushel of rules/regulation or policies, maybe set of technologies, or controls deployed but for the sake of, to protect application entropy, and the linked infrastructure of cloud computing from the vicious intruder.If all seems good how come security threat became an issue?The cloud computing technology is on the verge of peak. Its really a wonderful news for enterprises and organization who want to get things done with more than quickness and easiness as comp bed to past times but one need to keep their resource open to the possibility of data hijack. The famed Company IBM lies on top of companies providing cloud security with many a(prenominal) options in hand to reduce risk. The 9 biggest threats right now according to a report that was released, on 29 February, from the Cloud Security Alliance beSecurity Breach in terms of dataThe companies providing cloud purlieu face more comm only(prenominal) the same threat i.e. traditional corporate, yet imputable to the huge amount of data stored on their private servers, they are more vulnerable to the eyes of hackers or intruders. The teaching being leaked from their servers or exposed becomes headline showing the drawback of the security area. Disaster occur when informati on such as trade secret, health information or intellectual property data are breachedIf such event occurs in which hacker or intruder outrun the security checks of cloud milieu and data breach occur, then the organization providing the facility may end being washed up on the shore just like a broken ship because they may be filed or sued by the potential customers.To protect their environment, usually cloud owners, deploy security protocols in their services line but in the cloud organizations are responsible for protecting their own dataBroken earmark Compromised credentialsThe most common reasons for data breach are anaemic passwords, poor key on the loose(p) authentication or certificate management. Companies often strive with identity management, as they try to give or deny permissions as defined to the users job role. More important, keeping in view, they sometimes dont or embarrass to remove access of user when a job function changes or when a user leaves the environm ent of organization.The ways of multifactor authentication corpses such as phone-based authentication, one-time passwords smartcards tends to protect cloud services because this make it quite harder for attackers, hacker to log or go in to access with stolen passwords.Many developers dont realize the danger of embedding credentials in source code and make such mistake and upload the source code on famous site where source code is easily accessible such as GitHub and bit bucket.APIs Hacked interfaces usually every cloud application and service now gives APIs access to its users. IT teams use APIs and interfaces to attire and connect with cloud pool, including those that offer cloud management, provisioning, monitoring, and orchestration.The availability and security of cloud services from authentication to encoding and access control and activity monitoring depend on the security level of that particular API. find level increases with commonly third parties that tends to rely on APIs and build an infrastructure on these interfaces, as organizations may feel the need to expose or portray more credentials or service, the CSA warned. spineless APIs and interfaces expose company to security concerns related to integrity, confidentiality, accountability, and availability.APIs and interfaces are the most exposed and weak part of a corpse because theyre usually accessible and easily turn ined access from the open Internet.Misuse system vulnerabilitiesExploitable bugs, or system vulnerabilities in application and programs, are not new, but theyve become rapidly a huge problem with the inclusion of multitenancy in cloud computing services. Organizations handshake databases, memory and other resources in close range to one another, giving chance to new possible attack surfaces.Hijacking of describeSoftware exploits, fraud and phishing are still the most successful way for intruders for back door gain access. Above all that, cloud services add a whole new leve l of symmetry to the possibilities of threat because hackers can eavesdrop on various activities, modify data and manipulate transactions. Not only that, hackers may also use cloud application for their advantage to launch various other attacks.Cloud service provider should prohibit user from sharing of account security credentials between services and usersMalicious insidersThe threat from inside has many faces a former or current employee, a contractor, system administrator, business partner or a contractor. In a cloud system scenario, a catty insider can destroy or burn the whole infrastructures to ground or manipulate system data. Systems that solely depend on the various cloud service provider for security implementation, such as data or key encryption, are at huge risk.The parasite Advantage persistent threat (APT)APTs normally and blend in normal traffic move through the network, so it becomes difficult to detect. The major cloud service providers make sure to apply advance d encryption techniques to prevent threat such as APTs from infiltrating or entering their building infrastructure.Common points of entering in the system include direct attacks, lancet phishing, USB or pen drives loaded with malware injection, and third-party compromised software networks.Totally Permanent loss of dataWith the twenty-four hours to day enhancement and cloud services of getting matured, reports of permanent loss of data due to error from provider have vanished into thin air. But intruders or malicious hackers are famous to white wash cloud data just to harm businesses and bring the service provider to ground, and cloud data provider centers are at risk to natural disasters as any common facility.Cloud service providers advice or preach their user to distribute their data and applications across various multiple layers of zones for much more added protection.Abuse of cloud service powerThe disaster that can occur from the misuse of cloud service power can never be mapped of any graph scale. It has the tendency to support various criminal activities such as using the resources of cloud technology to break in to gain encryption key in golf club to launch various attack such as sending phishing email, messages or filling mailbox with email mails, launching famous DDoS attack to shut down server or hosting malicious content.

The Enterprise Resource Planning At Reebok Business Essay

The Enterprise Resource Planning At Reebok Business establishReebok introduces merchandises into the commercialise on seasonal and annual basis. Their product infusion into market is at least five to seven times in addicted calendar year. On an average it takes 18 months to produce a refreshed product from scratch, however the exemption being quick to market products which takes more than no more than 3 months to be produced. The network and rapport with the suppliers and distributors is capacious to facilitate faster times to gain industry feedback, to send surface new goods faster to the shelves.Ch on the wholeenges which ERP implementation addressedThe common challenges which Reebok had owing to the size of it of its huge customer base and disbursed manufacturing facilities. Globe sales network and alter preferences. To satisfy this, Reebok wanted a systems solution which can actually level the product education time, condense stats from all quarters of the world of two B2B and B2C information at a click of a button away. Was ERP unfeignedly able to help them to address their concern is what is analyzed in the avocation slides.Past EnvironmentThe information that the company had was all scattered and it was as small islands, hence retrieving them was difficult. The transpargonncy of information was there. Obsolete information was acquire stacked and engineering science at factory was outdated and off shore of the administration to monitor. Command all over process was lost. All this sink to high up stress levels of employees. Image 1 is pictorial delegation of the past surroundingsImage 1.Current EnvironmentHuge investments into automation, lead to a potpourri in scenario. Through internet factory activities were monitored. Computerization means undivided data base with high transparency and latest information at just a click away. There is no manipulation of data. This similarly has led to relatively set down stress levels.Image 2.Key attributes of ongoing environmentCentralized information storage has enabled book keeping of perfect full-fledged product information irrespective of the area they are manufacture and underlying technology. This advanced feature of digital environment has helped in supremacy and control of the entire process and create digitally generated images of finished goods would brass like. Association and tagging of products with respective categories is do easy, this paves way for future enhancement of product portfolio with much fuss and worrying about data loss or pattern miss-match. Internet, common platform ERP makes 24/7 come crosswise with all divisions (from suppliers to vendors) of the inventionning chain. Industry triggers are indicated automatically.Results of ERP implementation in product schoolingERP implementation has helped the company to manage a product line of 15complete seasons seamlessly. 45000 + archives are stored electronically in the information storag e system. Milestone capping has risen from 2 footwear and 3 apparel to 8 and 9 respectively.E (Electronic) HUB provider Role of ERPThe present statistics of logistics5,000 + purchase parliamentary laws per month40 Main footgear Factories in 8 Countries600 Apparel Factories in 29 Countries450 Raw framework Suppliers27 Freight ForwardersTransportation modes include Ship, Truck, Rail and Air34 Custom BrokersThis section of the paper discusses the supplier aspect of the tack chain, the business office of internet technology in extending the computerization from basic ERP to PLM (Product lifecycle Management) systems.These systems have do life simple, improved operational efficiency by automatically tackle purchase orders placed and distribute them to respective departments and production facilities across the globe. It similarly tracks information of shipping details, track the work in process (WIP) and furthermost but not least publish new labels and images.Old supply chain mo delImage 3.Image 3 above demonstrates how the old supply chain system was highly unorganized and cluttered. Such a formation would result in loss, manipulation of information, lead to fuss at every stage of the process and production. The modes of communication too were very primitive, slow, unreliable source such as Fax, Mail, Couriers, site visits, EDI, proprietary file transfers. raw(a) Supply ChainImage 4.Image 4 is clear representation of highly organised with a e-hub which acts as single point of contact for all the divisions of supply chain. This agile system ensures instant data transmittance without loss or theft in data. Retrieval of information is made a breeze. Communication mode is state of the art Business-to-Business data share /Vendor Neutral E-Hub/ Hosted Environment (ASP model), Workflow, message alerts, back office integration with reporting capabilities.Result of revised supply chainRevised supply chain has help achieve increased operational efficiency with electronic transmission of order information directly into the factory systems with added accuracy, lower administration cost. The same system is implemented for newer and upcoming production facilities too. harsh platform for process supervision and software as standard across the entire supply chain including small suppliers has benefited in order tracking and back order retrieval prompt. Purchase order mandate is without delay fallting logged automatically which helps finance division of the company to get file year end taxes with little or no fuss. Purchase order can be reprinted at any point in time, trance pre- delivered reports can be managed with the tool to over-ride purchase order activity.RecommendationsLooking at ERP implementation from the higher level management perspective, obtain the leadership of executives of the organization, get the involved in the process for them understand better the need/ engross of this technology in the interest of organizational deve lopment. Try and balance the top-down objectives allowing leverage for improving economies of scale and job satisfaction across al verticals of the hierarchy.Implementation process mustiness(prenominal) be gradual and progressive. Sudden prime on improvement in technology and/or drastic development (big-bang implementations) should be avoided in order retain the culture within the organization, to ascension employee morale. The ideal development/ implementation phase would be once in every 3 to 6 months.Finance department of the all organizations must take into miscellaneous expenses, include the process down time, employee training cost as part of the budget as this is a substantial quantum over the expected cost of ERP (both software and hardware necessary).Organizations working on seasonal business must ensure that the project lead in and lead out should not fall during the peak of the season as it competency result in business getting affected. Adhere in crocked project me thodology and focus attention on issues and off plan items.If possible, defer most complex technology challenges until team has mastered the technology and gained confidence.Selection of the vendor (service/ support provider of ERP) has to be done later on detailed market study. ERP package which allow future expansion must only be selected. Organizations must keep off from software that is not the best fit for the organization.

Jazz Age A Clash Of Cultural Values History Essay

eff Age A Clash Of heathen Values History EssayCultural civil war (Digital History), Symbolizes the time of the twenties. Author F. Scott Fitzgerald labeled this ex the have it away Age. In his novel, The Great Gatsby, he criticized the exterior and possessive lives of Americans after the war. The handed-down lifestyles were fading away season the luxurious, party lifestyle flourished. Through away the 1920s Americans continually tested the world(a) image of desired behavior. The decade was shaped by wealth, parties, moonshine, and sexually communicatory dancing. The changing lifestyles actual major cultural conflicts within America. Alcohol, music, immigration, racism, and twinepers of the 1920s deck the changing lifestyles brought ab away by the jazz age.During the 1920s, alcohol was the greatest reader to the lifestyle changes and cultural conflicts. These changes eventually became noticed by the governing power, and on January 16, 1920 the 18th Amendment came into ef fect. The 18th Amendment, known as prohibition, was the forbidding by righteousness of manufacture, transport, and sale of alcohol. Along with 18th Amendment, congress passed the Volstead Act to enforce the raw(a) prohibition on alcohol. The mob and gangsters took advantage of the opportunity and began smuggling and bootleg liquor, and became quite profitable. Alcohol was smuggled in from Mexico and Canada, also being shipped from afield to the U.S. from Europe and the Caribbean. Canada was exporting roughly a ane million million gallons of alcohol to the unify States a division. Bootleggers made their own drinks with wood, alcohol and medical supplies, sometimes create blindness, paralysis, or death. In The Great Gatsby, and in the 1920s, bootlegging was sociably acceptable. In F. Scott Fitzgeralds novel, cut comments on Gatsbys stick out after his huge party, telling him that his house party glowed immensely like the worlds fair (Fitzgerald 86). All of Gatsbys guests k s aucy he was obscure with organized crime, but yet seemed to attend all of his parties without hesitation. Because of the rampart law, Gangsters developed secret drinkable establishments, Speakeasies which provided an entertaining atmosphere, jazz music, food, and alcohol. The illegal bars were called handleeasies because you had to speak the password to enter. With the flood of liquor work outing, the government created the Prohibition Bureau, which always take flight short of men and money. The mob, due to the amount of money they were reservation, were able to expand their influence on bribe public officials many judges, law makers, police, and Prohibition Bureau members were on various crime organizations payrolls. Alphonse Scarface Capone was one of the famous bribers of the pick out Age. Capone essentially owned Chicago, and in 1927 he made well-nigh $60 million by bootlegging. In the End, The idea behind Prohibition was to minify crime and poverty, and generally impr ove the quality of life in America-by making it impossible for people to get their hands on alcohol. But this so called Nobel Experiment was a colossal failure (Speakeasies, Flappers Red Hot winding Music of the Prohibition). Lasting roughly thirteen years, Prohibition ended with the substantiation of the 21st Amendment, on December 5, 1933, legalizing alcohol.In addition to alcohol parents, teachers, and pastors cursed the lifestyle changes on the musical changes of the flatus age. The Harlem Renaissance was a try where black authors, musicians, and artists show cased the talent that African Americans had to offer, marked the seed of the musical changes. It was F. Scott Fitzgerald who called the 1920s the Jazz Age, but it was the African Americans who gave the era its jazz. Jazz is a musical form, native to the United States, creatively mixing distinct forms of music, including African American blues and rag time, and European-based popular music. As slaves African American s learned few European cultural traditions. Becoming popular in the late 1920s, jazz was very addictive to people because of its unusual jiffy and rhythm. In The Great Gatsby, when Nick, Daisy, and gobbler are walking to their car, Daisy is drawn sticker inside by the music, tuning all another(prenominal) surrounding sounds out (Fitzgerald 115). Jazz was so distinct it didnt just spread among the U.S., but around the world. Some of Jazzs approximately famous artists within the 1920s were Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Louis Armstrong. Jazz on with the beat and rhythm developed new dance styles, such as the Charleston, becoming so popular that it still symbols the Jazz Age. Along with Jazz, other musical forms and changes emerged, such as Blues, Hillbilly, and boogie woogie music. Of the 1920s, Bessie Smith was the best and most influential classic blues singer. Hillbilly music, also known as country music, was best represented by musician Jimmie Rodgers. Pianist browbeat Co w Davenport developed the trademark tune cow cow blues, loose life to boogie woogie piano style. The Roaring mid-twenties, known as the Jazz age because of Jazzs unusual beat and rhythm, became the most popular music of the era. The finesse of the radio drew the nation together by bringing news, entertainment, and advertisements to more(prenominal) than 10 million households by 1929 (The Formation of Modern American hole Culture). The newly invented radio contributed to the flourishing of jazz, and gained widespread appeal during the decade, even among the whites.another(prenominal) Contributor to the lifestyle changes in the 1920s was immigration. 4,107,209 immigrants immigrated into the United States from 1921 to 1930. Immigrants brought along their lifestyles and elaboration thus forming a culture clash. This is exampled in The Great Gatsby when those from the Midwest Nick Carraway were fair, honest, and straight forward, while those living in the East for sometime Tom a nd Daisy Buchanan were unfair, corrupt, and materialistic. Many immigrated to America hoping for the American Dream, social advancement, freedom, and endless opportunities. Main publish with immigration was the competition for jobs. In 1921 a quota system for immigrants was developed by congress. A quota system is an arrangement that limited the bet of immigrants who could enter the U.S. from circumstantial countries. In 1924 the National Origins Act, states that the number of immigrants of a given nationality each year could not exceed 2% of the number of people of that nationality living in the United States in 1890. By the middle of the 1920s one out of every four people was an immigrant. The Quota Law of 1924 and 1929 act limited the number of immigrants to 150,000 to be distributed among people of various nationalities in proportion to the umber of their compatriots already in the United States in 1920. Many Americans viewed these immigrants as a brat to American ghostlik e and social values, as well as scotch opportunities.Due to the number of immigrants, racism peeked during the 1920s. The Ku Klux Klan, a hate group, reached nearly 4-5 million members in the 1920s, spreading throughout the U.S. The KKK aimed at killing non-whites and other religious groups, harassed and promoted hatred towards African Americans, but also aimed at the new America forming within the cities. They targeted Jews, Catholics, and immigrants. One center of Klan strength was Indiana, where leader David Stephenson was unappeasable and controlled few politicians. In the darkness of night the KKK burned crosses, boycotted business owned by Jewish, Catholics, and Africans, terrorizing the citizens. The Klan wore masks to conceal their identities, waved flags and preached hate. Famous leaders of the Klan during this era include golden Dragon and Imperial Wizard. Behind the hard, hateful exterior, were just Americans fearful of change.Flappers, at once illustrate the changing lifestyles and cultural battles within the Jazz Age. Many of the spring chicken unmarried women of the twenties rebelled against the conventional patterns of behavior and became known as flappers. Flappers a great deal cut their hair short, wore it in a bob, and wore short straight dresses that would flap around when they would dance. Flappers flaunted their independence from parents by going away to college or piteous to the city. They also abandoned social taboos that said women shouldnt drink, smoke or mother sexually active. Daisy and Myrtle from The Great Gatsby embody the flapper image by drinking and their party lifestyles. Both of them also cheated on their husbands, having love for more than one man. Flappers were known to hang out in speakeasies and night clubs where they danced with bear arm and legs flying. Flappers flaunted their sexuality this marked the 1920s individuality of the modern woman.The 1920s was a decade of deep cultural conflict (The 1920s An Overv iew). The cultural conflicts of the twenties were between a more metropolitan culture, and a more traditional culture. Americans were no longer interested in politics, but entertainment. Because the 1920s produced a breed of artists, musicians, and writers, who were among the most ingenious and clever in American narration, the 1920s developed into one of the most crucial periods in the countries cultural history (The Formation of Modern American Mass Culture). Author F. Scott Fitzgerald called the 1920s the Jazz Age and the decade was truly was Jazzs golden age. The stock market doss of 1929 signaled the end of the party. The roaring 20s came to a close in economic cuckoos nest and the lighthearted atmosphere of the Prohibition era fizzled out with the end of the decade (Roaring Twenties). The changing lifestyles brought about by the 1920s Jazz Age was incarnate by alcohol, music, immigration, racism, and flappers.

The Neptune Gourmet Seafood Marketing Essay

The Neptune gourmet Seafood Marketing EssayNeptune epicure Seafood is the third largest company in impudentton America, it has been initiated 40 socio-economic classs ago. And it is growing rapidly. However, this process in commercialize accept is still insufficient as com tallygond to the amount of catch the company are able to haul and process daily. As such, excess inventories have been spile up in the warehouses, and turnovers are slower than they ever were.To subdue to attack this issue, some strategies regarding the pricing of their premium outputs have been introduced for discussion. Talking ab extinct the growth possibilities and the problems that these strategies might encapsulate. Also offering a fresh perspective on the issue of launching a mass-market label amongst existing premium brands. And make it some alternative recommendations to top the problem of oversupply.COMPANY BACKGROUNDNeptune Gourmet Seafood is a $820 million company with its core business l ying in providing last prime(a) seafood and seafood-based products to its customers. Neptune is victimisation a freezer trawler with vernal technologies that allow the vessel to catch and freeze tilt in an environmentally sustainable way as these technologies super freeze fish to -70F speckle the usual is between -10F and -23F, and that retains the original flavor, texture and color of the fish, Neptune excessively generated virtually 30% of its revenues by selling frozen and processed fish products to fall in States grocery chains. Neptune had got a premium image among its customers, it had earned a written report for producing the best seafood with superior quality for the past forty years. In the $20 billion fishing industry, Neptune has managed to position itself as one of the top provider of premium seafood products. The company has been one of the best innovators in the art of fishing, with high investments do on developing technologies and technical k at present -how on maintaining the quality of its catches. Neptune also is gaining attention in its focus on environmentally sustainable fishing, in line with its tagline The Best Seafood on the Water Planet. However, the company have been facing some inventory problems due to oversupply, and have been seeking ways to damages it without jeopardising the companys premium image.BUSINESS COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENTAnalyzing the business competition environment that Neptune operates in, through the porters five forces modelPorters Five Forces Model of CompetitionCOMPANYS MARKKETING integrateTo identify Neptune target market, the market mix should be analyzed using four Ps model.PROBLEM ANALYSESWhile Neptune is one of the cosmicgest companies in the market, it faces several(prenominal) challenges and problems in retain its position in the market due to the advanced technologies that Neptune adopted and ships that have been added to the fleet, Neptune became able to produce a large egress of produ cts comparing with the opposite companies where as the goods inventory shows that the supply of sixty long time is twice the ruler level and three times what it had been a year ago, and these products to a greater extent than the targeted segments of Neptune which causing the excess inventory.Some parties believed that this inventory problem would only be temporary, as they relate this sudden influx in supply to the enlarge in the number of ships that would allow for a much efficient transmittable and processing of seafood.However, some parties have identified that the problem are non just the highly efficient fishing vessels, exclusively truly lies on the in the buffest amendment to the fishing law, which reduces commercial fishing near the coastal areas. As Neptune now have limited approach shot to the waterways near the coasts, they are reduced to fish further out at sea. And due to the sheer abundance of fishes in this area, it ultimately farts to bigger catches that has ultimately put a strain on their inventory capacity.However, Neptune would have to push to sell off these excess inventories to begin with they turn bad, and not being able to do this could lead to big losses.There are suggestions to reduce supply by stopping the system of a few of Neptunes fishing vessels. However, having idle profit-making assets is not a precise good business idea as the vessels are already sink costs anyways. Neptune could probably sell off some of these assets but to do that would mean having to get losses from the sale of those vessels.Therefore, there is an separate suggestion to try to combat this problem of oversupply. Neptune suggests in the buff values of end products drastically to try to entice more buyers. However, there are several concerns surrounding the viability of this price cut.PRICE ANALYSESThere are several suggested options by the team of Neptune to clear up the excees of the inventory that the company facing, tender prices is sug gested by some but sore the prices whitethorn solve problems in short term, while the overcapacity may collar long with Neptune. There also an issue highlighted in the case which is cutting price may effect negatively to the consumers image that Neptune achieved 40 years ago. After cutting the price consumers would conceive that these Neptune products sold at a lower price could be rotten and it could destroy their brand equity. other effects of cutting price which may repairs the coming(prenominal) sales because restaurants and house consumers may buy and stock Neptune products in the period of cutting the prices, so the company will get lower sales in the future and it will consider it as an expense. As tumesce as cutting the prices may lead competitors to reduce their prices too trying to compete with Neptune and afterward while the price would reach the equilibrium point.So many problems may occur due to cutting the prices the Neptune team has another suggestion which is introducing a crude low-price seafood brand to the existing upmarket brand. Introducing this new roduct may lead to the cannibalization of the old premium products. Neptune has successfully positioned its Neptune Gold brand on the high end of the seafood market. Neptune are therefore scared that selling off the kindred seafood for a lower price under another brand would backlash as consumers could discover that both these offerings quality are at par with each other. Hence, consumers would naturally move towards purchasing the new brand instead of the premium one.Neptune also should consider the reaction of the United States Association of Seafood Processors and Distributors. This new brand by Neptune could be venturey and possible to negatively affect their ASPD Gold Seal of approval that have strengthened their reputation for quality all these years retracted. This could further endanger the sales of their existing brands..SUGGESTIONS TO modify MASS-MARKETDue to the problems and situation discussed above the idea of improving mass-market is suggested to distribute the excees inventory. It is an pure idea to give opportunities of growth to Neptune. This schema to expand their market as opposed to only threatening their currunt offerings, it is also good for the company to cum up with something different to this new low-price brand to minimize the negative doctor . producing low-price brand to add value to the current market segmentation by supporting the the premium one offered before.It is very important for Neptune to figure out what the consumer really wants from their seafood purchases other than price. Neptune could definitely create an edge over other competitors who are competing in the same price range by promoting the product with a focus on its quality. As a major provider for seafood products, Neptune has definitely built a name for itself for its quality catches, and they should make sealed that this message extends to the new brand as well. Therefore, Neptune could catch the attention of consumers flavor for the best quality produce at a much more affordable price range. However, opening a new segment in the market by offering low-priced products will target the consumers who want products at a cheap price and single out them with consumers that on the normal market of Neptune. They achieve a competitive advantage over other competitors. In fact, Neptune would probably attract a lot of sales with this new mass-market brand, even with the stiff competition with other low-priced suppliers, as customers would tire that they could get the same value proposition delivered by Neptune with their Gold line, but at a cheaper price.This suggestion will reduce cannibalization by differentiate targeted segments, Neptune should retain its revenue from the premium offerings to restaurants and eatiers.CONCLUSIONWhile Neptunes customers are trusty to the company to go back and repurchase its products and their demands are s till forever climbing, Neptune is still using its expertise and technologies to satisfy its customers and keep competitive in the premium seafood market.However, because of its new investment in new shipping vessels, top-quality supplies have also been climbing. However, this increase is not matched by a comparative increase in demand. As such, inventories turnovers have become slower and Neptune runs the risk of having these inventories turning bad in storage.Neptune team has come up with the strategy of slashing their offerings by half, and that is followed by the strategy to open a new mass-market brand. However, both suggestions have certain underlying problems connected to its implementation. But deprivation through a new market segment is highly viewd as an opportunity instead of a threat for long run.As a conclusion, Neptune needs to lunch mass-market brand to solve the excees of the inventory as well as being the best in growth prospect to play its position in the seafo od market.RECOMMENDATIONSSome recommendations to Neptune to sustain its position as market draw and increase its market share through introducing a mass-market brand and implementing some strategies.To expand its offering giographically and open new market external United States and importing seafood products. This strategy will lead the demand to hiking up quickly to follow the rising of supply, so Neptune will solve the oversupply once the margin of demand increases.Neptune sould introduce promotions of its products to definite increases in environmental awareness, to encourage its customers to repurchase and then will get more profitAs of currently, about two-thirds of Neptunes total revenue comes from sales made to restaurants, cruise ships and eateries. growing its consumer franchise is recommended as well. Neptune thus should try to assemble with local supermarkets and grocers nationwide in order to let customers have access to these premium products easier.These recommend ations to solve the problem of the excees of the inventory, also to help Neptune to be the leader of the market internationally and the biggest supplier of seafood products.Hisham TurbanMarketing Management

Outsourced Delivery Services Of Ikea

Outsourced Delivery Services Of IkeaThe purpose of our thesis is to find out the factors that affecting the customers satisfaction on outsourcing. The importance of rack up Chain Management (SCM) is creation a vital part of a comp whatsoever however, a well SCM is not as mature as some old incline like Human Relation Management, Accounting, and so forth Thus, companies may outsource SCM or particular function among SCM to the 3rd society serves admitr.Meanwhile, the attribute and effect on outsourcing would be a patronage to companies. Customers puddle the sales, profit of a connection. If the part which creation outsourced may click customers directly, is at that place any(prenominal) precaution and measurement to ensure the serve get out will not be affecting during outsourcing, or how to minimize the lick to companies.Todays Supply Chain ManagementMany companies today atomic number 18 modify their connections with partners all along the supply drawing string . They no seven-day just brood suppliers as vendors and distributors as customers. They treat both as partners in delivering customers value. nearly business nowadays atomic number 18 customer-oriented, e.g., Sales, CS Business, Insurance, Banking/Finance, Beauty C ar/Health, and so forthBackground of OutsourcingIn a global marketplace an increasingly colossal competition forces companies striving to find strategies that vex apart them competitive advantage everyplace the competitors (Christopher, M., 1998). Outsourcing has been treated as one of the most important business and frugal imaginations for achieving competitive advantages.Outsourcing privy be defined as the transfer of the drudgery of goods or operate that had been performed internally to an external fel let outship (Van Weele, A., 2005). Company stand focus on their nerve center business if the companies transfer its operations to some other company to produce goods or serve some 3rd party services p rovider.The basic reason for outsourcing is the increased trend of globalization (Enarsson, L., 2008, p.33). The reasons slowly outsourcing may lower the terms on auction pitch, utilize local firms resources hence avoid capital investment funds on fixed asset for ontogenesis non force w atomic number 18ions, and to gain access technology, execution of instrument through useful partnership.Problems backchatOutsourcing, regardless a powerful economic and business strategy, does not unendingly ensure success to the outsourcesr involved in the entire surgery. there are many drawbacks in outsourcing operations. It might help a company on cost saving, focus on heart and soul business enhance mental object for innovation, wider follow through and knowledge, etc. However, there are some arguments on guaranteeing quality of service, qualifications of outsourcee, standpoint of labor.Once a company determined which projects will be outsourced, they suck up to know why outso urce and when to be carry out, how to save from mis acquits while outsourcing.CONCEPTUAL STUDIESIn this part we will explain the concept of supply chain counseling and outsourcing as well as their descent from the point of view of different available and established theories and literatures. In this atom our goal is to elaborate more close to outsourcing in a a priori frame.Supply Chain Management (SCM)A customer foc employ description is given by Hines Supply chain strategies require a total schemes view of the linkages in the chain that work together efficiently to compose customer satisfaction at the end point of rake to the consumer. As a consequence costs must be lowered end-to-end the chain by driving out unnecessary costs and snap attention on adding value. Throughput efficiency must be increased, bottlenecks removed and performance measurement must focus on total systems efficiency and frank reward scattering to those in the supply chain adding value. The supp ly chain system must be responsive to customer requirements.SCM describles a longer channel, stretching from raw materials to components to final products to final buyers. To implement an efficiency and effective supply chain systems take lots of time to design and manage, and so many companies nowadays descendd to outsource parts of logistic function to a 3rd party services provider. Then they can deal more resource and pay more effort on their affection business.The Trend of OutsourcingThere are no constrains to any functions which can be outsourced or not to be outsourced. To enhance the levels of competition, many shapings amaze started to aim in developing and maintaining the range of expertise and skills contained to compete effectively. This need has led many companies to engage with various kinds of sourcing like outsourcing (Oshri, I., Kotlarsky, J., Willcocks, L.P., 2009)Definition of Outsourcing divers(prenominal) authors arrest defined the outsourcing that c over s a wide scope of the concept of outsourcing. The pronounce of outsourcing can be split as out and source which message sourcing externally. Some simple definitions of outsourcing are given as followscontracting with a third service provider for the management and completion of a authentic(a) amount of work, for a specified length of time, cost, and level of service (Oshri, I., Kotlarsky, J., Willcocks, L.P., 2009, p 4)A contract is the means by which the planning, responsibility, knowledge, and administration of processes is transferred to an external party (McCarthy Anagnostou, 2004, Blumberg, 1998)According to Franceschini, F. et al., 2003, Outsourcing is a managerial approach usually taken for deputation the responsibility to an external source for carrying out the operation of production process or services of an enterprise.In these contexts, it can be summarized that, outsourcing is an agreement between buyer and supplier(s) to avail processes or services that the buyer is providing internally at present with an intention to reduce cost, increase focus on core business, improve quality of products and services and to ensure more flexibility.Evaluation forge for OutsourcingAn organization needs to maintain an operational cycle to conduct the outsourcing operation. There are the outsourcing life cycle brought up by M.J., Desouza, K.C., Bonifazi, C. (Source Power, M.J., Desouza, K.C., Bonifazi, C., 2006)Strategic perspicacity As the first stage of the outsourcing process, strategic assessment is the crucial legal action in the whole life cycle of outsourcing. The organization should identifie a certain business case and assesses the potential benefit of postdateing the outsourcing as a strategy. needs analysis After completion of the strategic assessment, the next step for the organization is to define the needs and more specifically areas of the needs that are demand to be focused on.Vendor assessment Organization goes for soliciting, eval uating and choosing the vendor for its outsourcing needs. entreat and negotiation management To be engaged in negotiations (and renegotiations) until an agreement is reached just about the details of outsourcing work.Project initiation and transition This is the most influential stages of the outsourcing affinity. The node organization slowly starts to hand over the control of the work to the outsourcee. Outsourcer should eternally pay attention to deal with emergent issues and smooth out any problems that occur. This stage marks the foundation of the continued relationship.Relationship management To time lag up to date with the outsourcing relationshipContinuance modification or firing strategy Organization must evaluate its current outsourcing contract to mold if its best interest lies in continuing, modifying or exiting the relationship.Motives for Outsourcing appeal EfficienciesCost lessening has been the prime motive for outsourcing (Ford, D., et al., 1993). To deve lop a complete product is always expensive for a company as it needs huge investment to improve products and production process through continuous research and technology development. Outsourcing reduces the cost of the client company in this area as the service providers invest in this area to collaborate up the demand of the buyers in a large scale. In this way, a company can touch the competitive advantages in the market reducing the cost through outsourcing process. focusing on Core BusinessEvery company has some activities that are not as essential as compared to its core business functions. By sourcing non-core business activities a company can focus on its core business in a better way. So, the efficiency of a company is likely to increase as more time and resources are focused only on the core business functions (Davis, J., 2002).In addition, there are some other driving factors that encourage the buyer company to embellish the outsourcing strategy. Such as operational exp ertise, enhance the capacity for innovation, capacity management where the risk in providing the excess capacity is borne by the supplier.EMPIRICAL STUDIESIKEA Hong Kongs purpose and HistoryThey offers a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as come-at-able will be able to afford them. This is the idea at the core of everything IKEA does, from product development and purchases to how they sell their products in retail stores.IKEA can make a good-quality product for a high price, or a poor-quality product for a low price. But to make good products at low prices, they need to develop methods that are both cost-effective and innovative. This has been the focus of IKEA since its beginnings in Smland, Sweden. Maximizing the use of raw materials and production adaptation to meet peoples needs and preferences has meant that their costs are low. The IKEA way of doing things is to pass these cost savings on to customers.Import ance of Select Reliable OutsourceeUnder our investigation, IKEA Hong Kong has outsourced the home pitch and fabrication services to an independent contractor. Basically, with return or exchange, home delivery and assembly services would be the final stage for company to provide services to customers. From coiffureing to delivery, IKEA takes at least three workings, even the round give excellent customer services at retails store, the experience in store almost fade out after placing order. As the purpose from waiting order delivery to complete can replace the experience in store, services provide during these period of time is essential to decide will this customer return or not.No customers, no business, no sales. Those satisfied ones turns to be a loyal customers, otherwise, unsatisfied customers will uncool month our company. Word of mouth is a reference to the passing of selective information from person to person. The influence of word of mouth is not measurable and cha llenging to rebuild company image.The dimensions of reliability responsiveness assurance empathy tangibility and cost in the service quality approach can be used in identifying critical factors that may suggest some ideas on picking of logistic services provider (LSP) (Kong Mayo, 1993 Bienstock, et al., 1997).ReliabilityResponsivenessAssurance go across timeService ConsistencyDocumentAccuracyResponsiveness physical body of ServicesExpress DeliveryGlobal coverageUpdated rates course and TraceContainerizationConsolidationReputationNo Goods DamagesEmpathyTangibilityCostCRMEmployeeCourtesyLocationModern EquipmentsOwn CFSE-servicesEDIPriceDiscount quotation termCase Study I apple Computer and trinitrotoluene Express (See Appendix I) apple Computer has been outsourced its delivery services to trinitrotoluene Express. There would be a list of ailment about the services of TNT Express. The complaints are regarding to package missing, long delivery time, with recomfirm to package receive r.FINDINGSApple Computer outsourcing its delivery services to TNT, every one who place the order from Apple store knew this. Once the order is placed, there are an signification of customers are agreed to let TNT Express to take over the duty of product delivery.Unlike IKEA Hong Kong, the delivery materials of contractors like trucks, boxes are printed in IKEA logo. It is difficult for customer to identify they are not the staff of IKEA. In order to protect the image or reputation, IKEA should ensure the contractor can perform like an IKEA staff, i.e., the delivery worker should rush basic product knowledge, especially for solving the enquiries during the process of services delivery. That is unreasonable to say we are contractor rather than direct staff of IKEA.Customer service is any contact between a customer and a company, which can establish a negative or positive perception by a customer during services delivery. As an outsourcer, they may state clear of relationship betwee n outsourcer and outsourcee may reduce complaints caused by mis belowstanding.The case of Apple, sometimes online checking system of TNT Express does not show the actual product delivery status. Those complainers about product delivery did focus on the services provider TNT Express instead of complaining the Apples decision making on contractor selection.Case Study II Survey on Outsourcing of authorities Activities on 2002 and 2004 (See Appendix II)The Efficiency Unit of HKSAR has been conducted a survey about outsourcing of governemt activities as at 2002 and 2004 since 2000. In this two reports, it showed, over 80% of bureaux and departments have beed outsourced at least one function to an indepentend contractor.FINDINGSAccording to the report on 2004, those functions which occupied the most expenditure were capital works constraction, building station management and environmental hygiene are the top three outsourced functions.By analyzing the pattern of annual expenditure, t he fluctuation of transport services is the most solid among the listed functions. The ratio of reducing expenditure is the most significant as well. In 2000, the expenditure was around $1 billion and then it dropped to $0.1 billion in 2002. Unlike other services categories, transport services were doubling up the expenditure on 2004.The focus of outsourced function of IKEA Hong Kong is the delivery services, it may categorize as transport services among the government functions. Reference to the expenditure on different services categories, transport services it is did not donminated the propular function of being outsourced.Reference to the page 6 of survey on 2004, there are current satisfaction of outsourcees performance. Around half of the outsourcee full met the requirement of outsourcer. however there is also another half that only partially fulfill. finaleIKEA is now the worlds largest furniture retailer they have a fixed aggroup of partners on manufacturing, purchasing a nd supply functions, design and development of products in the IKEA range. For distribution they have their own logistics center atomic number 63 is located in Dortmund, Germany and Asian logistic center is located in Singapore along with its IT base. To retaining customers, they have the customer relation system of IKEA Family.IKEA perform well in Europe no matter for SCM, marketing and customer retention. In Hong Kong region, they also have a good SCM, even they outsourced parts of service to an independent services provide. Yet the seldom to hear so negative comment to those outsourced services.Furthermore, under our investigation, we found that only one contractor took over the job of delivery, assembly services. The part that would appreciate is even the delivery services are being outsourced, IKEA Hong Kong still having a backup delivery term in-house. Once there are any conflicts or under peak seasons of ordering, IKEA can take over part of the order themselves.However, it is difficult to understand why they have not launch the inscription card in Hong Kong. To strength the loyalty of customer, which is important to understand the purchase pattern of customers, in order to give related promotion and information to encourage them repeating purchase.There are no absolute anwser for good to be outsoure or not to be.Companies should adopt a planned approach towards outsourcing taking into account the interests of employees and customers alike and come up with a balanced advance.The cycle of evaluation process for outsourcing is a good model for a company which would interest in outsourcing a/some particular function to a 3rd party services provider.For those companies which have been outsourced, a regular evaluation on before and after outsourcing is important. In todays dynamic marketplace, there are no rules can pull round till the end. The one who wants to be dominant of the market, they should keep track on of market trend, find out the competitive ad vantage and having a day-to-day review companys performance from time to time.APPENDICEhttp//discussions.apple.com/ wander.jspa?threadID=2537721start=0tstart=0APPENDICEhttp//www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/tnt-shipping-c41785.htmlAPPENDICESome links of complaint about TNT Express when taking over the order from Apple Computer.http//www.uwants.com/archiver/?tid-10549683.html(a brief survey hold by some forum members)http//www1.17t17p.com/viewthread.php?tid=452427http//boardreader.com/thread/Apple_HK_TNT_FRUSTRATION_9udfX1jc6j.htmlhttp//discussions.info.apple.com/click.jspa?searchID=-1messageID=12054701