Determining Causes and Effects Essay Example for Free

Determining Causes and Effects Essay The majority of blood donors are middle aged due to advertising not being effective among youth donors. Young prospective first time donors, with their long-term donation potential, are especially attractive targets for blood agencies. Youth are often underrepresented in donor pools, however; persuading them to give blood may require specifically tailored marketing communication. The first cause of not being effective in advertising towards youth is marketing communication. Blood collection agencies often emphasize altruism. Altruism is the philosophical doctrine that right action is that which provides the greatest benefit to others. Specifically, research demonstrates that established donors who have given blood several times report altruism and awareness of the need for blood as their main reasons for giving (Glynn S.A. 417). In other words, a regular blood donor gives because they want to help others in need, and they act altruistically without expectation of reward. Altruistic ads focus on the altruistic message of a blood recipient thanking individuals for giving blood to save his/her life. An appeal to self-interest may be more effective in heightening blood donation intentions among youthful donors. The second cause of advertising not being effective is not appealing to individual self-interest. Collection agencies often use a communal message strategy that you should donate because someone close to you may need it. A communal ad features blood donors asking others to join them to help save lives. This communal approach, often receives less attention from donors because people value incentives. There has been little academic research conducted in blood recruitment to further these recommendations and actually test the effectiveness of specific message types in relation to the established profiles. Another contributing cause is the selectivity model, attributes sex differences in information processing to traditional gender roles. For instance, the male or agentic gender role is characterized by concern for the self (ex., what helps me or is of interest to me?). It is associated with personality traits such as independence and autonomy. Men, who already attend to self-relevant information because of their presumed agentic gender role, should respond even more favorably to a self-benefit message that also  invokes a higher degree of self-referencing (Hupfer, 1004). The communal female role, which encompasses concern for both self and others (ex., what interests or helps both me and others?). The personality traits associated with the female are independent and giving. The female role is typified by sympathy, understanding, and sensitivity to others’ needs. These traditional role distinctions lead to sex differences in response to information that is self-relevant or other relevant (Hupfer, 1004). Gender roles, therefore, should be an important determinant of reaction to blood campaigns. They should indicate that giving blood helps me which is the agentic benefit (Fig 3). Or giving blood helps someone else which is the communal benefit (Fig 4). When an advertising message elicits attention by reflecting on negative outcomes it appears to be more favorable. When advertising message elicits attention by focusing on the positive outcomes it appears to be less favorable. One effect on the economy is when agencies paid people to donate it decreased the blood supply. Economists were skeptical citing a lack of empirical evidence. Since then new data and models have prompted a sea change in how economists think about incentives. Economists have found that offering to pay women for donating blood decreased the number of donators by half. However, letting society contribute the payment to charity reversed the effect. This psychology here has eluded economists, but it was no surprise to business owners. Rewarding blood donations may backfire; because it suggests that donor is less interested on being altruistic than in making a buck. Incentives affect what our actions signal, whether we’re being self-interested or civic-minded, manipulated or trusted, and they can imply wrongly what motivates the U.S. (Bowles) An increase in unemployment may mean people have more time to give blood, but I doubt it would cause an increase in supply. First, many blood donations are arranged by firms who agree to give employers time off work during the day. Secondly, it is possible that if you are unemployed you are likely to be stressed and don’t feel inspired to give blood. Findings indicate that when donors are eligible to benefit from the day-off incentive (i.e., when they are in paid employment) they make, on average, one extra blood donation per year, a substantial effect that represents a 40% inc rease (Lacetera). The decrease in blood supply affects those who have diseases such as sickle cell. There are more than 80,000 people in the U.S. with Sickle Cell, who require blood  transfusions. It also affects those who have cancer because chemotherapy consists of needing blood; sometimes on a daily basis. Also car accident victims can require as much as 100 pints of blood (American Red Cross). So if there are shortages of blood, there are not enough lives being saved. Hospitals haven’t had enough blood supply to care for patients with leukemia. It also affects newborns that are faced with having open heart surgery. Most patients who are hospitalized for serious complications and require transplants suffer because of the lack of blood supply in the U.S. In conclusion, collection agencies should consider appealing to young non-donors by suggesting that they give blood to make it available for themselves. Those who are capable of donating should do so with no questions asked. You never know when you will have a life-threatening event in which you need a blood transfusion to save your life. Researchers should continue to find theories on advertising to appeal to self-interest so that the blood supply in the U.S. will increase; however, the best approach in advertising is appealing to people’s emotion. If everyone would come together as one as they do in elections for blood drives the outcome would be greater. Fig. 3. Agentic Version of accident scene Fig. 4. Communal version of accident scene. Works Cited American Red Cross (2012). Blood Facts. www. Redcross.org Bowles, Samuel (March 2009). The Magazine; Harvard Business Review Glynn, S.A., Kleinman, (2002). Motivations to donate blood:. Transfusion, 42, 216-225. Hupfer, M.E. (2006). Transfusion 46(6), 996-1005, Visuals, DOI: 10.1111/j.1537- 2995.2006.00834.x Lacetera, Nicola (n.d.), Icentative Research Foundation. Time for Blood Article.

How does Duffy’s treatment of themes of war and death involve the reade

Carol Ann Duffy’s poem ‘War Photographer’ shows the life and actions of a photographer and portrays how unappreciative we are of what the photographer has to see and go through to take photographs. The poem shows that photographers are doing their duty, but we are not reacting to the photographs in the way that we should be. ‘War photographer’ tries to put a point across to make us realise that war is wrong and the public have become hardened to it. War in the media does not affect us as much as it should do. The editors use gory pictures to shock the readers as something that is disturbing shows the darker side of humanity. While the editors put in pictures of people suffering and facing death, their best interests are not for the people in the picture, but are in the readers, as the more shocking the pictures are the more people buy the paper. That fact that we buy papers because of the explicit photos show us how much we have become hardened to war and that there is also a small element of enjoyment when we see the pictures. This is reflected in the editors of the â€Å"Sunday Supplements† who choose the five or six photos for the ‘hundred agonies’. Throughout the poem Duffy has used symbolism of words to create an ominous feel. In the first paragraph of the poem the photographer is in the â€Å"darkroom† where â€Å"The only light is red†. The â€Å"darkroom† symbolises hatred, evil and death which ties in with the â€Å"red† light which symbolises death and blood. Also conveying the theme is the photographer, who has ‘spools of suffering set out in ordered rows.’ which portrays mass murder and thousand of graves as does ‘all flesh is grass’ which shows how people are seen as dispensable; â€Å"grass† can re-grow, which means that people are nev... ... that is never ending and wants us to realise this so we can try to break the cycle. Carol Anne Duffy uses the ‘War Photographer’ to portray the destruction and devastation that the war tends to bring. I get the idea that the photographer doesn't really enjoy his job as he has painful memories as he 'remembers the cries' this shows that seeing people dying is something that he never forgot about. The war photographer is going through a lot of emotional pain and damage to take war photographs, Duffy uses the poem to show that the readers do not appreciate him nearly as much as they should do. Duffy has a view that war is filled with pain and that people in peaceful society can’t really understand the full impact of war and therefore we have become hardened to it and need to do something to stop the disaster in other countries from repeating itself over and over.

At&T vs Skype Essay

This analysis provides an overview of the current and prospective opportunities for Skype, a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) company. The report finds that Skype’s revenue has decreased dramatically in the last three years mainly due to the increase in competition. Josh Silverman, president of Skype, realizes some decisions must be made in order to remain an industry leader. The company’s current growth plan strategy includes three phases. Phase 1 though already completed, was to become operational on at least one platform, with one revenue system, and focus on one market with one primary service. Phase 2 consist of developing many platforms, diversified revenue streams, many conversation modes, many regions and market targets. Phase 3 encompasses multiple market segments, established products, regional ubiquity, and mature target markets. Though Skype is well developed there are still potential growth opportunities. These opportunities include expansion of existing calling plans and prices, incenting existing users to ‘sell’ Skype to new users and collaborating with cell phone providers. With the market growing rapidly the next phase taken by Skype is crucial in their development. By using the current opportunities Silverman can advance the company as well as attack other providers in the industry. SYNOPSIS OF CASE FACTS Skype is a software application that essentially allows users to use any telephone or videoconference services over any internet connection. This transmission is called VoIP (as shown in Appendix A) and because of the reasonable long-distance and local call packages this option has become an attractive economical alternative to landline or traditional cell phone plan. Josh Silverman, president of Skype, is faced with making the next strategic move that will put Skype in a better position to successfully compete in the telecommunications industry. In order for Silverman and his leadership team to proceed with the next steps it is recommended that they first assess the economic environment. It is important to understand the economic environment that it currently has, as well as the predictions for growth within the industry. Finally, Skype’s key success factors (KSF’s) include cost, building relationships with mobile operators, globalization and word of mouth promotion by existing users. If Skype can focus on one of these KSF’s and be uniquely different where it sets them apart from rivals then Skype will continue to see growth in users and revenue. In terms of market size and growth rate, The VoIP market increased 66% from 2005-2006 with a projected continual increase of growth for decade upwards of 150%. This growth was due to the inclusion of an expansion to other ways of utilizing VoIP services. From internet to cell phone usage, the forecasts called for VoIP applications to create $32.2 billion in profit with over 270 million users. As of 2009, Skype would not be considered a major competitor within the VoIP Market. Comcast Corporation, which held 31.5% of the market, was the leader by 15.3%. Time Warner was in second with 16.2%, and Cox Enterprises, Inc. at 9.6% was only 1.3% ahead of Vontage Holdings Corp. with 8.3%. The rest of the market, which was considered as â€Å"other†, encompassed 34.4% in which Skype captured a small share. All of the major competitors growth rates from 2005-2009 were declining rapidly. For Skype, this was good news because the projections in growth of U.S. and Europe users from 2005-2011 showed 17% increase in the U.S. and 37% increase in Europe. ​Although major players had a traditional stronghold on the telephone industry, Skype services created a substantial technological pull that provided a major shift in the macro environment for these majority companies. In addition, the transition from PTSN to VoIP technology also sparked regulatory and social conversations of change. And according to our textbook, â€Å"since macroeconomic factors affect different industries in different ways†¦it is important for managers to determine which these represent the most strategically relevant factors† (Thompson, Peterraf, Gamble, Strickland, 2012). For Skype, this environment was ripe with opportunities for growth, and the company decided to strategically chart their progressive growth into diversification through a phased plan incorporating the one to any platform functionalities. In addition, Skype would need to be concerned about new technology which provided potential new entrants an opportunity to gain market share . ​ The VoIP industry is in the growth stage of the lifecycle process in 2009. The landline telephone market is in decline due to f the attractive and less expensive option of VoIP technology, which can utilize the increasing amount of cheaper internet connectivity. Other markets such as the cell phone market are starting to introduce technology that based on current projections over half of the cell phone market will be VoIP based technologies by 2019. ​Skype’s virtual market encompasses a global strategy due to the unlimited potential and increasing deployment of fiber optic networks internationally. The barriers to entry are reasonable because they already have achieved substantial growth and success within one platform. Additionally, gaining access to technologies through innovation, acquisitions, and mergers are ways to go from their one to any platform in the future. The Company to work to establish itself in markets that are emerging, and where other players have not focused. STRATEGIC ISSUES AND KEY PROBLEMS SWOT analysis, see Appendix B was performed highlighting the positives and negatives within the company. Skype has succeeded in the market primarily due to aggressive pricing. However, the competitive pricing also puts Skype at a disadvantage. Although Skype’s growth numbers show a 47%, 72% and 61% increase in registered users, Skype minutes and Skype out minutes, respectively, in fourth quarter of 2008, Skype witnesses a decrease in revenue growth, 46% to 26% from Q308 to Q408, respectively. The company uses a broad differentiation strategy to appeal to buyers and offers competitive pricing, suggesting that buyers can reduce fees associated with long-distance and local calls that are incurred with their current telephone provider. A defined strength is word of mouth advertising which has ultimately kept down operating costs. Everyone loves Skype because it is largely free. The executive team at Skype is faced with crafting a strategy that will put Skype in a position to compete with heavy hitters in the market like Comcast (31.5% of the market share), Time Warner Cable, Cox Enterprises and Vonage Holdings. A key strategy for Comcast was the acquisition of AT&T’s cable operations. This move increased Comcast’s membership by expanding business geographically into 6 other states. Please refer to Appendix C for competitive matrix. DRIVING FACTORS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS Skype has several driving factors for the recommended solutions. One, the ‘fan base’ is instrumental in promoting the application. According to the executive outlook, ‘Skype becomes more valuable as more people use it, thereby creating an incentive for existing users to encourage new users to join’ (Thompson, Peterraf, Gamble, Strickland, 2012). Secondly, Skype offers competitive pricing and plans which has attracted many users but a slight modification of addendum to the plan would promote profitability. Finally, acquisitions of competitors have been successful for other rivals, yet it could be expensive and not something that Skype could afford to do now. An alternative would be to continue to collaborate with cell phone providers. RECOMMENDATIONS The leadership team at Skype should focus on modifying and building out the calling plan to boost revenues. Skype-to-Skype minutes has seen the greatest growth between Q307 and Q408, 72%, however this plan is free. The addition of a small fee to this service or offering a prepaid bundled package could dramatically increase revenue in this area. Another strategy is to continue collaborating with cell phone providers making it easier for users to access Skype from mobile devices, not just desktops or laptops. Market penetration with mobile devices could increase membership and revenue. Also, Skye could partner with major W-Fi hotspot providers to have a â€Å"Skype Here† promotion where places like Starbucks would partner with Skype to encourage people to Skype from their stores. This would increase the time that a customer could spend in the store, and refresh the idea of Skyping from with a pleasure activity like getting a cup of coffee. This could lead to promotions with Skype as well. For example, if a member spends 300 minutes Skyping at a certain Starbucks then they would get a coupon for a free coffee at that location. With IM, Facetime, and other Communications applications the struggle is to keep Skype in the consumers mind as the preferred method of making communication, as opposed to the other methods. Lastly, offer incentives to existing users to encourage new users to join Skype. The incentive payout would have to line-up with the price points of the calling plans. ​Another area that Skype should explore is the corporate or B2B communications, companies spend thousands each year using conference calls, or virtual meetings. Skype should design a simple method for business to offer a fixed price conference calling plan on a per employee basis. The corporate market is largely untapped and corporations typically have a robust IT infrastructure that lends itself well to Skype. ​

Design Thinking and Innovation at Apple - 1000 Words

BACKGROUND: Apple has been a leader in innovation for years and has been able to achieve so by striving hard to deliver insanely great products with simplicity and sophistication. The constant need for innovation, development of unique product development strategies and their prompt execution, the presence of the visionary, Steve Jobs and their bold attitude at business experimentation formed the basis of principles at Apple. During mid-1970s, computers were mere automation devices and were not perceived to be used for personal work. Apple reasoned the impact personal computing will have on individuals once they were able to see how beneficial the personal computers could be. It was essential these machines were highly user friendly.†¦show more content†¦Jobs demanded products with ultimate sophistication, high quality, and superior capabilities yet, simple UIs. It was his persuasion to have Apple computers for personal computing, when the rest of the industry was busy creating enterprise solutions. His drive for excellence, and total involvement in every stage of product development and its presentation to the customer, have been the principal elements responsible for the innovation at Apple and the way the company is shaped up. Apple manages to create hype about its products and makes grand presentation to launch them in the market. The launched product is immediately available in the retails and on-line stores for customers to review and purchase. Apple values its secrecy and guards it fiercely. This creates additional hype around the product as they have been known for delivering innovative and appealing products. The constant innovation at Apple ensured they had improved versions of previously launched products, which were then marketed to promote users to have a portfolio of a single product. Apple took a bold step by moving to retail and having commercial stores for Apple products in a hope to attract non-Apple customers and retain the Apple fan base by providing elegant store designs and easy accessibility to their products. The intent was to generate foot traffic by luring shoppers andShow MoreRelatedDesign Thinking and Innovation at Apple1406 Words   |  6 PagesApple Case Assignment Abstract The purpose of this assignment is to access the â€Å"Apple way† and understand the source of their systematic innovation and the way to sustain it. The major source of innovation is design thinking, which is also discussed based on Apple case. Finally, Steve Jobs is compared to other major industry player, Bill Gates, in order to understand their major difference and compare their success stories. Is there a systematic approach to Innovation at Apple? How would you characterizeRead MoreDesign, Thinking and Innovation at Apple1387 Words   |  6 Pages1. 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