Occupational Theoretical Approach for People and Environment

Question: Talk about theOccupational Theoretical Approach for People and Environment. Answer: Intellectual retraining It is a remedial methodology that I would concentrate on preparing on customers with psychological imperfections so as the weaknesses would be survived. For instance, keeping him rehashing a portion of the exercises, for example, how to make his lunch and take care of his clothing to encourage learning of some new aptitudes and build up the capacity to take care of certain issues all alone. A portion of the zones to prepare incorporate setting off the memory by including him in dynamic, preparing him on the official aptitudes, how to sort out himself, making him more consideration and have the option to focus on the retraining works on, running the memory on memory retraining and having the option to purpose behind himself (Priyamvada, Ranjan Shukla, 2017). Peo Model This is a methodology that I would use to look at the individual's cooperation with different customers. It is resulting of the dynamic worldwide strategy that I would use to investigate the occupation and the setting of the individual. I would likewise utilize the PEO model (Metzler Metz, 2010) approach that would include spanning from the bio Medicare care to social-social model and give devices to have composed proof for viable use. I would likewise utilize the MOHO approach so that I could clarify how his calendar has been collected, raised and propelled (Lee, Kielhofner, Morley, Heasman, Garnham, Willis Taylor, 2012). The reasonable measures that I would utilize incorporate the customer focused practice whereby I would rehearse customer focused reliably. The other arrangement is the family-focused whereby I would cooperate with the family in observing whether the customer is adjusting to what I instruct him. I would, along these lines, permit the family to introduce their case t each the expert to figure out how to hold fast as needs be to the customer. I would likewise utilize a methodology of data preparing to improve the discernment handling of data. Systems for surveying The system for assessing the customer differs from the momentary conditions to the drawn out necessities. On the present moment, the NHS would give a word related treatment. On the long haul, I could get to the OT through my neighborhood gathering. I would likewise guarantee that I'm completely qualified and enrolled with a perceived body, eg. BAOT. Surveying the necessities. This is finished via doing a wellbeing and sociocultural appraisals to make sense of which regions are making issues the regular. I would likewise recognize the hardware to utilize, for example, the bed to guarantee that he goes to the bed each day and also the clothing to guarantee he gets a handle on the most proficient method to take care of his garments (Krebs, Cruz, Monzani, Bowyer, Anson, Cadman Mataix-Cols, 2017). Gear cost. On the off chance that the earlier evaluation has requested a bit of gear, it tends to be gotten either on free or on a charged expense. Gear for work. If there should be an occurrence of requirement for gear, the work plan might have the option to give financing. It would likewise be important to source counsel either on the most proficient method to utilize the material or to add on the current information on the best way to deal with a customer. These appraisals incorporate; Weariness. This is the demonstration of being worn which is brought about by weariness. Under this, what I would survey is the Modified exhaustion sway, scale, 25-foot walk, appraisal of the hardware, the resting poll among others. Strolling challenges What I could look at the strolling difficulties incorporates the manual muscle test, 6 and 25-foot minute walk, the investigation of the stride, the ecological examination and undertakings. Shortcoming The appraisals would incorporate the examination of the step, the survey of nature and the assignments, the assessment of transitional developments. Helpless parity or the fall chance. The evaluations would incorporate the 6 and 25-minute foot walk, the manual muscle test and the planned up and go. Firmness, fits, spasticity The evaluations incorporate the scope of movement, the adjusted Ashworth and constant correspondence with the nervous system specialists. Torment This would remember the clinical notice and the torment for muscle various sclerosis. Helpless vision This would incorporate the clinical notice and finding the board of helpless vision issues. Youthfulness tangible profile This would be essential to improve the conduct of the customer on ordinary tactile encounters. Assessment of his penmanship. The penmanship of the customer ought to be improved as from his youth encounters recorded as a hard copy. The evaluation would be done on his books and the papers he composes on and energizes on a legitimate and appropriate penmanship. Expert appraisals This is the clinical evaluations of the wellness to perform assignments, for example, driving, which is directed by the word related advisors and clinical driving restoration experts. Family appraisals This alludes to the wellness to drive screening. It additionally incorporates the relations records between the relatives and the customers and his enhancement for the relations past due. Why utilize the appraisals The basic significance of the assessments is to enable the pediatric word related advisor to plan a valuable program that will mean to improve the inadequacies of the individual (Ciucurel Iconaru, 2012). The individual at that point deals with the word related advisor, creating fundamental aptitudes to help in the improvement of the customers life. This is so since the OT assessments help to decide the zones a customer is encountering an inadequacy in. The information would be gathered utilizing both the normalized and non-normalized appraisals. The customer's information is recorded by a person as a major aspect of the patient's embellishments stock cards. The data recorded here is the straightforward data that can be withdrawn rapidly from the patient. For instance the customer's hunger, dozing span, intellectual capacities among others. The transient objectives are accomplished in a shorter length of time, not at all like the drawn out objectives that take more time to impact. These objectives when they work and succeed causes the patient figure out how to be free. The objective that I would guarantee that Michael has proceeded as a present moment OT objective is the making up of his bed and performing other family errands, for example, washing utensils and going to garments on a clothing. This would be accomplished by ceaseless reiteration of something very similar and permit him to perform under the oversight and slowly perform all alone (Bar Ratzon, 2016). Then again, the drawn out objective could imply that the customer has arrived at a definitive objective. This implies he can live freely completely with his handicap. He may even perform better without the guide of the specialist. This would take much over a year to accomplish completely. My definitive objective here as the guider is guarantee that he can carry on with a superior standard life, work independent and have the option to perform different undertakings, for example, vehicle driving (OMay, McWhirter, Kantartzis, Rees Murray, 2016). Assignment examination Employment subtleties Individual handicaps Bit by bit Present moment Long haul objectives Accomplishments Word related Therapy records and objectives Michael Strolling 6 minutes consistently Wash up without anyone else Figure out how to articulate words and learn new words each day Feed himself once in consistently Take care of clothing Take care of his bed Figure out how to utilize a PC mouse Send him to shop Instruct him to take care of himself Pick something on the floor Jump on a stepping stool Deal with a pet Make his bed and room clean Go to an ordinary school Procure without anyone else Drive a vehicle Carry on with an ordinary life Capacity to peruse and compose Capacity to live alone Have the option to ride a bike Have a general feeling of prosperity Meeting day setting Reason for meeting Arranged treatment meeting Week one Tuesday School 25-meter brief walk Learn new words Understanding customers educational experience Oversee and control treatment Week two Friday Home Make his bed Keep his room clean Week three Tuesday School Show him how to compose Figure out how to utilize a PC mouse Keeping up fitting hand quality Adjustment of the books when composing Picturing what he has realized. Week four Friday Home Recognize and deal with his pet Feed himself Cook Figure out how to be mindful Figure out how to be autonomous Complete certain errands exclusively Week five Tuesday school Put him in a group draw learn relational abilities Improve the capacity to be innovative. Figure out how to associate with the individuals particularly individuals from the other gender A result measure is an appraisal that can be solid in helping somebody depend on the genuine changes that have been noted in patients with respect to the OT treatment that has been given. It includes seeking after tests and utilizing that examination to treat and decide the result. I would utilize the any of the two result estimations. These incorporate the Functional Autonomy Measurement System (SMAF) and the appraisal of engine and procedure abilities (AMPS) (Ayres Panickacheril John, 2015). The SMAF is an instrument or an apparatus used to gauge the necessities of a more established grown-up or an incapacitated individual. It can perform 29 capacities in 5 unique segments latency. These exercises are, for example, the portability work, day by day living exercises, correspondence, and subjective dysfunctions. Then again, the Assessment of Motor Process Skills can be utilized to quantify how the customer is playing out the day by day exercises. Its principle advantage is that it ten ds to be utilized with any customer. It utilizes programming to create an AMPS results that incorporate the customers measures. A result measure is crucial in the administration of a patient consideration, and for the chance, they give the calling in examination and effective deciding. P.E.O. This is a model that depicts the hypothesis and the clinica

Cash Versus Credit Card free essay sample

We are generally acquainted with the comfort of credit and charge cards, and there’s no denying that they’re the favored technique for installment for some exchanges. Be that as it may, here and there past hard cash is best. (Albeit perhaps not pennies. ) Here are four circumstances in which greenbacks are a superior decision than plastic. 1. When you’re attempting to adhere to a financial plan. There are a huge number of studies out there that looked at money and card spending conduct, and they all reached a similar resolution: you go through additional with plastic. Some portion of the explanation for this is the disassociation factor: you don’t feel as though you’re really leaving behind cash when you swipe your card at a terminal, particularly in the event that you don’t need to confront the bill for a month. Paying money is what might be compared to a dieter’s keeping a food journal: it compels you to consider yourself responsible for what you purchase through the span of a day. We will compose a custom article test on Money Versus Credit Card or on the other hand any comparative point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page This is particularly substantial with regards to little buys, as the couple of bucks to a great extent on lunch, espresso and accidental buys truly include. Utilizing money, it’s simple to perceive how rapidly they void your wallet. (MORE: Your Credit Card Rewards Aren’t Worth as Much as You Think) 2. When you’re shopping at a mother and-pop store or a farmers’ showcase. More Americans are going to considerable lengths to eat and shop locally nowadays. Frequently that motivation is driven by a craving to assist the little person as opposed to pipe spending dollars to the huge box chain stores. It’s an exemplary assumption, and one that entrepreneurs and ranchers absolutely appreciate. In any case, when you hand over your credit or charge card, you’re fixing a portion of that honest goal. We’ve expounded finally on exchange expenses, those dark charges banks demand on vendors who acknowledge plastic. Here’s the short form of why they matter for this situation: paying with plastic sends as much as 3% of your absolute price tag to the banks rather than to your neighborhood canine specialist or florist’s main concern. 3. When you’re at a swap meet or art appear. Indeed, more merchants nowadays have Mastercard perusers like Square, yet there are contentions to make for money. In the first place, there’s the point we made above about exchange expenses eating into the benefit these entrepreneurs procure from their deals. Second, it’s a lot simpler to deal in the event that you have a bunch of bills instead of a card. These scenes are for all intents and purposes made for wheeling and dealing (see a rundown of different spots you ought to arrange costs here), and as the maxim goes, cash talks. (Increasingly: Terrible Financial Advice: Top 10 Tips You Shouldn’t Follow) 4. When you’re purchasing something you may need to return. Store merchandise exchanges change generally, so it’s prudent to check before buying a thing you may return. (What's more, by â€Å"check,† we mean going on the web or to the client care work area to peruse the store’s composed arrangement, not asking a clerk who may be misled. ) Provided you have your unique receipt, numerous retailers will give you a discount in a similar organization wherein you paid. On the off chance that you paid with a credit or platinum card, this could mean trusting that the exchange will clear. A money discount, then again, returns that cash to your pocket right away. 5. When you’re leaving a tip at an eatery. This is an occasion where paying money is essentially to support the beneficiary, yet in the event that you intend to return to an eatery later on, your thought may mean better assistance next time. Contingent upon the restaurant’s approaches, there could be various reasons money is a superior decision. The greatest advantage a server gets with a money tip is leaving toward the finish of the move with money close by. A few eateries appropriate tips left by means of credit or charge cards week after week; for individuals living check to check, understanding that 15% of client checks in real money consistently can have any kind of effect. As per CreditCards. com, a few restaurants will in any event, ding waitstaff for the trade charge on the tip segment of the bill, which can slice up to 3% off the aggregate. A few eateries require all serving staff to pool tips, so in the event that you got knockout assistance and need to ensure the individual who accomplished the work gets the prize, pay money. There is an ethical uncertainty here, in that the server would disrupt the guidelines on the off chance that the individual just stashed the tip. There’s additionally the shocking chance that leaving money tips helps waitstaff abstain from paying charges on target by not pronouncing it, yet the IRS has been getting serious about this training as of late, so it’s to a lesser degree a worry than it used to be. Understand more: http://business. time. com/2012/09/10/5-times-you-should-consistently pay-money/#ixzz2TO1M7b5p http://business. time. com/2012/09/10/5-times-you-should-consistently pay-money/

Member of Parliament free essay sample

This places the remainder of the group in a circumstance that could cause pressure and additional work that they wouldn’t have needed to manage if the colleague had done what they said they would do. So as to maintain a strategic distance from this it is significant for all colleagues to comprehend the significance of doing what they are alloted to do. †¢A colleague who doesn't comply with time constraints There are numerous interesting points when something turns out badly when you are a piece of a group or gathering. The principal thing I would do is ensure that the cutoff time was known and that the colleague comprehended the cutoff time and what should be finished. On the off chance that there was a misconception, at that point I would ensure that the remainder of the group didn’t have a similar misjudging about the cutoff times and their significance. This circumstance is particularly valid for me and this task. We will compose a custom article test on Individual from Parliament or on the other hand any comparable point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page I was late in presenting my segment and it has put colleagues in this definite situation. The manner in which I would deal with this with myself, is to ensure I realize how significant cutoff times are and how the effect crafted by the remainder of the group. I would tell myself that individuals are depending on me to have my bit of a task or task done all together for their segments to be actualized and the last venture to be finished. So as to maintain a strategic distance from this later on, I will ensure that I monitor all cutoff times and timetable my time likewise.

Failing to Meet Customer Needs -- Letting the Competition in

This dissertation examines a service company Advanced Alchemy which engages in providing value-added marketing, recruitment and other services to major companies operating within technology industries. The work examines some major marketing theories in order to frame the discussion of the companys environmental and organisational contexts. These frameworks are then used in analysing how well orientated the company is in terms of its targeted customers through exploiting its internal resources. The report continues with examining the impact of some of the key environmental factors influencing the success of the companys strategies. Research including documentary analysis, a questionnaire ,focus groups and semi-structured interviews were used in a performance evaluation of the companys marketing position and also to explore indetail the attitudes towards the major tensions and challenges facing the company among its staff and customers. The report concludes that while the company has done well historically and may continue to do well in the short term improvement is needed in certain key strategic areas for the company to successfully retain and/or enlargeits market share and retain its competitive advantages within the market given the challenges it faces. Marketing is a core concept within modern business theory and operation. It has been widely discussed and it is argued that commercial success follows companies which are able to create and retain customers through providing them with better value than competitors. As such a fundamental conception of marketing is that companies achieve their strategic goals in terms of profitability and corporate growth by satisfying customers, (Houston, 1986). With this then there are many marketing theories exploring the idea of a marketing mix which is viewed as an important marketing tool in marketing planning and evaluation. The 4Ps framework is a basic framework reflecting these ideas. However the 7Ps mix is argued to be particularly vital as a tool in service industries. This framework holds that the elements of product (service), price, place, promotion, physical evidence, process and people are basic ones of consideration for service organisations such as marketing services agencies. In this sense a corporate brand name not only refers to product but also means the process and organisational intangible resources such as people and professional services possessed by the organisation, (Jones, Comfort Hillier, 2004). The early stages of marketing development theory were concerned more with the marketing concept. Authors such as Felton (1959) proposed that the discipline of marketing focus on the integration and co-ordination of all the marketing functions pursued by companies. However due to the intensive levels of competition in the modern business world the marketing function has become closely linked with gaining competitive advantages for a company. Therefore it is unsurprising to note more companies viewing marketing as a strategic planning function which contributes to achieving long term corporate goals. Kotler et al (1996)suggest that the achievement of organisational goals depends on determining the needs and wants of the target market and delivering the desired satisfactions effectively and efficiently. From this perspective it becomes clear that understanding customers as well as market characteristics and then satisfying these needs better than competitors requires an effective linkag e of corporate resources including human resources, financial resources and physical resources. In short a good understanding of the competitive environment and internal strategic resources available is essential for companies choosing between appropriate corporate strategies in order to maintain competitive positions in their respective markets. The competitive strategy proposed by Michael Porter (1998) to some extent depends on an analysis of the industrial environment in which new entrants, substitution, bargaining power of buyers and suppliers as well as rivalry comprise the competitive overview of an industry. It is useful to be aware that competition goes well beyond the established competitors to include various players. In the business information provision industry for example as buyers (partners) have become more concentrated and specific the industry has come under increasing pressure. Flowing from this once the forces affecting competition positions in a certain industry have been identified the firm is in a position to assess its internal strengths and weaknesses. At strategic level these strengths and weaknesses along with driving forces in the environment are the key elements which affect each competitive advantage which can be exploited by a company. Based on the analysis of environment and corporate strategic resources it is also important to understand customers in particular in the modern business world. It is argued that an organisation who knows its customers better is more likely to satisfy their needs more effectively. Therefore strategic customer analysis plays a vital role at the marketing planning level while firms which fail to meet or respond quickly enough to customers demands will lose their competitive position eventually. As Porter (1998) argues the best strategy for a certain firm will ultimately be a unique one reflecting its own circumstances in terms of tangible and intangible elements. As a result it is essential to examine marketing strategies of particular companies bearing in mind driving forces in the environment along with a good understanding of internal strategic resources. In addition due to new consumerist characteristics of global economies it is critical to look at and consider consumer behaviour a t a strategic level. This is particularly the case for service industries such as the business information company Advanced Alchemy which faces challenges from intensive competition as well as pressure from desired customers and internal changing dynamics. The first objective is to define the major environmental influenceswhich have significant effects on the marketing strategy of AdvancedAlchemy. It is important to be aware that environmental factors includeexternal driving forces as well as internal corporate contexts in termsof organisational culture and strategic resources. According toChisnall (1989) corporate performance is closely related to effectivemarketing strategies along with effective human resource management,RD design as well as the financial situation of the company.However due to intensive competition in the industry and internalfinancial problems Advanced Alchemy faces major strategic changes atboth corporate level and business level. Of note here then is thatdifferent strategic planning to a large extent depends on bothindustrial characteristics and corporate competitive capabilities. In addition to environmental forces it is vital to understandcustomer behaviour in particular relating to demands for businessinformation. Consumer behaviour though is a complex phenomenon whichcan be described as a dynamic interaction between affect and cognition,behaviour, and environmental events, (Blythe, 1997). Because of the newcharacteristics of the global economy customers require immediateresponses to their demands in terms of goods and information withtechnology based on e-commerce systems being arguably able to meetthese demands. Therefore the second objective of this work is toexplore the main determining elements on customers choices in terms ofutilising e-commerce based services. The final objective here is to define the competitive strategies forAdvanced Alchemy which assists the firm in exploiting opportunitiesalong with its existing strengths in creating and retaining competitiveadvantages in responding to competition within its market. It isinteresting to mention that in the business information providingindustry differentiation in terms of service and better quality isoften employed by companies as a significant strategic tool nonethelessit is stressed that differentiation does not allow the firm to ignorecosts since price wars often occurs in service industries. According toPorter (1998) cost leadership should be emphasised as a primarystrategic target which contributes to the choices influencing thepicking of the marketing strategy best suited to the firms position inthe industry. Marketing is argued to be an essential ingredient for businesssuccess both in the literature and within the practical business world.As a concept it is concerned with the creation and retention ofcustomers at a certain price namely in the most profitable way fororganisations, (Jobber, 2001). This is because the cost of attracting anew customer is much higher than the cost of maintaining an existingone. Thus firms seek to build up efficient and effective communicationchannels with consumers through the use of an effective marketing mix.However both organisations and individuals have been subject tounprecedented changes in the way they pursue and are involved inbusiness and commercial enterprises in the 21st century, (Kalakota,1999). Characteristics such as the internationalisation of businessand technological development generate increasingly intensivecompetitive environments which require companies adapt to new dynamicswithin marketing structures. While this true for all organisation s itcan be argued to particularly so for service companies, (Chesher Kaura, 1999). One of the most important challenges for businessescurrently is the need to satisfy increasingly demanding customers whoexpect immediate responses to their requests both for goods andinformation. The role of marketing in meeting such a need has continued to increasein response customers expectations regarding the provision of aprofessional service and product at an effective cost. In Grahams(1999) outline the term marketing strategy is often linked with theInternet because it provides a wide range of free communication andmarketing channels such as emails, websites and chat rooms in order togather useful business data and exploit these novel communicationchannels through viral marketing techniques for example. Ofconsideration also is the fact that marketing does not solely concernitself with material things but includes intangible elements such asservice quality, experiences and communication on a number of levels.As a result the choice of an appropriate marketing model is clearlylinked with attaining a complex understanding of consumers and theirbehaviours and preferences, (Moore, 2003). The fact that consumerbehaviour is complex means that an effective marketing mix should seekto learn customer requirements through research and the accumulation ofmarketing data and trends. Such measures are necessary in order for thecompany to be a success in the marketplace. At the same time the use ofan appropriate marketing strategy will in turn be constrained by theavailability of corporate resources and the business structure whichallows for internal strengths to be exploited successfully in takingadvantage of external opportunities. Another important perspective within marketing philosophy is thedistinction between efficiency and effectiveness, (Anonymous, 1989).The essential difference between efficiency and effectiveness is thatthe former is concerned with cost and the latter is customer focused.This can be seen reflected in one of the core features of marketingwhich can be defined as the satisfaction of customer needs in aprofitable way. It is fair to say that the focus on customer needsrequires efficient internal networks in managing the employing ofstrategic resources. This is true in terms of human resources and isparticularly relevant for business models such as Advanced Alchemys.In addition strategies exist and operate at different levels in thecompany. Chisnall (1989) defines marketing strategic planning as marketchoosing, product development, devising effective marketing strategiesin terms of organising marketing resources and forecasting possiblelevels of demand based on customer research. It is obvio us thateffective environmental analysis along with an evaluation of existingstrategies provides a basis for the forecasting element of thisdefinition. Based on the idea of a marketing mix service meaningprofessional delivered and provided services should be considered ascentral to the competitive strategy as well as a cost effective methodof implementing such a strategy. A strategic marketing mix is essentially a conceptual framework whichis able to help companies structure their approach to each marketingchallenge that they encounter within external environments. This meansthat an effective marketing mix should have an overarching focus oncustomers as well as consider the needs of other groups such as thirdparty organisations who may influence the company in terms of product,service and marketing goals. Public relations and engagement with avariety of actors is therefore more and more a particular aspect ofnote in determining marketing strategic considerations, (White, 1991).In the case of Advanced Alchemy the internal financial difficultiesfaced by the company might cause deficiencies and inabilities inmeeting customers needs effectively due to the lack of cash flowprohibiting certain responses to adverse market conditions faced by thecompany. At this stage a clear understanding of the demands ofcustomers tends is an important objective for the com pany so as tominimise the waste of resources and target those resources which areavailable in the most effective and efficient way. Consumer Behaviour Analysis Peter and Olson (2005) argue that an understanding of consumers isessential for marketers and in particular marketers of businessinformation services. This is because the nature of B2B models requiresmarketers understand consumers and deliver the products and servicesthey want and need in the most effective manner as major consumers arecorporate entities themselves constrained by strategic considerationsin operating within their own competitive environments. A B2C modelapplied in such instances provides a means of developing one-to-onerelationships with consumer and establishing consumer databases for thepurposes of online research and collation and analysis of data in orderto satisfy these needs more effectively. Therefore a review andappraisal of consumer behaviour is a vital exercise. Consumer behaviour involves thoughts and feelings as well as actionsthey pursue in the purchasing process. It includes all the things thathave an effect on behavioural patterns such as advertisements, price,product quality and others such as contextual social factors such asincome. As Solomon (2003) argues consumer behaviour is a dynamicprocess which means consumers purchasing decisions are a complexprocess and will be influenced by factors such as technologicaldevelopment, word of mouth and most importantly the perceived value ofpurchases. However the fact that the environment in which consumersfunction is constantly changing means it is important that marketersengage in continuous consumer research and analysis to keep abreast ofimportant trends in this external environment. Influences here includefor example the fact that product life cycles in terms of physicalproducts and the provision of services are shorter than ever before socompanies have to create superior value and attract customers throughproduct differentiation strategies. While such points may seem ofrelevance only at first glance to individual consumers the same traitsand characteristics may be applied in limited manners to consideringcorporate or larger organisational customers who form the main customerbase for Advanced Alchemy. Along with shortening product lifecycles the development of technologyespecially the Internet has had vital influences on consumer behaviourin relation to new e-commerce models. The emergent global culture whichis a major trend due to the predominance of a global economy isexpected to have influences on peoples attitudes, emotions andbehaviours flowing from increased participation in Internet commerce.In the case of the company focused on here the B2B service process isable to compete through adopting online models such as online trainingand e-planning for business level functions at a variety of levels andleverage communication at a variety of levels through for example theuse of corporate intranets. It is useful as such to examine e-commercefrom a global perspective. Also segmentation is very important inconsumer analysis simply because different consumers have differentneeds, (Solomon, 2003). In applying this perspective it is criticalthen to divide consumers into essential groups of concern for thebusiness in which members are as similar as possible to other membersof the same group but differ as much as possible from members of otherdivisions. In reaching such divisions the necessity of research becomesan even more paramount goal. It is also important to mention as Gummerson (1996) suggests thatmanaging relationships is a key ingredient to successful organisationalmarketing. He believes that a related relationship involves customers(organisational partners particularly) and suppliers (the third partyand call centres) in which there is a shift from activities aimed atattracting customers towards being concerned with the retention ofexisting customers. In short the premise of relationship marketing isan addressing or balancing of the benefits of certain long termadvantages among all the linked parties including buyers, suppliers,and competitors in the same industry as well as potential entrants tothe industry. The growth of the business information service industryhas resulted in reasonably high profit margins for all of the companiesoperating in the industry. A healthy competitive environment then isable to enhance service quality through refining strategies exploitedby players in the industry in gaining advant age over other actors. Environmental themes can be grouped into macro and microenvironmental levels. However the influence of each force on a certaincompany varies from one company to the next and varies also across thedifferent levels of environmental concerns. For example managers in thebusiness information company typically note that the pace oftechnological development particularly in e-commerce and the speed ofglobalisation in terms of communications and multinational businessmanagement is influences on their companies but differ from one companyto the next on whether these influences are positive or negative fortheir respective organisations. It is also necessary to be aware thatthe influences of each environmental force may be complex in terms ofisolation and measurement and may also present both opportunities andthreats for the business at the same time. Mintzberg (1994) argues thatenvironmental change is both an emergent and dynamic process andtherefore companies must seek to understand the contex ts in which theyoperate. A means of understanding this is through the use of the PESTELframework which offers one means of examining the external environmentsin which organisations operate in. The elements of this framework aredefined as political, economic, social, technological, environmentaland legal factors, (Johnson Scholes, 2002). In the case ofAdvanced Alchemy it is important to be aware of technologicalenvironmental factors particularly those related to e-Commerce whichaffects its partners, suppliers and customers to a large extent. Forexample its online recruitment service for partners is useful ingathering large amounts of candidate data in a short time and itsprovision of e-training services is useful for multinational partnerswho require effective training models to be deployed rapidly and at lowcost within different countries. The second important factor for thecompany is economic environmental factors within a national context.This is closely linked with customers attitude towards businessinfo rmation services based on economic performance nation wide. Forexample while economic growth has occurred in America it has beenmatched and superseded by a proliferation of entrants within industriesoften amounting to a hyper-competitive market which results in lowerrevenues for companies. These tighter operating margins and marketconditions are true for Advanced Alchemy due to poorer economicperformance generally in the UK and arguably also for its competitorssuch as Harte-Hanks. In addition to macro environmental forces industrial sectors havemajor effects on corporate marketing planning. According to Porters(1980) five forces framework buyers, suppliers, substitutes, potentialentrants and competitive rivalry are significant determinants of thecompetitive capabilities of a company. For service companies buyerbehaviour is more concerned with organisational buying activities. Thismeans those companies buy marketing services to help them achievebusiness goals such as effective training programs, enabling pathwaysto successful product sales as well as improvements to managementmodels. At this stage understanding organisational buying behaviour isabout satisfying their diverse requirements in each single offeringprovided by the company. It is useful to mention that service buyerstake into account lifecycle costs which include maintenance costs andresidual values as well as purchase price when they display preferencesfor business information services. As such a te chnique advanced servicefor example one exhibiting better quality becomes an essentialprerequisite for Advanced Alchemy in maintaining its competitiveposition in the industry. In the industrial five forces frame work asdefined by Porter (1980) rivalry is seen as a central element whichmeans the survival of a company relies on competing in the industryeffectively and overcoming rival operators. It is obvious that the paceof globalisation generates intense competition for companies in avariety of industries including Advanced Alchemys leading to increasedrivalry within the industry. Globalisation also has the effect offorcing Advanced Alchemy to not only compete with local businessservice firms but new international competitors also. Marketing Mix (4Ps to 7Ps) Numerous marketing theories deal with suggesting the correct elementsand attributes of an effective marketing mix. Of particular relevancehere though for marketing services is the 7Ps framework which consistsof product (service), price, place, promotion, physical evidence,process and people. It has been a framework that has been widely usedby service organisations such as business information providingcompanies such as Advanced Alchemy, (Jones, Comfort Hillier,2004). However due to the rapid changes in the external environment interms of technological development and globalisation this company facesmajor challenges. The nature of these challenges and their relationshipwith the companies marketing strategies means it is useful toinvestigate integration of marketing mix in the business informationservice field. Utilising a 7Ps framework means conceiving of product as the first andmost important element for any organisation since the core goal formarketing is to satisfy customers needs by offering right products(services) to the right organisational customer, (Jobber, 2001). In thecase of business information and service provision companies the corebusiness is to provide useful business analysis as well as marketingstrategic planning resources and tools for customers (partners).Differentiation is an important tool exploited by service firms withprice, which is used by customers as an indicator of quality, playing avital role in marketing and in effective implementation of suchstrategies. This is because a pure price war in this industry placesAdvanced Alchemy in a battle for achieving cost effectiveness based onand matched with high or superior quality of service. It is alsoimportant to mention that managing relationships through for exampleword of mouth is increasingly important for compani es in competitivemarkets dealing with organisational customers, (Smith and Taylor,2004). Another key element in a services marketing mix is place. AdvancedAlchemy sells directly from sales people as well as selling andmaintaining physical presences at trade shows. Blythe (2000) points outthat every element in the mix communicates especially through person toperson channels of communication. Also according to the literaturecustomers are more sensitive, aware and willing to take advantage oftechnological developments and new services forms, (Dennis, Harris andSandhu, 2002). Mass business information channels along withprofessional services combine tangible assets and intangible resourcein servicing partners in profitable ways. Promotional tools includingadvertising campaigns, below-the-line promotions as well as onlinepromotions are used by companies as part of a branding strategycapturing the notion that the best kind of loyalty is brand loyalty,(Kapferer, 2004). Last but not the least as mentioned in the former section peopleplay a central role in the services industry however it is also arguedthat the serving process is important as a two-way communication simplybecause it is a direct way for sales people to communicate withcustomers, (Harrison, 1995). Staff whom are able to provide highquality service with a customer-friendly attitude is the hallmark andbenchmark of a consumer responsive company. In todays marketplaceeffective personal communication is a means of achieving success forservice firms such as Advanced Alchemy. Exploiting and capturing theseelements then needs to be a cornerstone within strategic planning forthe company. The methodology used in the course of conducting this researchaimed at employing a case study approach with Advanced Alchemy beingthe object of the case study. In terms of research tools bothquantitative and qualitative methods were deployed towards collectingdata of relevance to the objectives of the research as set out in theintroduction. These research methods concentrated on exploring externalfactors of relevance to Advanced Alchemy and exploring the manner inwhich internal strengths and weaknesses within the company related toor responded to these. The first stage of the research was a detailed horizon scanningincorporating elements for a PESTEL analysis towards identifying themajor environmental challenges which were faced by the company.Material utilised here included nationally sourced statistics relatingto economic performance, market performance within the industry,identification of any regulatory/legal structures of concern to thecompany and an assessment of major technological developments with abearing on the companys business model and modes of providing servicesto its customers. This stage in essence sought to identify themes orconcerns which would serve as the basis for more in-depth researchwithin the company itself, (Bell, 1999). Following on from the documentary analysis and horizon scanningstage preliminary quantitative research was carried out within thecompany in the form a survey. The sample for the survey was drawn fromfour major groups within the company these being sales personnel, humanresource personnel, line management and executive management. Thequestionnaire sought to collect attitudinal and behavioural data whichwas then utilised in conducting a market orientation assessment of thecompany, (Hooley et al, 2004). This data in terms of analysis wasframed in a manner exploring how well human resource was strategicallyexploited and how well in tune employees in the organisation were withthe demands of its organisational customers. Following on from this survey follow up qualitatively based researchwas undertaken. This part of the research included five focus groups,four of which corresponded to the groupings outlined above in relationto the questionnaire and one which was a mixed sample of all of thesegroupings. The focus groups sought to collect data related to thethemes and issues raised by the documentary analysis related toperceptions of the major environmental challenges faced by the company,(Saunders, Lewis Thornhill, 2003). In particular it sought toexplore the different responses to these themes from various levels ofemployees within the company. As well as seeking to collect data inthis regard of interest also to the researcher were the internaldynamics between employees at similar levels or functions within thecompany and with the final focus group between different levels of thecompany. This in particular sought to explore the effectiveness of theflatter communication channels and flatter hierarchi cal managementstructures employed by the company in its deployment of a corporateintranet. This was a particularly useful means of generating data onhow well management mission statements concerning customer needs werecommunicated to personnel dealing with these customers and also howcustomer needs were translated into effective training schemes forsales personnel, (Fern, 2001). Along with focus groups six semi structured interviews were carriedout, four within the organisation and two such interviews were carriedout with two of the companys biggest customers. The use ofsemi-structured interviews allowed for a rich collection of dataallowing for thick explanations of themes and issues highlighted bydata generated by other methods to be gained, (Gubrium Holstein,2002). The interviews within Advanced Alchemy were again divided intothe groupings outlined above with an interview conducted with arepresentative from each. The interviewees were drawn from therespective focus groups. These interviews were conducted where possibleas short a time as possible after the focus groups had been conductedin order that the themes and contents discussed in the focus groupswould still be fresh and thus deeper exploration of the themes easierachieved. The finding from these interviews was used in a comparativesense with the interviews conducted with purchasing representatives oftwo of Advanced Alchemys biggest customers. As such data in theseexternal interviews was sought on how well matched the concerns andissues raised by employees within Advanced Alchemy as well asmanagement mission statements matched with or converged with issues andsentiments expressed by its major customers. Such data was in turncompared with the documentary analysis in order to arrive at atriangulated snapshot of how well the companys marketing plan wasbeing implemented internally and how well it addressed the needs of itscustomers, (Coffey Atkinson, 1996). A number of methodological problems were faced in the conduct ofthis research. First and foremost was the often sensitive nature of thedata collected in terms of business practice related to competitiveperformance, (Chisnall, 2005). In order to gain participation andconsent from the company research findings were discussed in anextensive manner with key personnel in the company with a right of vetobeing offered towards any data deemed to be of too sensitive a nature.In the main however through pointing out the advantages of the researchto business practice internally such fears and considerations wereusually allayed. This problem in turn was connected to and related toethical considerations and problems of participant bias related to morejunior level employees in the company, (Strati, 2000). Both of theseproblems were addressed through the seeking of full informed consent toparticipating in all of the research methods used and the ensuring ofconfidentiality and anonymity over respons es to questions, particularlywithin the interview setting, (Marshall, 1997). The researcheracknowledges however that in the case of the focus groups and inparticular the mixed focus group participant bias may havesignificantly influenced the content of the data due to the internalpower structures of the group reflecting wider organisational powerstructures. Marketing Mix (7Ps) Advanced Alchemy is a leading provider of marketing and salesdevelopment support to IT, telecoms and other technology companies.Thus the major products provided include lead management (inbound andoutbound lead management), consulting based on market research, partnerrecruitment and management, field sales , partner/channel telemarketingas well as sponsored distributor support and ecosystem building,(Advanced Alchemy, 2005). In short the products are based onprofessional services for marketing activities in particular for IT andtechnology related companies. As discussed in the literature reviewevery element in a marketing mix communicates with customers. Productsfor Advanced Alchemy as such are professional services provided fortheir clients in an effective way in terms of cost and quality service.It is important then to look at the service provision process which isargued to be the most important and direct way of communicating withcustomers and attract potential consumers, (Duncan Everett,1993). The servicing process is delivered directly through sales peoplenamely who in this case are professional marketing consultants. Theywork with two types of client, large enterprises and smaller venturecapital funded companies looking to expand and gain rapid market share.During this process the team members discuss with partners continuouslyin order to communicate effectively allowing adjustments to be made tocope with partners requirements. A key finding of the interviewsconducted with the companys customers was the acknowledgement of highresponsiveness in most cases from sales personnel. However dueintensive changes particularly in technology related industries delayeddecisions by clients was identified in the focus groups as causinginefficiency for Advanced Alchemy in terms of human resource costs bychasing unwanted leads for example. A strength emphasised in theinterview conducted with a line management representative was that athorough understanding of the IT market especially in Europe allowedthem to provide useful advice and effective marketing models includinglead generation campaigns, channel support for distributors as well asother marketing initiatives for customers. It is unsurprising to note that people played an essential role in themarketing mix for Advanced Alchemy since a professional workforce withoutstanding marketing knowledge in IT, telecom and technology linkedfields contributed to the achievement of corporate strategic goals andcustomer demands. This was highlighted in particular in the mixed focusgroup but this quality was also confirmed in the customer interviews.Firstly sales objectives were achieved by people along with conductingpromotional activities in order to help partners make a purchasingdecision, (Wernerfelt, 1995). The interview with a sales personre-iterated the positive benefits to sales people in attending tradeshows where up-to-date market knowledge and positive customerinteractions could be achieved. It is fair to say th at the majorcommunication goals were generally achieved by sales personnel. Thisagrees with points raised by Torrington, Hall and Taylor (2002) in thathuman resource is the most important strategic resource for anyorganisation and in particular service based companies who rely ontheir front-line staff to support brand images. Unlike other manufacturers or retailers the major products forAdvanced Alchemy are services thus the most important tool used forpromotion is the provision of quality services in terms of superiorknowledge in technology and marketing fields as well as support from aneffective business model. Therefore Advanced Alchemy utilised acorporate website, public relation campaigns in Planet Hollywood aswell as direct marketing in order develop an integrated promotion mix.In the mixed focus group the response to such promotions was positivehowever in interviews with line management and the sales person a themeexpressed was that the PR activities of the company needed to be bettertargeted to the environments in which its major customers operatedwithin. Public relations as discussed in the literature review havebecome one of the most effective communication channels with consumers.The usage of sponsorship for TBC Advanced Alchemy aimed at establishinggood relations with customers and the general public. In addition topublic relations another promotion tool exploited by Advanced Alchemyis direct marketing at the sales spots. Again in the interviews with aline management and sales person it was felt that certain methods weremore successful than others such as engaging with the public generallyversus pitched sales spots. Price element is often used by customers as an indicator of thequality of products. The price structure used by the company is basedon day rate and risk reward basis generally. However Advanced Alchemyseems to be in a weak position in the price war due to its limitedfinancial resources compared with its major competitors. This point wasrepeated in concerns expressed in customers interviews over therelative inflexibility of pricing offered by the company.Differentiation in the service field is then arguably the mostimportant strategy for Advanced Alchemy in maintaining customers. Thephysical evidence and place support Advanced Alchemys marketingactivities. The corporate website can be seen as important evidencewhich helps existing and new customers acquire useful information andspreads the brand name through viral marketing. As Heyman (1999) arguesviral marketing can be especially effective when a website communicatesefficiently bearing in mind in the value chain each functioncontribu tes and interacts in achieving corporate goals. It isreasonable to say that the physical evidence and marketing place to alarge extent support other elements in the marketing mix. Again incustomer interviews the sophistication of the companys web presencewas highlighted. Environmental and SWOT Analysis Rooted in the environmental analysis literature the PESTEL frameworkallows for examination of the external environment a company operatesin. It is necessary to look at the macro environment which AdvancedAlchemy operates in. The economic situation in the UK has significantinfluences on Advanced Alchemys marketing strategy. The poor economicperformance nationally has limited the budgets for companies onpurchasing marketing services from outside agencies such as AdvancedAlchemy. This has resulted in a price war in the information serviceindustry in order to keep market share through price tooling whichgenerated threats and challenges for Advanced Alchemy. In additiontechnological development has had major impacts on the companysstrategic decisions since customers are more technology sensitive anddemands for technological advanced marketing models showing increasedreturns on investment have increased. The interview with an executivemanagement representative saw the point being made that AdvancedAlchemy saw opportunities in using e-marketing models in satisfyingcustomers as well allowing for expansion of the company. However alsonoted in the interview was that technological development results inmore demanding clients who expect better quality and advanced marketingmodels, channels and support in their service provision, (Ziithaml,Parasuraman Malhotra, 2000). Government support for certainindustries such as IT, telecom and automotive industries alsoinfluenced Advanced Alchemy in terms of potential businessopportunities. Based on Porters (1980) industrial five forces model it is usefulto look at the micro environmental context. It is obvious that rivalryinfluences Advanced Alchemys performance to a large degree. Due toglobalisation they not only have to compete with local companies butalso international companies such as Harte-Hanks. Furthermore the powerof customers has increased to a large degree since how to meetcustomers demands effectively but at a profitable price is a challengefor Advanced Alchemy and one noted in all of the focus groups. At thisstage customer focus should be central to the corporate positionhowever due to the lack of budget Advanced Alchemy fails to meetcustomer needs in some respects. In particular the HR focus groupexpressed concerns over the lack of budget being available for trainingschemes for sales personnel to equip them with the most currentknowledge responsive to customer needs and market conditions. Call centres can be seen as the suppliers for Advanced Alchemy and as aresult it is vital to establish good relationships with them. Due tothe decline in the national economic growth rates it is unclear as towhether new entrants will seek to gain entry into the industry. Howevercompetition based consistently on marketing specialists has becomeincreasingly intense with pressure coming mostly from existingcompetitors locally and internationally. Moreover marketing consultantcompanies face the threat of substitution from professional softwarewhich can set up technologically advanced marketing models forcompanies. However in the HR and Sales personnel focus groups it wassuggested that a possible strategy for the company could be to investin developing these models internally through investment in employeeswhich would allow for the company to maintain a technological edge aswell as a human resource edge over these types of competitors. Table 1 SWOT Analysis Opportunities vertical business opportunities (auto) Growth in areas like Adrenalin potential new clients increasing sales within existing client baseThreats intensive competition substitution volatile market decline of UK economy mature market size Strengths Strong client base Well known brand name within event circuit Strong reference base Successful campaigns Increasing client attrition rate professional workforce strong organisational culture Differentiation strategy Cost Effective Strategy Weaknesses lack of marketing awareness in some field eg. Outside Baptie circle inconsistent branding strategy inconsistency and unreliability in call centre Inconsistent Branding Strategy As discussed in the methodology a questionnaire was employed togenerate broad attitudinal data from employee groups within the companywhich was used in conducting a marketing orientation assessment. Oneclear finding from the questionnaires was a sense of disconnectednessfrom the customers of the company. The impression given from the datawas that the mission of Advanced Alchemy was unclear and un-clearlystated in relation to customer needs and failed to build a strong senseof satisfying customer demands directly. Data from the interviewssuggested that Advanced Alchemy was focused more on the quality oftheir products more than understanding of consumer demands. Table 2 Customer Orientation Strongly agree 5Agree 4Neither 3Disagree 2Strongly Disagree 1Dont know 0 Information about customer needs collected regularly 4 Our corporate objectives and policies are aimed directly at creating satisfied customers 0 Levels of customer satisfaction are regularly assessed and action taken to improve matters 4 We put major effect into building stronger relationships with key customers and customer groups 2 We recognise the existence of distinct groups or segments in ourmarkets with different needs and we adapt our offerings accordingly 3 Total Score13 Information about major competitors was collected by AdvancedAlchemy however evaluation and analysis of their products were notcompleted regularly according to the line management focus group. Thisinefficiency in analysing key competitors resulted in low reaction tocompetition. Also noteworthy is the fact that the differentiationstrategy did not work properly due to the lack of understanding towardskey customers and customer groups. Table 3 Competitor Orientation Strongly Agree 5 Agree 4Neither 3Disagree 2Strongly Disagree 1Dont Know 0 Information about competitor activities is collected regularly 4 We conduct regular benchmarking against major competitor offerings 3 There is rapid response to major competitor actions 2 We put major emphasis on differentiating ourselves from the competition on factors important to customers 2 Total Score11 The ability to meet customer needs in service organisation depends on aprofessional workforce a point highlighted in all focus groups andinterviews. From the survey data it was clear that effective team workcontributed to the companys previous success but that changes in theexternal environment generated major challenges for Advanced Alchemywhich the company was unable to respond to due to budgetaryconstraints. A strong sense of team spirit was highlighted at all ofthe focus groups and was confirmed to lesser degrees in the interviewsconducted. Table 4 Inter-Functional Co-Ordination Strongly Agree 5 Agree 4Neither 3Disagree 2Strongly Disagree 1Dont Know 0 Information about customers is widely circulated and communicated throughout the organisation 4 The different departments in the organisation work effectively together to serve customer needs 4 Tensions and rivalries between departments are not allowed to get in the way of serving customers effectively 3 Our organisation is flexible to enable opportunities to be seized effectively rather than hierarchically constrained 3 Total Score14 It is obvious that a strong organisational culture resulted inskilled human resource including senior management team and employeesbeing available to the company. Their understanding of their role inmeeting customer needs was a central tenet the companys organisationalculture. In both focus groups and interviews as well as the customerinterviews the team values and reflected organisational culture of thecompany was continually highlighted as a positive feature. Table 5 Organisational Culture Strongly Agree 5Agree 4Neither 3Disagree 2Strongly Disagree 1 Dont Know 0 All employees recognise their role in helping to help create satisfied end customers 4 Reward structures are closely related to external market performance and customer satisfaction 4 Senior management in all functional areas give top importance to creating satisfied customers 4 Senior management meetings give high priority to discussing issues that affect customer satisfaction 5 Total Score17 Budgetary constraints drove Advanced Alchemy to focus more on shortterm profits rather than long term market share with possibleramifications for future customer relationships, a concern highlightedin the executive focus group and customer interviews. However thismarket-orientated approach allowed the company to focus on the market.Namely they adopted a market driven strategy in order to maintain longterm competitive position, (Webster, 1994). Generally speaking AdvancedAlchemy performed with a long term framework in mind however their weakfinancial background puts them into a poor position of fundingstrategic plans over the long term. Table 6 Long-term Perspectives Strongly Agree 5Agree 4Neither 3Disagree 2Strongly Disagree 1Dont Know 0 We place greater priority on long term market share gain than short run profits 3 We put greater emphasis on improving our market performance than on improving internal efficiencies 4 Decisions are guided by long term considerations rather than short run expediency 3 Total score10 The total score for Advanced Alchemy using this evaluation too is 65which indicates a moderate market orientation has been made by thecompany. This is an assessment in tune with the qualitative data whichhighlighted the past successes of the company, its ability to performwell certainly in the short term but fear and uncertainty associatedwith longer term strategic ability for the company to competesuccessfully. Definite areas of improvement were suggested in terms oftraining, in more targeted marketing activities and clearercommunication of mission goals and customer needs to all levels of thebusiness. In consideration of the analysis of resources in Advanced Alchemy itcan be argued that human resource is the most important ingredient fora successful service based company. Intensive competition in themarketing service industry forces companies compete in terms ofworkforce rather than products and the efficiency of service processrelies on skilled personnel at all levels, (Pfeffer, 1994). Accordingto Hooley, Saunders and Piercy (2004) any organisation should have aclear understanding of the resources they have but most importantly itis vital to identify the significant resources that can help createcompetitive advantages and can be sustained into the foreseeablefuture. In the case of Advanced Alchemy their human resource is able toovercome their weaknesses in terms of a weak financial position andcontribute to differentiation strategy. However without investment inhuman resource it is doubtful whether this function can be sustained inthe long term a point re-iterated in both the foc us group and interviewinvolving human resource personnel. The lack of up-to-date knowledge related to current customers may alsolead to loss of competitive position and even failure for the companyconsidering the high cost of its services. It is interesting to notethat due to the characteristics of the marketing service industryparticularly in IT and technology related fields there areopportunities for Advanced Alchemy to employ a cost orientated strategythrough utilising an e-commerce model. This was a point which theexecutive management focus group was keen on. It has been suggestedthat the use of e-commerce not only helps companies build up effectivecommunication channels internally but also allows integration withsuppliers and customers as well, (Porter, 2001). The corporate websitedid not work effectively in some aspects such as gathering feedbackfrom partners through questionnaires and attracting new customersthrough strategic web-linking. Blythe (2003) argues that the when adiscrepancy appears between expected performance and actual performancemanagers have to take action. While rhetoric was observable in thefocus group little direct action was taken to rectify this. Blythe(2003) also suggests that criticisms should be communicated asconstructive feedback in order to avoid negative sentiments occurringwithin employees. Market-led strategy to Custom- orientated strategy The results showed that Advanced Alchemy exploited a market-ledstrategy which can easily lose competitive position for the company dueto environmental factors. Bearing in mind the objectives related toobtaining market share good quality products are essential. In AdvancedAlchemys industry the company which meets customer needs is able toobtain a stronger position in competing. A gradual shift away from anemphasis on market or service to an emphasis on customer value requiresAdvanced Alchemy to exploit effective tools to communicate with itstarget consumers and relate this communication to internal networks. Inaddition target segmentation based on the understanding of thecharacteristics of different customer groups means Advanced Alchemyshould concentrate more on how to add value to customers in differentsegmentations. Arguably it is easier to create an initial good position in themarketplace rather than sustaining competitive advantages in a longterm, (Hooley, Saunders, and Piercy, 2004). Human resource and goodreputation in the field as well as having a positive reference groupmeans Advanced Alchemy generated competitive advantages quickly yet thelack of knowledge and reliable understanding of customers allowedcompetitors to re-establish their own positions. This process has beencompounded by the weak financial position of the company. The retentionof competitive advantages requires value products as well as cleartight definition of market targets namely through effectivesegmentation, (Payne, 1993). The more clearly a firm focuses ontargeted markets the more likely it is to serve those targetssuccessfully. This was a point raised in the focus group and interviewsconducted with line management in that in the case of Advanced Alchemythis is significantly vital in developing supporting channels ford istributors. Figure 1 Innovation through marketing, quality and customer service Competition is increasingly intensive thus it is necessary forAdvanced Alchemy to compete through strategic innovation. Innovatoryprocesses can be obtained by human resource where investment in thisresource is of a sufficient level to create an organisational culturefostering innovation. However innovation relies on knowledge ofconsumer behaviour to a large degree and the ability to manage changetends to be important in completing innovation cycles, (Roger, 1962).Innovation also can be generated during the branding process anddifferentiate Advanced Alchemy as a technological advanced andcustomer-orientated caring company. The role of technique relatedsupporting programmes can be provided to customers in terms ofexclusive service and know-how with customer-focused specialistshelping to maintain old customers and attract new customers. It isessential to control the service process thus a feedback system shouldbe established in order to gather fresh data about customer needs andcommunic ate to them and channel this communication to all levels of thecompany. Good relationships with customers and suppliers as well asemployees could be achieved by regular and effective communication,(Ulrich, 1992). Competing through relationship marketing Figure 2 Relationship marketing orientation CS = customer service RM = Relationship Management Relationship marketing has been a topic of lengthy discussion amongacademic and practical marketing executives. In this process humanresource is viewed as the major trend in marketing and a key point insuccessful business management, (Christopher et al, 1991). According toEgan (2001) customer service needs to be placed in a central positionsupported by the seven marketing elements outlined in the literaturereview. However Gummesson (1996) argues that the term mix should bereplaced by relationship since each element interacts thus the maintask is to manage the relationship amongst all the factors effectively.Customer service then is about building long term relationships ofmutual advantage to both parties and the provision of quality customerservice involving understanding about what they buy and the determiningfactors which influence their buying behaviour. In short customerservice is not only a HRM concept but also a marketing principle whichrefers to interactive reflexive relations hips between personnel and thecustomer. However building relationships is time consuming and costlyhence Advanced Alchemy should form a strategic agenda dealing withawareness about consumers to begin with. 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Tradition in The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson Essay

Tradition in â€Å"The Lottery† There are many things that people do every day without questioning why they do them. These are our habits and traditions, and though for the most part they are unimportant they can be a crucial part of our culture and our interactions with each other. Sometimes there are traditions that can cause harm or are morally unacceptable. What should be done in this case? Edmund Burke, a nineteenth century politician and author, argues that it is best to stick with tradition rather than causing dramatic changes in people’s behavior. This is a key component in his argument against the French Revolution in his essay â€Å"Reflections on the Revolution in France.† In this essay he argues that the revolution will only lead the†¦show more content†¦Families stand together and there is quiet conversation between friends. Mr. Summers, who runs the lottery, arrives with a black box. 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From simple everyday cooking and raising children, to holidays and other family rituals, tradition plays a significant role on how they go by there everyday lives. In Shirley Jacksons short story, The Lottery, the citizens of a small farming town follow one such tradition. A point is made regarding human nature in relationRead MoreTraditions in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson and A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner1176 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout the world there have been bazaar rituals or traditions that don’t usually happen in the United States. To us it may seem wrong and cruel but to those countries seems to be the right thing to do because that is what they believe in. Some countries do their rituals or traditions like every single year. Most of them are somewhat similar or different but still have the same aspect. There are many people who still follow these traditions or try to escape to another place so they can be free

Bullying And Its Effect On Students s Physical And...

Bullying in schools is one of the most common social issues associated with education in the United States. This issue has no particular specification for who is a target, no limit on how it is rendered and it can have an effect on student’s physical and emotional safety at school. In addition to physical and emotional upset, bullying can also negatively impact the student’s ability to focus on, understand and retain the information being taught in classes. As research shows approximately 28%, roughly 1 in every 3 students 12-18 years of age reported being bullied at school according to a 2013 report by Indicators of school crime and safety. The majority of bulling is done at school as opposed other social settings. An issue which is particularly alarming considering that across 39 states surveyed, 7.2% of students bullied admit to not going to school due to personal safety and bullying concerns. The effects of bullying can continue many years into adulthood. In the mos t extreme cases, targets of bullying retaliated through school shootings and most commonly by committing suicide. In previous generations bullying was viewed as a rite of passage or a normal childhood behavior which was regarded as a harmless character builder for the children involved; however children who classify as a bully as well as the children who are bullied have lasting social and psychological affects long after adolescence or the end of bullying. While bullying has no distinguished set of reasonsShow MoreRelatedCyberbullying: The New Form Of Bullying. When Sending Our1661 Words   |  7 PagesCyberbullying: The New Form of Bullying When sending our children to school we expect them to be able to learn without distractions, but bullying makes that impossible. Bullying has been recognized as a problem for school children globally. 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Economic Constraints and Tragedy of Afghan - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Economic Constraints and Tragedy of Afghan. Answer: Brief overview of the trade history of the chosen countries Spain can be considered to be the fourth largest economy in the Eurozone which has a GDP of 1.1 trillion (Vives, Jaime and Vicens). The economy of the aforementioned country grew by 3.2 percent which is the only witnessed positive annual growth rate since the year 2007. Spain is the 17th largest export economies of the world. As recorded in the year 2016 Spains import were calculated to be 299 billion dollars. The net worth of the exports of the country was calculated to be 275 billion dollars. The top exports of Spain include Vehicle parts, Refined Petroleum, Delivery Trucks and Cars. According to the Harmonized System of classification its top imports were Petroleum Gas, Crude petroleum and packaged medicaments. Afghanistans Economy has improved significantly in the past decade due to investment of billions of dollars by international assistants and expatriates of Afghanistan. The nation has witnessed political stability and reliability after the fall of the Taliban Regime (Ge, Ying, et al). It is due to this that the country has received more financial assistance from its investors and expatriates. The GDP of the nation is 64.8 billion dollars with an exchange rate of 18.4 billion dollars. The countrys main export partners are Tajikistan, India and Pakistan. While its chief import partners are China, India, United States and Turkmenistan. The export items of the country include Afghan Rugs, wool, gemstone, hides and fruits. While its top import items include machinery, textiles, petroleum, food and capital goods. Social, political and economic overview of the chosen nations Social and political overview of Spain: Spain is a constitutional monarchy which stands on a parliamentary democracy. Political Power in Spain is decentralised. Due to this the communities have a legislative fiscal and executive autonomy which facilitates trade. It can be said that after hitting six years of recession period Spain started recovering in the latter half of 2013. It can be stated that the socio political events that have taken place in Spain have had serious consequences on its economy and trade. The financial crisis faced by Spain in the year 2008 was viewed as a consequence of the decision of the Prime minister of Spain to bring forward the general election which was supposed to happen in March 2012 but was brought forward to November 2011. It can be stated that the financial and economic crisis faced by Spain exposed weakness in the Spanish society and Economy. Economic overview Spain: The economy of Spain strengthened remarkably by the year 2016. It can also be mentioned that Spain experienced a growth rate of3% of the Gross Domestic Product (Cohn and Theodore). The economic growth experienced by Spain was supported by deflation, job creation, lowering of oil prices, fall in the value of Euro, reforms related to implementation of policies and increased domestic demand. Growth rate of the Spanish economy exceeded 3.2% of the expectation in the year 2016. It can be said that the unemployment rate in Spain has fallen but it still remains quite high compared to other European nations. The greatest source of income for the nation still remains to be Tourism as Spain is the third most popular tourist destination after France and the United States. The tertiary sector of tourism employs 75% of the population in Spain and contributes to two thirds of the Gross Domestic product. Agriculture contributes to 2.5% of the GDP of Spain. Social and Political Overview of Afghanistan: The country Afghanistan has witnessed slow economic recovery since the fall of the Taliban regime. Afghanistan has always witnessed political instability which has had an adverse impact on the society and trade. The primary reason for the slow economic recovery is the political insecurity which adversely affects the consumer and investment demand. Economic Overview of Afghanistan: It can be said that poverty rate has increased in Afghanistan since the international troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan in the year 2011 (Berdal, Mats). It has also resulted in decline of economic growth. Afghanistan has faced numerous political challenges due to the increased insurgency. The World Bank has initiated a programmatic approach to provide financial support to Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework. Orography of the nations The Meseta Central is a plateau located at the heat of peninsula of Spain. The plateau is rimmed by mountain ranges which slope to the west gently. The Sismeta Central act as the dorsal spine of the Meseta Central dividing into two northern and Southern regions (Gutirrez, Francisco, and Mateo Gutirrez). The mountains of Sismeta Central which extend westward to Portugal exhibit glacial features. However the aforementioned mountain ranges do not create any barriers for transportation and allows railroad and road transportation to the northeast regions and northwest regions. It can be mentioned that the mountain ranges bordering Meseta Central are Cordillera, Cantbrica and Sistema Ibrico. Pyrenees mountain range lie to the northeast of Meseta Central and Sistema Penibtico lie to the south east of Meseta Central. The country Afghanistan is a landlocked country which is located between south and Central Asia. The Hindu Kush mountain ranges run from northeast to south west of the country and divide the same into three major regions. They are: Central Highlands, South-western plateau and the northern plains (Doebrich, Jeff). It can be said that the Hindu Kush mountain range is the tallest mountain range in Afghanistan. The highest point in the Hindu Kush mountain range is Noshak which has an elevation of 7492 metres. Important passes include Khyber Pass that connects Pakistan and Afghanistan, Slanag and Kushan passes andUnai Pass. The Wakham Corridor which lies to the northeast of the nation is located between the Hindu Kush and Pamir mountains. The Wakham Corridor leads to the Wakhjir Pass. Infrastructure of Trade of the chosen nations Trade Infrastructure of Spain: Road: Spain has a network of motorway and dual carriage way of fourteen thousand kilometres. The network of roads in Spain has been constantly renovated to enhance trade. It can be said that the infrastructure of Spain is well equipped and well developed to handle international business demand (Bensassi, Sami, et al). It can be said Spain has established good transportation links to all the main cities. Maritime and Air: There are over 53 sea ports and more than 47 airports in Spain. Therefore maritime and air trade is given equal preference as land trade. Rail The capital of Spain has good train connectivity to all the major cities of Spain. It can be said that Spain currently has the network of 15000 kilometres of high speed rail transportation service (Bertomu-Snchez, Salvador, and Estache). Private enterprises have been created after the liberalization of the freight sector, which aim to transport goods by railway. Madrid and Barcelona are considered to be the major transportation hubs of the country. Infrastructure of Afghanistan It is to be mentioned that Afghanistan has achieved some improvements in Infrastructure since the year 2002 due to the investments made by the foreign investors and expatriates. However, there are still some gaps which need to be filled to improve the overall infrastructure of the country. Some of the main constraints acting as hindrances to trade are: poor transport connectivity, incomplete regulatory reforms and trade policy, human skill constraints, political instability and security conflicts and lack of funding for maintenance of existing infrastructure (Hussain, Ishrat, and Muhammad Athar Ilahi) Road Afghanistan mainly conducts trade by land routes which pass through other countries like Russia and Pakistan due to lack of proper infrastructure. It can also be stated that since. It has to depend on a sovereign country for its cargo to reach international shipping markets. Air Infrastructure of Afghanistan remains constrained to this date. India and Afghanistan have jointly formed an air corridor to carry on Air trade and by pass the Pakistan Trade route. Maritime Countries that do not have direct access to sea coasts and maritime trade face many challenges in realizing the potential gains of the nation. Since Afghanistan is a land locked country it faces a major disadvantage while trading with other countries as it cannot engage in direct maritime trade. However, India and Afghanistan have entered in a port agreement in order to develop the strategic port, Chabahar in Iran. The aim of the agreement is to build a transport-trade corridor between three countries. Export and Import Value of the Chosen Nations The total value of goods and commodities exported by Spain was calculated to be 281,777 million U.S. Dollars. The Total value of the goods and commodities imported to Spain was calculated to be 302,529 million U.S Dollars as recorded in the year 2016 (wits.worldbank.org 2015). It can be said that Spain had imported 4516 products to 230 countries while it imported 4566 products from 228 countries. The top five items exported by Spain included Automobiles with diesel engines, Automobiles with reciprocating piston engine, petroleum oils and medicaments of mixed and unmixed products. The primary items that Spain imported were petroleum oils, motor vehicle parts, crude petroleum, medicaments and Automobiles with diesel engines. Afghanistan is the 104th largest export economy among all the countries of the world. As estimated in 2016 Afghanistan had exported goods and commodities worth 482 million dollars and imported goods and commodities worth 3.77 billion dollars which resulted in a negative trade balance of 3.299 billion dollars. The primary items exported by Afghanistan are Vegetable Saps, tropical fruits, Carpets that are knotted and Grapes. However its top imports include inedible fats, petroleum gas, ornamental trimmings and wheat flours (wits.worldbank.org 2015). Trade routes of the chosen countries As mentioned before Spain has well developed trade infrastructure. It has an elaborate network of roadways which connects all the cities of Spain which are well maintained (Viravan, Amnuay). The country also has many important seaports and airports which help facilitate trade. The important sea ports that handle the most annual traffic of ocean freight are: the seaport of Barcelona, the seaport of Valencia, Bilbao Algeciras, Madrid and Zaragoza. It can be mentioned that the seaports are technologically well equipped and capable of handling million of tons of cargo. It can be mentioned that Madrid and Zaragoza are dry ports which serve as the distribution point for gods arriving to Spain by sea routes. The dry port of Madrid has links to the other ports of Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao. Transportation of freight by Airways is also possible as Spain has many international airports. However, transportation of freight by air poses some limitations regarding the volume and weight of the cargo. As stated before Afghanistan faces some limitations while trading with other countries since it mainly has to depend on land routes as it is a land locked country. It can be said that Afghanistan has to depend on Pakistan for moving the freight to other countries (Khan Miankhel, Adil). Pakistan acts a transit route for the goods arriving in and going out of Afghanistan. However due to political unrest and tension between Pakistan and United States, Afghan businessman has suffered huge losses as Pakistan had blocked supply routes. The other trade route passes through Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. This trade route is called the North Distribution Network. This trade route involves road rail and air routes. It can be said that though the transit route through Pakistan is less expensive, the North Distribution Network is far more reliable. The third trade route passes through Iran. It can be said that Iran has been encouraging Afghan business with a view to relocate the international offices to Iran from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. It is to be stated that India and Iran are developing a highway and rail road systems which will connect the port of Afghanistan. The time frame for import and export Spain, as a developed country is considered as the 17th largest export economy in the world. The process of importing and exporting is generally too long and increases the risk of perishable goods. A Summary Declaration that is filed once the items are presented to the customs officials covers the goods imported and exported from EU (Napshin, Stuart and Brouthers). The goods are usually imported and exported in the firm of shipping. The time taken in the process of import and export are a little lengthy. Such a time frame results in loss if the goods shipped are perishable. Perishable goods are referred to the food products that must be used within a period of short time. On the other hand, Afghanistan is a delivery country that imports goods in 5-8 days with the help of standard shipments. There are certain items that are banned from import to Afghanistan. For exporting items from Afghanistan, transit permission is essential for shipment transiting through Pakistan. Afghanistan exports goods like fruits, nuts, wool and afghan rugs and it imports goods like machinery and other capital goods (Phillips and C). However, the flow of import and export to Afghanistan is a also a time taking process. The Afghan Customs Department collects tariffs on all the imported and goods that are exported from Afghanistan. The time consumption is too much in case of perishable goods. The constraints of the transport The process of import and export takes place with the help of shipping. Other than this, goods are exported and imported by road and flights. Truckloads of goods are exported and imported to other countries by the most popular transport routes. Therefore, in the process of transportation by roads, there are a few hurdles, which they face (Escanciano, Carmen and Santos-Vijande). There are high chances of the trucks to get high jacked. There may be problems or corruption in the custom procedure. When there is a scenario of high-jacking, the company faces tremendous loss as it loses all the goods. Goods imported, exported by cars or trucks is time consuming, and hence it delays the entire procedure of importing and exporting. Road blockage can also be reason for the delayed transportation. Afghanistan being a developing country faces serious safety issues while importing and exporting goods. The goods are transported in flights, ships and by roads. International flights of Afghanistan that are operated by airlines from countries meet the safety standards. Therefore, they face more trouble while transporting the goods. Since there are safety issues, the airplanes or trucks might get high-jacked. The roads not being well constructed also acts as a constraint of transport (Bandeira and Moniz). The customs regulations and procedures in Afghanistan are not consistent. Since, the country is not developed it faces such issues transportation problems. When the goods are shipped, the procedure of export and import is not smooth if there is lack of port personnel. Documentation required for import and export Spain has a documentation procedure for import and export. The official model for written declarations is the Single Administrative document. Spain does not enforce any quota on products that are manufactured in the United States. Import documents are essential. Without licenses, goods will not be allowed to be imported and exported from Spain. Importers have to apply for import licenses at the Register of Spains Secretariat of Commerce at any of the regional offices (Anthony). The license if granted is valid for six months and it can also be extended. It is standardized and not difficult to obtain. Regulations also establish fines for delaying the custom procedure. Therefore, goods that are shipped to Spanish customs area without proper import documentations may result in substantial charges. In Afghanistan, every imported and exported products must submit a declaration of customs and other shipment documentation like the original bill of lading and packing list. The documentation is carried out at the Custom Post in Afghanistan (Gaur, D and Jasmin). The documents that are usually required are the original bill of lading stating the full name and address of the Importer in Afghanistan, declaring the goods in transit to Afghanistan, to show the nominated agents as the Notify Party. The original invoice and the packing list should state the net weight, quantity and dimension of each packet of the goods in transit to Afghanistan. The original proforma invoice must be duly signed and attested by Ministry of Commerce in Afghanistan. Obtaining these documents are easily available. The delivery of the goods generally takes 7-8 days from Afghanistan. Trade Facilitation roadmap Trade facilitation refers to a vast area and activities such as transportation, business efficiency and government regulations and controls. In order to obtain trade facilities all the agencies at the border must be involved. Spain, being the developed country is the fifth largest economy in the European Union and it is still growing in the euro zone. Spain and UK are known as the major trading partners (Wilhelmsson). The World Trade Organization (WTO) is set up as a forum for trade negotiations, setting of rules and resolution of trade disputes with the member countries. Issues are usually discussed in the WTO trade facilities. The basic of objectives of Trade Facilitation Strategy are to reduce the cost of export, to establish a National Single Window for Exports and to reduce the number of days that are needed to reduce. In Afghanistan, the transit transport system can be improved. The safety measures should also be developed in such a developing country. With technological developments, companies must manufacture larger and faster road vehicles for importing and exporting goods with the help of road transit. Infrastructure must be maintained. These trade facilities if improved will result in speedy delivery of goods across the world (Sahai and Laxmi). Safety measures must reduce the chances of high jacking. Port facilities and services should be provided. Transit cargo constitutes a small proportion of cargo throughout in the ports of the developing countries. Port transit must remove the hurdle of industrial strike to make the procedure of import and export smooth. Prioritization of the different areas for improvement Spain is a developed country but it still needs development and improvement. During importing and exporting goods, they must improve the process of communication among the importers and the exporters. The documentation process should be made clear. The ways of importing and exporting the goods should be made faster by developing faster vehicles. The faster the products or goods reach, the happier the customers (Jorge et al.). Spain must strengthen the Union ensuring closer and better ties with other regions that have been marginal to the EC. The Trade facilitation solution must solve the problems of the landlocked countries. The Custom Reform must strengthen the trade facilitation in Afghanistan. The human resource management in the Afghan Customs Department should develop and improve more. Higher sustainable employment must also be developed for better economic growth. Afghanistan is open for international trade and tends to provide more opportunities to the people and grow faster (Bosch, Francesc and Aguado). Afghanistan can receive more benefit from its international trade opportunities than it does at the present. Afghanistans export base is generally narrowed and hence it should be widened. Facilitation Trade agreement draft between poor nation and wealthier nation Developed countries require help to implement the provisions of the members of the World Trade organization who have introduced the Trade Facilitation Agreement. The Trade Facilitation Agreement is a draft made between the poor nation and the wealthier nation. The Facility performs as a focal point for implementation (Thomas and Nguyen). Spain is the wealthier nation here that facilitates the agreement of trade. International organizations are set up to form the facilitation trade agreement. Afghanistan, a developing country is assisted by the Trade facilitation Agreement Facility. It is therefore, treated as a poor nation (Constantine). It evaluates their ability to implement the Trade Facilities Agreement by selecting provisions of the Agreement. The agreement of draft is prepared to protect the nations in the process of exporting and importing goods. Developing countries must take into account the provisions of the Trade Facilitation Agreement because it reduces the total trade costs by 14% approximately for low-income countries. Reference List: "Afghanistan | Trade Summary | 2015 | WITS | Text."Wits.worldbank.org. N.p., 2018. Web. 10 Jan. 2018. "Spain | Trade At A Glance | Most Recent Value | WITS | Text."Wits.worldbank.org. N.p., 2018. Web. 10 Jan. 2018. Amin, Rohullah, Sudhakar Dwivedi, and Pawan Kumar Sharma. "India and Afghanistan: An overview of their economic relations."Agro Economist: An International Journal2.2 (2015): 19. Bandeira, Luiz Alberto Moniz. "USA, Afghanistan, Iraq: Economic Constraints and Tragedy."The Second Cold War. Springer International Publishing, 2017. 105-121. Barone, Anthony.Managing Global Logistics for Business Growth: A guide for small to medium enterprises pursuing the global market Management growth through cross-border trade (export/import). Buoyant Capital, 2016. Bensassi, Sami, et al. "Relationship between logistics infrastructure and trade: Evidence from Spanish regional exports."Transportation research part A: policy and practice72 (2015): 47-61. Berdal, Mats, ed.Political economy of statebuilding: Power after peace. Routledge, 2017. Bernauer, Thomas, and Quynh Nguyen.Environmental Concerns and Individual Trade Policy Preferences in Developing Countries. No. 837. 2015. Bertomu-Snchez, Salvador, and Antonio Estache. "Unbundling political and economic rationality: A non-parametric approach tested on transport infrastructure in Spain."Transport Policy59 (2017): 181-195. Cohn, Theodore.Global political economy. Routledge, 2015. Curiel-Esparza, Jorge, et al. "Prioritization by consensus of enhancements for sustainable mobility in urban areas."Environmental Science Policy55 (2016): 248-257. Doebrich, Jeff. "Natural Resources in Afghanistan: Geographic and Geologic Perspectives on Centuries of Conflict (JF Shroder)." (2015): 1907-1908. Escanciano, Carmen, and Mara Leticia Santos-Vijande. "Reasons and constraints to implementing an ISO 22000 food safety management system: Evidence from Spain."Food Control40 (2014): 50-57. Gaur, Ashutosh D., and Padiya Jasmin. "Ease of Doing Business in India: Challenges Road Ahead."International Conference on Technology and Business Management. 2017. Ge, Ying, et al. "Border trade and regional integration."Review of Development Economics18.2 (2014): 300-312. Gutirrez, Francisco, and Mateo Gutirrez, eds.Landscapes and landforms of Spain. Springer Science Business, 2014. Hussain, Ishrat, and Muhammad Athar Ilahi. "The Future of Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade Relations."Peace Brief(2015). Khan Miankhel, Adil.Channelizing Afghanistan to Pakistan informal trade into formal channels. Vol. 41. Intl Food Policy Res Inst, 2016. Michalopoulos, Constantine. "Developing-Country Trade-Related Institutions and Aid for Trade."Emerging Powers in the WTO. Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2014. 115-136. Napshin, Stuart, and Lance Eliot Brouthers. "Intermediary Products: FDI Strategies, Imports, Exports, and Trade Balances in Developed Economies."Thunderbird International Business Review57.4 (2015): 311-322. Pardo-Bosch, Francesc, and Antonio Aguado. "Sustainability as the key to prioritize investments in public infrastructures."Environmental Impact Assessment Review60 (2016): 40-51. Persson, Maria, and Fredrik Wilhelmsson. "EU trade preferences and export diversification."The World Economy39.1 (2016): 16-53. Phillips, Patricia C. "The Time Frame."A Companion to Public Art(2016): 359-375. Sahai, Paramjit S., and Vijay Laxmi. "Transit and Trade Facilitation across South Asian Corridors: IndiaPakistan Land Connectivity."ECONOMIC CORRIDORS IN SOUTH ASIA(2014): 139. Viravan, Amnuay.Trade routes to sustained economic growth. Springer, 2015. Vives, Jaime Vicens.Economic History of Spain. Princeton University Press, 2015.