Microcredit Repayment in Malaysia free essay sample

To investigate whether gender of borrower influence microcredit repayment. Hypothesis 1 Ho: Gender of borrower does not influenced microcredit repayment. H1: Gender of borrower does influence microcredit repayment. 2. To investigate whether types of business activities influence microcredit repayment. Hypothesis 2 Ho: Types of business activities does not influenced microcredit repayment. H1: Types of business activities does influence microcredit repayment. 3. To investigate whether amount of loan influence microcredit repayment. Hypothesis 3 Ho: Amount of loan does not influenced microcredit repayment. H1: Amount of loan does influence microcredit repayment. 4. To investigate whether repayment period influence microcredit repayment. Hypothesis 4 Ho: Repayment period does not influenced microcredit repayment. H1: Repayment period does influenced microcredit repayment. This chapter is discussing about the research design, data collection method, research instrument, questionnaire design and sampling frame to meet the objectives of the study. In this study, descriptive research will be conduct to obtain the information needed. It will involve acquiring primary data, preparing questionnaires and sampling method as well as deciding on how the variables will be measure and being analyse. We will write a custom essay sample on Microcredit Repayment in Malaysia or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This study will be conducted among the teachers at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tengku Ampuan Jemaah, Port Klang, Selangor. 3. 0Data Collection Method There are two ways in gathering data for the study. First is the primary data which is specially collected by the researcher and second is the secondary data or any information gathered from resources collected and published by others. . 0. 1Primary Data Primary data refer to information obtained first-hand by the researcher on the variables of interest for the specific purpose of the study (Sekaran, 2010). Obtaining primary data can be expensive and time consuming as it requires researchers to observe and conduct an experiment on something to gather information about specific problems. It will take time in collecting data. (a)Questionnaire A set of questionnaire has been designed to obtain a quantitative primary data for this research. The purpose is to gauge the relevant information to achieve the research objectives besides to determining and evaluate the level of microcredit repayment among employees. The primary data will be collected from questionnaire that will distribute to the teachers at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tengku Ampuan Jemaah, Port Klang,Selangor. (b)Journal Researcher will also use journal as the primary data for data collection method in order to elicit the information regarding for the research. 3. 0. 2Secondary Data Secondary data that will be collected can be use and these data can be located quickly and cheaper in terms of cost. Secondary data could be collected through internal and external sources. Internal data are those generated within the organization while external sources of data in other hands are generated by sources outside the organization. For the purpose of this study, the researcher will obtain the external sources from books, library references, articles, website and others. These are some of useful information that will serves as the groundwork for theoretical framework and literature review. . Research Instrument Regarding Malhotra (2004), defined that questionnaire is a structured techniques for data collection consisting of a series of questions, written or verbal that respondent answers. In addition, it is called a schedule, written form, measuring instrument, or formalized set of questionnaires for obtaining information from respondents. The standardized questionnaire will ensure comparability of the data, increase speed and accuracy of recording, and facilitating data processing. It needs to capture primary data is questionnaire. Questionnaire is a formalized instrument for asking information, directly from the respondent. It is designed to facilitate data gathering, which is directly related to the study. Questionnaires will be distributed directly to the respondents for them to answer. The questionnaires for this research consist of two sections. The first section will consist of questions related to profile of the respondents and the second section will consist of question regarding of loans. The format used for the questionnaire will be structured in rating scale which is liker scale and multiple choices. The liker scale is (1) = strong disagree, (2) = disagree, (3) = average, (4) = agree and (5) = strongly agree are used. The questionnaires will be distributed randomly to the teachers at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tengku Ampuan Jemaah, Jalan Pandamaran, Port Klang, Selangor. 5. 0Questionnaire Design In this research, in order to get information from respondents, the researcher will choose the structured questions. 5. 0. 1Structured Questions Structured question specify the set of response alternative and the response format that could be multiple choices and scale. The structured question was the most frequently used in the marketing research. i)Multiple Choices The researcher provides choices of answers and respondents will be asked to select one or more of the alternatives given that mostly closely match their own response. For this study, the researcher will use this kind of question for respondent profile at section A. ii)Scale For this study, the Liker Scale questionnaire will be use widely where requires the respondents indicate strongly disagree or strongly agree with each of series of statement about the Microcredit Repayment. What is the level of microcredit repayment among employees? 2. Does gender of borrower will influence microcredit repayment? 3. Does a type of business activities will influence microcredit repayment? 4. Does amount of loan will influence microcredit repayment? 5. Does repayment period will influence microcredit repayment? 7. 0Sampling 7. 0. 1Sampling Design Based on Malhotra (2004), a sample is a subgroup of the population selected for participant in the study. Population is aggregate of all the elements that share some common set of characteristics and that comprise the universe for the purpose of the marketing research problem. According to the Zikmund (2003), the simple size can be 30 units and more, whereas Sekaran (2003) has mentioned between 30 units to 500 units, so only 100 respondents were selected and accepted for this study. The sampling design process includes five steps that are sequentially in the figure 2. 0 below. Figure 2. 0: The sampling design process 1)Defining target Population The first step of the sampling design will be specifying the target population. The target population means the collection of elements or subjects that possess the information sought by researcher and about which inference are to be made (Malhotra, 2004). According to Sekaran, (2003), population refers to the entire group of people, events, or things of interest that the researcher wishes to investigate. For the purpose of this study, the population will consist of employees at Sekolah Menegah Kebangsaan Tengku Ampuan Jemaah, Jalan Pandamaran, Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor 2)Determining sampling Frame A sampling frame is a representation of the elements of the target population that consist of a list or set of direction for identifying the target population. However, as for the sampling frame, this study has narrow down the elements of the target population to those employees within a few divisions or units at Sekolah Menegah Kebangsaan Tengku Ampuan Jemaah, Jalan Pandamaran, Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor. The rationale is because the researcher will be only target to collect 50 respondents for this study. 3)Determine the Sample Size Sample size refers to the number of elements to be included in the study. Regarding to this study, the sampling size were decided around 50 respondents only due to the time and money constraints. The targeted respondents will comprise the employees of divisions and units at Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Selangor. 4)Execute the Sampling Process In execute the sampling process, once the target population, sampling frame, sampling technique and sampling size has been determined, allocation of the sample will be quite easy to execute.

Privatization essays

Privatization essays To fully appreciate and understand the concept of privatization, Kwamina (1988) remarks, that it is first necessary to go back several centuries to the eighteenth century, to the economic doctrine of Adam Smith and the classical economists, since privatization is seen as a modern day restatement of this doctrine. This doctrine stresses the virtues of economic individualism and private enterprise and sees competition and impersonal market forces as determining and regulating the economic system (prices, wages, employment levels etc.). Indeed, although privatization might be the new buzz word, Pack (1987:532) asserts that it is important to recognize that it is not a new phenomenon. It has been found, (Chamberlin and Jackson, 1987:586; Kwamina, 1988:5) that the doctrine of privatization was actively practiced and promoted by the Ford, Carter and Reagan administrations in the United States of America and the Thatcher Administration in Britain. Interest for privatization thus grew from the widely heralded deregulation initiatives espoused by these administrations, particularly minimizing the responsibility of the state or public sector and transferring this responsibility to the private sector. Hence, some have argued (Pack, 1987:523; Parry, 1990: 11) that the impetus for privatization resides in an opposition to further growth of the public sector and the belief that the private sector would be a more efficient producer. Thus, it is suggested (Sappington and Stiglitz, 1987: 567) that the recent trend toward privatization reflects a judgment that previous assignments were incorrect and that some activities within the public sector might be carried out better within the private sector. Privatization in broad terms can be defined as the transfer of assets and service responsibility from the public to the private sector (Poole and Fixler, 1987: 612). Yet, Ramanadham (1989: 4) suggests that the concept is far wider a...

Astronomy_Cosmo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Astronomy_Cosmo - Essay Example Faith is an excellent human trait, but having faith in something that can has been proven wrong through science and observation can hinder individual and societal growth. The Big Bang Theory is the theory that the universe came about from an immense explosion billions of years ago. Sagan raised the possibility of an oscillating universe, where the Big Bang Theory was not only the beginning of the universe, but the end of another universe. This cycle could be repeating over and over. Scientists can only speculate. However observation has shown that the universe is expanding outward from each individual point in the universe. Radio, photographic, x-ray telescopic views have shown this expansion of the universe through the Doppler Effect. The Big Bang Theory was based on observation and scientific means. It was not meant to refute religion, or to be sacrilegious. The Big Bang Theory is incompatible with religions that believe in Creationism. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are based on Creationism. The basic tenants of Creationism are the story of God creating the Earth and man in six days. This even occurred four to five thousand years ago according to the religions steeped in Creationism. The Big Bang Theory is unacceptable due to the lack of God’s involvement and the purported age of the universe being billions of years old. The story of Adam and Eve in the Old Testament has been passed down in these Judeo-Christian religions. If that cornerstone is taken away, then other Torah, Biblical, and Qur’an stories might be dismissed. This frightens the fervently faithful. If Adam and Eve were not real people, then maybe a higher power does not exist. If God, Jesus, or Allah is not real, what have humans believed and died for eons? This will cause the truly faithful to avoid astronomy and scientific finds despite the proof of obser vation or other evidence. Some

Tourism destination marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tourism destination marketing - Essay Example The tourism destination marketing employs different marketing and promotional practices according to Oxford Business Group (2008). Under the marketing practices there is internet marketing, market positioning among others. Market positioning is considered as the first step and refers to the process of identifying and selecting markets that represent the potential of the business in determining criteria for competition. It is usually based on effective knowledge of the needs, perception and wants of the market. It also needs benefits ordered the benefits that are provided by the destination. The market benefits, differentiation and images are the only tourist perceptions. In the case of internet marketing the area is wide as it incorporates email marketing where by products can be sold through the email. Social media ensures customers interact and generate a direct trust with the customers. Search engine optimization places the industry at the top of search engines ensuring direct vis ibility. Paid Search marketing monitors traffic and then delivers it directly to landing for conversion purposes. According to the International Monetary Fund (2003), the e-marketing practices have been the best of bred and it is good for internet marketing campaign. Online surveys are also conducted enabling the direct access to market information. This information include, tracking results, identifying new customers, target markets and product market before launch. Use of qualified leads where they identify and also establish direct conducts with target customers. In the promotion practices there is the Middle East online advertising. Through this new business customers are attracted in the field hence attract high-net worth individuals. They also engage in Email and SMS advertising which allows a cost effective promotion practice, tracking of promotion campaigns as well as direct web traffic. There is also the online banner advertising which ensures large scale advertising in the tourism marketing destination. A Marketing Case Study The objective of the case study is to increase awareness as well as improve the drive bookings for the promotion of summer rooms to a KSA audience. The following steps are to be followed: Increase Arabic SMS that are sent to the selected KSA database who have high net worth individuals. The customer can receives messages containing promotion details and then they can use the mobile WAP incase they need more information according to Scott and Jafari (2010). Information being delivered both in Arabic and English The consumers can send messages from the WAP site straight to the reservation department. The hotel reservation department to receive enquiry (that includes all sorts of data) into the message inbox and thus they are able to follow up from step one to five. The key UAE products include beef, coal, furniture, USB’s, oil, cement, Cokes, Gowns, salt, Granite, Steel, dresses, Nickel, Photo frame and magnesium among othe rs according to Linden (2006). Segmentation in the market includes focusing on marketing efforts where there is a greatest chance of success as suggested by Rugimbana and Nwankwo (2003). In the case of business services segment it is referred to as market segmentation services. In United Arab Emirates there are different categories of market segmentation. For instance brake fluids and grease in the market segment are categorized under Energy or Lubricants while Automatic transmission oil is

Distance Learning and Brick-and-Mortar Learning Coursework

Distance Learning and Brick-and-Mortar Learning - Coursework Example by their professors with virtually no availability of visual and auditory media for facilitating the students wilt latest technology-based learning opportunities most of the times. This remains a reality that in a more traditional brick-and-mortar classroom type of learning, students remain oblivious to the amazing freedom of surfing on their own for gathering useful academic information which is based on latest research and offers more up-to-date knowledge which differs hugely with the more conventional academic theories pursued by the professors since ages in the brick-mortar classroom learning. I, on my part, cannot deny the fact that had I not engrossed myself in online learning so as to continue my educational journey in a country like Afghanistan, I would never have acknowledged the myriad benefits of online learning like developing the amazing ability to search answers to complex academic questions on my own without any supervision. Coming to the resembling features between on line learning and brick-and-mortar learning, it is worth mentioning that the process of submitting academic assignments remains pretty much the same in both modes of learning. This is because the students have to mail their assignments to their professors so that they could be evaluated and analyzed by them, thus ruling out the factor that most of the students still have to line up for having their projects assessed by their professors in the traditional classrooms. The process of submitting assignments thus remains the same between an online education college and a traditional brick-and-mortar classroom. Secondly, though people can be educated and acquire a professional degree both through traditional colleges and online learning colleges these days, still absence of a traditional... From this paper it is clear that  distance learning like involving oneself in an online education program saves one from relying excessively and unnecessarily on the professors for getting answers to certain academic problems. On the other hand, online learning process provides the students with the commendable facility of developing a broader academic vision especially when they start searching for latest information available online which relates to their queries. Research studies identify as to how online learning â€Å"might contribute to desired learning outcomes like critical thinking, taking ownership of learning, forming essential questions, collegiality, and the like†.According to the research findings  the factor of collegiality is enhanced by engaging in an online learning course when students are explicitly united for a common purpose like an academic purpose on a useful online forum like Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking sites for resolving certai n complex problems and discussing answers to them after resolving on one most credible answer.  Independence, self-motivation, and learning via visual media are the three most important benefits offered by online learning process, as identified by in comparison to traditional style learning. While traditional courses are offered to the students via reading the written text, online courses employ the facility of visual learning medium like delivering course through high-definition pictures and videos.

Business Life Cycle Characteristics And Strategies

Business Life Cycle Characteristics And Strategies Every business has its life cycle starting with conception of the idea for a business, then the start up, implementation, growth, maturity and decline. There are a lot of different terms being used for business life cycles parallel, which is also in parallel to the product life cycle. Some of ideas involve only four stages which are the start-up, growth, maturity and decline. Others involve seven stages from start-up, growth, maturity, saturation, decline, renewal and withdrawal. In general, they are practically the same. One is just a more detailed outlook of a business cycle. With time, a business will definitely pass through different stages of development. The 7 Stages of the Business Life Cycle 7 Stages of Business Life Cycle SEED How do you develop your idea into something that may turn into a business? 1: The idea: Whats your idea? What will your product or service that youll offer? Will your business be built from scratch, or do you plan on buying an existing business? 2: Is it feasible? Do you have the skills or experience to be successful at this business? Do you know how much money it will take to start? What are your plans for financing the business? What are your own strengths and weaknesses? Be honest with yourself. 3: Whos your market? Who will be your market? Who will your competition be and what are their strengths and weaknesses? If you dont think you have competition, are you sure? If thats true, is the product or service really wanted? Whats unique about your business that will make people want to buy from you instead of this competition? http://aksbdc.org/small-business-life-cycle/think/ **The seed stage of your business life cycle is when your business is just a thought or an idea. This is the very conception or birth of a new business. Challenge: Most seed stage companies will have to overcome the challenge of market acceptance and pursue one niche opportunity. Do not spread money and time resources too thin. Focus: At this stage of the business the focus is on matching the business opportunity with your skills, experience and passions. Other focal points include: deciding on a business ownership structure, finding professional advisors, and business planning. Money Sources: Early in the business life cycle with no proven market or customers the business will rely on cash from owners, friends and family. Other potential sources include suppliers, customers, government grants and banks. http://www.winonanationalbank.com/BusinessBanking/BusinessLifeCycle.aspx START-UP Initially, a small business owner think about the kind of business he/she wants to make. Then he does a feasibility study about the risks involved, the costs, the demand for the product or services, the potential clients, the marketability of the offering all these things are considered at the seed phase. He also thinks about where to get funding, what other products and services to offer, the pricing and how people would react or require the product or service or both. During this seed phase, he also thinks about probable resources where to find finding such as family, friends and financiers, venture capitalist or even the bank. Once he finally realised that there might be a need for it, then he moves to the start-up phase. Once it has been decided that there is a huge potential for the business, then he start implementing the ideas of the business. These could finding a suitable location for the business, sourcing suppliers, finding business partners, making the business plan and marketing plan, have focused on the products and service to initially offer, and also to register the business into a legal entity, whether a sole proprietorship, partnership or a corporation or a limited liability company. The small business owner would have also determined the location to best open shop, with the target clients also in mind. Most small business owner opening a business, opt for a home business start-up SOHO small office home office set-up. This is often the choice because it is more cost efficient, facing the challenge of limited financial resources. This would enable them to maintain the least overhead possible, where normally, the lease or office rent eats up a huge percentage of operational costs. It is another challenge for a start-up company to be aware of its spending/budget. The challenge lies in making sure not to over-estimate or overshoot the budget/funds, at worse prematurely. The small business owner should also determine if he can start the business on his/her own, a one woman/man-show, or should it be better to employ a minimal number of employees and what skills would they need to posses. One option is to look into operating as a family business, especially if the business owner has adult children, a spouse or other family members that are trustworthy and reliable. Otherwise, hiring employees would be limited to two or three, everyone must be multi-skilled and able to multi-task. At start up, focus will be on having the business fully operations which involves identifying and building clientele and developing the products and services being offered based on what the clients require. This is also where you establish partnership and nurture relationships with suppliers. Money source would be family, friends, sometimes it could involve borrowing from ones personal savings or getting a loan from the bank. Grants are also something to look into. It is also wise to make arrangements with suppliers regarding terms of payment, determining how many days is required to pay whether it is a 30 day to 90 day payment arrangement (i.e.) . This is also where he small business owner needs to strategise on how to enter and compete in the market, being aware of competitors and their standing in the market place or industry. Knowing this will determine the course of attack or entry. There are also other legalities that need to be taken care of such as insurances, liabilities, adhering to rules and regulations of the locality where you are operating, Taxes where to register a s GST company or not. Evaluating the reasons for going into business is also crucial. If the small business owner has proof (feasibility study) that the offering is in demand and can be successful, then this could be good enough. However some would also need to ask themselves if this is more than just money, if the business can give a sense of fulfilment or its success could be left as a legacy to the children/family. A small business owner need to know his motivation behind the business, this will give him a clear focus for success. Launching the business is part of the start-up which needs to focus on effective marketing strategies. This is to make sure that people know what the business offers, or stands for, its location and contact details, and who to deal with. This also needs to cover areas of competitive the pricing and encouraging terms for doing business. Starting the implementation of the marketing plans and strategies is like a test run during the start-up phase. Listed below are some tasks that should be completed in the start-up phase. Evaluate your personal reasons for going into business Decide what type of business you want to start Set up the legal structure of the business Obtain necessary licenses Conduct market research Research and obtain financing Research and obtain necessary business insurance Create a business plan Plan the strategy for growing the business Find an accountant and lawyer Open a bank account for the business http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpsm/osb/start_up.htm **Your business is born and now exists legally. Products or services are in production and you have your first customers. Challenge: If your business is in the start-up life cycle stage, it is likely you have overestimated money needs and the time to market. The main challenge is not to burn through what little cash you have. You need to learn what profitable needs your clients have and do a reality check to see if your business is on the right track. Focus: Start-ups requires establishing a customer base and market presence along with tracking and conserving cash flow. Money Sources: Owner, friends, family, suppliers, customers, or grants. http://sbinformation.about.com/cs/marketing/a/a040603.htm GROWTH After a successful start-up comes the growth of the business. During growth the business needs to maintain good relationships with everyone, both internal and external, such as: clients, suppliers, and government and private agencies it deals with. Also, by this time, the business is expected to be earning and not just covering the overhead. The business, at this stage is starting to win and build its market share. The challenges here would still be the usual issues of time and money. Time and money is crucial especially of the business is focused on finding and providing a better way of service delivery, and consistently strives to improve its offering. Clients will know the quality of work provided and word goes around. Clients recommend and there will be more clients coming as a consequence. The business then starts to build its reputation for excellence and reliability. Relationships not only with clients but also with suppliers must be nurtured. Prompt payment, for materials or services, based on term arranged, is crucial. This way, the business comes as a reputable and trustworthy company to deal with. This will help the business in finding and establishing business relationships with new suppliers and partners. As a growing business, standardisation or standard operational procedure which is crucial in the delivery of consistent excellent service should have been established and running smoothly, albeit still open for tweaking and modifications as the need arises. . This is also the time to consider adding a staff for sales and marketing, or business development. This person is supposed to duplicate the process already in place and bring his own skills and experience to contribute to the growth of the business. S hiring a highly skilled and experiences staff is crucial. Background checks are also necessary to make sure employee has integrity and is professional. Having a highly skilled employee can help maximise time and value for money for the company, as there will be no need for training or re-training in the short term. The business also has to make sure that at this stage of growth, finances are running smoothly. Financial resource would be coming from new partnerships, through the profits, by having a higher credit line from the bank. It is still a good idea to check availability of grants. The business could still be home based or if moving a better or bigger place is considered, leasing/renting would be wise. Remember during the growth stage, market share are being defined, the brand is getting recognised, a very good track record in reliability and excellence is being put in place, there is growth in business partnerships and the business network is expanding. Perhaps the small business is even getting into a position where it can influence the market place better business practices and innovative. During the growth stage, sales/business forecasts are being achieved. Very capable and reliable accountant and lawyer are also very much needed by a growing company making sure that finances are healthy and that rules and regulations by the government and the industry are always followed. . It is best for the business to be on its toes, keep assessing the marketing plans, and changing it when necessary, in order to keep up with the changing market. Once the infrastructure of the company is established, the focus is to develop the business. There will probably be some sales, but there is still much to do. The hard work is just starting. This may include many of the following: Refine market niche Branding the company Establish a track record Identify business partners Networking to expand customer/client base Match staff to volatile needs Increase operational financing Forecast sales Automate payroll processing Review insurance requirements Revisit your business plan Recruiting the right employees Find an accountant and lawyer http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpsm/osb/growth.htm Your business has made it through the toddler years and is now a child. Revenues and customers are increasing with many new opportunities and issues. Profits are strong, but competition is surfacing. Challenge: The biggest challenge growth companies face is dealing with the constant range of issues bidding for more time and money. Effective management is required and a possible new business plan. Learn how to train and delegate to conquer this stage of development. Focus: Growth life cycle businesses are focused on running the business in a more formal fashion to deal with the increased sales and customers. Better accounting and management systems will have to be set-up. New employees will have to be hired to deal with the influx of business. Money Sources: Banks, profits, partnerships, grants and leasing options. http://sbinformation.about.com/cs/marketing/a/a040603.htm Helpful questions to ask during the growth period 1: Increasing Market Awareness What is the market potential for growth? What is your promotional strategy to reach your target market? Have you defined a marketing budget? Do you have a marketing plan? 2: Your Operational Plan Do you have the capacity to meet current and future sales levels? Do you need new equipment, more personnel and/or additional working capital to increase capacity? Do you need to increase efficiencies and effectiveness through better production processes, less waste and increased quality? Do you need more space and bigger facilities to meet capacity needs? 3: Your team Do you have the right people on board? Do you have a plan for attracting future personnel? Do you have defined duties, responsibilities, skill and experience needed for each position? 4: Your Financial Plan How much capital (cash) will you need for business expansion? How will you raise this capital (cash)? Do you have a business plan for investors/lenders to review? What are your anticipated sales, profits and cash flow based your expansion plan? 5: Plan to Grow Have you revisited your plan to address opportunity for growth? http://aksbdc.org/small-business-life-cycle/grow/ MATURITY After the growth stage come the maturity of the business, where everything has been founded solidly, you have established clientele, partners, a bigger business entwork and may be eying expansion. Opening another office branch locally or another city or get into partnership in another city, depending on what area of focus the expansion would aim to achieve. However, upon growth some companies fall into the trap of sitting on theri laurels and stagnate. Companies need to be in theri toes, to be abreast of the changes in teh industry and their competitors, and the changing customer needs or requirements. All of these need to be considered. Aotumation is also another avenue to consider in terms of growth, outsourcing could also be considered to improve profit and productivity. After maturity, there are different phases that csmall busness fall into. Some companies reach the point of saturation. When this happens other consider to expand, sell of close shop. The saturation phase can trigger the next step for the small business. Which can be renewal, expansion, or decline and eventually withdrawal (closing shop). The challenge for established companies is to keep on their toes and deliver the same kind of service. As a company grows, customer satisfaction can sometimes get affected as personalised service has to give way to automation or standardisation. Companies also have the challenge of expansion in the ssense that the new products and services must be complementary or related to the existing offerings. It is risky to delve into a totally different product/service line. Unless a company has very good financial background, a new partner, a solid plan, then it can still be an avenue for expansion for the company. SATURATION How do we manage saturation point? Reinvention, innovation is a very good strategy, you change the marketing plan, improve the services and products, analyse the current market base and position. You also analyse the changing requirements of the clients and address them. SO the products and services are offered based on the clients needs. Decline Renewal / Innovation If after the saturation period a business owner finds himself with no intention to continue, then he has a choice between selling the business and closing shop. Selling the business would be more profitable, as the clientele, suppliers and partners have been establish and the eventual owner will be going away with everything set in place. It will save the new owner years of establishing the business. All he/she needs to do is maintain and improve what exists. Normally small business owners decide to sell when they feel that they do not have the energy or ability to continue with the business anymore or they are actually having some financial difficulties and are unable to find funding from different source, Withdrawal Instead of losing money and closing shop, selling the business is still a better alternative. However, for some businesses the situation might really be worse and there will be no other alternative but to close shop and try to cut loses. Another exit options is to franchise the business and just administer and transfer the technology or process to the franchisee. Franchising is exiting through expansion. The successful process is sold including the processes and partnerships. The Franchisee can then just focus on building their own clientele. The original owner still earns from royalties or percentages of sales and from supplying materials, ingredients or whatever is required depending on the nature of the business. http://aksbdc.org/small-business-life-cycle/exit/ http://www.dws.net.au/tools/the-prosperity-cycle.html http://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/biz-life-cycle/ http://www.legacee.com/FastGrowth/OrgLifeCycle.html http://www.enotes.com/small-business-encyclopedia/industry-life-cycle http://smallbusiness.chron.com/brands-product-life-cycle-785.html characteristics and strategies of each life cycle Exit Strategy http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_sep-oct_2007_issue_exit-strategy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_life_cycle_management_%28marketing%29 http://university-essays.tripod.com/product_life_cycle.html http://courses.cit.cornell.edu/cuttingedge/lifeCycle/11.htm http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Oli-Per/Organizational-Life-Cycle.html short- and long-range plans to implement strategies http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/small/Bo-Co/Business-Planning.html http://www.arnoldit.com/articles/PDF_Web/article1988/chap6_MarPlan.pdf http://managementhelp.org/fp_progs/sp_mod/str_plan.htm http://nett.com.au/finance/business-credit/small-business-lifecycle-reaping-the-rewards/11181.html http://sbinformation.about.com/cs/marketing/a/a040603.htm http://www.winonanationalbank.com/BusinessBanking/BusinessLifeCycle.aspx http://www.dws.net.au/tools/the-prosperity-cycle.html http://www.ajfoligno.co.uk/business_cycle.php http://www.manyworlds.com/logContent.aspx?to=coViewURLLinkcoid=CO1290216533092

Stress: Unavoidable Necessity :: Essays Papers

Stress: Unavoidable Necessity Experiencing stress is a very common sensation. It is easy for everybody to describe its symptoms, but defining stress itself is more complicated because stress requires psychological and medical concepts to give an exact and understandable definition. "Stress is a specific response by the body to a stimulus, as fear or pain, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium. It is a physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension" (The New Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language). Scientists started to think, in the late nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries, that diseases are caused by external factors, like bacteria, thanks to the discovery of Rudolph Virchov, a German physician, and Louis Pasteur, a French doctor. However, the mental aspect was totally ignored at this time (Levi 15-16). The study of stress is inseparable from the study of psychology or psychiatry, which were not recognized before medicine started to change. Indeed, medicine specialization was born because the tools for examining patients were too sophisticated for any doctors to know how to use all of them. As a result, heart doctors, eye doctors, ear doctors, etc., appeared (Levi 16). While medicine became more and more efficient because doctors were increasingly qualified in their own skills, scientists started to be aware that in addition to their bodies patients had a mind which could suffer and influence the development of a disease. Psychiatry was born (Levi 16-17). Clea rly, science realized that stress could affect the body. Everybody should be aware that a disease could occur because of a mental problem, especially because of stress. This health issue will be discussed by explaining, on the one hand, what can cause stress by taking into account the nervous system, the psychosomatic tendencies, and the modern world. Then, on the other hand, the effects of stress and how the body reacts against it will be looked at. Finally, some solutions to fighting stress will be presented. Where does stress come from? Most scientists agree that stress is the result of a situation where too many problems or difficulties take place at the same time. For the person who lives in such circumstances, it becomes impossible to manage and to find any solutions for his or her difficulties. As a result this person feels oppressed by the situation and becomes stressed. Of course, everybody reacts in a different way in the face of unfortunate events, and for many people it is easy to manage stress, which is the normal reaction, without any damage to the body.