Research Paper from the year 2003 in the subject Business economics - Marketing, Corporate Communication, CRM, Market Research, Social Media, grade: 1.3 (A), The University of Hong Kong (-), 22 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: This paper firstly examines the concept of eCurrency and how it has been used globally, and then highlights how this could be applied in Hong Kong. The situation in Hong Kong was assessed, and it is believed that Octopus is able to take advantage of its strong brand name and wide use taking its business online to an extended business model, termed eOctopus. The eOctopus model suggests that Octopus becomes an intermediary in online transactions where the users will have the option to set up an online Octopus account on the web. Money will be deducted for online and offline transactions, and money can be added at current Octopus terminals or via Internet banking. It will also allow users to shop and pay bills online. To test feasibility of this proposed new online-model, a survey of mainly undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Business and Management at HKUST was conducted. The results were found to be favourable to the proposed eOctopus model. Most significantly, the majority of respondents stated that they would use eOctopus because of Octopus brand name. Further, an interview was conducted with Professor Tam of HKUST for his feedback on the proposed eOctopus model. Mr Tam commented that a key service that eOctopus can provide is micro-payment where credit card payments are not feasibly. According to Professor Tam, the eOctopus model is sensible and workable, though some technical issues would have to be addressed before a possible implementation. Given the current development concerning the introduction of a smartcard (including an eCertificate function) to replace the existing Hong Kong ID card, synergies are expected to exist if Octopus were to work together with the government on this issue. Sin

Master's Thesis from the year 2003 in the subject Business economics - Economic Policy, University of Manchester (Manchester School of Management), 103 entries in the bibliography, language: English, comment: Only a passing grade was given., abstract: The importance of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for international free trade today has enticed China to join the WTO in December 2001. The significance of WTO membership for China cannot be underestimated, inevitably speeding up much-needed economic reform in the country. The gradual transition from a planned- to a market-economy is expected to continue in the future. The severity of the impacts for the economy will depend on how successful China is in providing policies that will assist the nation in the major adjustment problems that it faces in the future. The expected, actual, and needed implications for China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) resulting from WTO membership will be investigated in detail; in the process, the significance of SOEs to the Chinese economy will be highlighted. SOEs are mostly ill- prepared for a post-WTO China, and the dismal state of these companies has already led to the decline of market share in the past decade. For the future, the retreat of the state is likely to continue. The main implications for SOEs from China's WTO membership are seen in the areas of competitiveness, corporate governance, privatisation, mergers and acquisitions, property rights, unemployment, and attracting and retaining qualified personnel. This dissertation offers one of the first detailed insights into the challenges facing China's SOEs today and the implications of China's WTO membership for these companies, while also highlighting the areas that require future attention. The understanding of the role and meaning of SOEs for the Chinese economy is of immense importance for foreign investors wanting to invest in the country, already cooperating with China's SOEs, or looking into the possibility

Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject Business economics - Economic Policy, grade: 1.3 (A), University of Manchester (Manchester School of Management), 37 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: The defence of local culture is becoming an increasing concern in the current era of globalisation, as diminishing transport costs and new forms of communication are enabling worldwide dissemination of products and ideas. The importation of cultural goods from nations with disparate values and traditions could potentially cause the destabilisation of national or local communities. Indeed, these cultural goods may displace existing products and result in cultural homogenisation. Another potential threat is that posed to cultural industries, where competitive foreign firms may be able to dominate, again resulting in a reduction in cultural diversity. However, while it is widely agreed that local culture should be preserved, the term "culture" is a subjective construct open to varying interpretations by different groups and institutions, including national and international policymakers. The concept of multifunctionality rests on the assumption that the continuing existence of local farms is vital in order to preserve the local way of life, that production generates diverse benefits and forms a cultural heritage. The argument follows that protectionist measures are justified to protect an industry that would otherwise be unable to compete following trade liberalisation. Currently, measures designed to protect culture are exempt from WTO consideration and disputes between nations are negotiated bilaterally. As a result, there are fears that larger economies, such as the US, are able to dominate the cultural industries of smaller nations. This paper makes two main recommendations: the first is for a change in domestic policy, arguing that government measures to halt the intrusion of foreign culture would be better directed by using subsidies, educati

Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject Business economics - Miscellaneous, grade: 2.3 (B), University of Manchester (Manchester School of Management), 32 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: In the last twenty years, many researchers and even governments have undertaken studies concerning small, innovative firms operating in new technology sectors. Different researchers have concluded different things from different studies, and different opinions prevail in many areas. Even a brief look into the area of New Technology-Based Firms (NTBFs) shows that extensive literature exists on a wide range of topics, both on a more general scale, but also on rather specialised sub-areas of NTBFs. While it is certainly desirable to explore any one of these specialised areas in more depth, the focus of this paper is to give a brief but comprehensive overview of the area of NTBFs about research in the last 20 to 25 years. The underlying notion of the paper is to question if large firms are better at innovation than small firms. An answer to this question in the light of the findings of this paper will be attempted in the conclusion in chapter seven. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to define and highlight briefly the main characteristics of NTBFs, and to point out the level of cooperation between small and large firms in the technology sector. It will then evaluate these in the light of the Mobile Phone sector. The influence of governments on small innovative companies will also be considered. This paper will start out with a definition of NTBFs in chapter two. Chapter three will highlight the five main characteristics of a NTBF that will ultimately determine the success or failure of the company. Chapter four will then look at the interplay between small and large companies, and will consider how much these two parties cooperate or compete. In chapter five, the findings of the previous chapters will be examined in the light of the mobile ph

Diploma Thesis from the year 2002 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 1,3 (A), Middlesex University in London, 66 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: This report will demonstrate the importance of Loyalty Management in the competitive environment of the airline industry and will show that a successful approach to Loyalty Management consists of three different, interlinked aspects. These three pillars are Customer Service, Frequent Flyer Programs, and Complaint Management; their interdependence will be analysed in depth, with special attention given to the perceived importance of Frequent Flyer Programs. Findings from a detailed literature review and a survey show that customers do indeed perceive these issues as vital with regards to their loyalty towards a particular airline. It was found that Customer Service can be regarded as the foundation for Loyalty Management; it can help an airline to gain competitive advantage by setting it apart from its competitors. Frequent Flyer Programs, if implemented and run properly, can provide the customer with added value. As such, they compliment Customer Service and can help to increase overall loyalty. Additionally, Complaint Management was found to be gaining importance among airlines. The number of complaints was shown to be rising gradually, stressing the growing significance of efficient Complaint Management and its strong after-effect on customer loyalty.

Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject Business economics - Trade and Distribution, grade: 1.1 (A+), University of Manchester (Manchester School of Management), 11 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: This paper addresses the challenges Proctor and Gamble (P&G) faced in the 1970s and 1980s, both to its European organisational structure and to the imminent launch of its new Heavy Duty Liquid (HDL) Vizir. It will be argued that the company's European structure will have a direct impact on a possible Vizir launch and on future product launches, using an in-depth analysis of both the current P&G situation at that time and feasible alternative strategies available to the organisation. Chapter two will give a brief but concise overview of the P&G situation in the 1980s; chapter three will discuss three different approaches available to P&G in organising its European operations, and recommend the most suitable approach; chapter four will then examine the launch options for Vizir and present the most favourable strategy; finally, chapter five will summarise the findings and highlight the recommendations of this report, briefly considering possible implementations and evaluations of the suggested strategies.

Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject Business economics - Didactics, Economic Pedagogy, grade: 2.2 (B), University of Manchester (Manchester School of Management), 22 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: At the beginning of any type of research, it is important for the researcher to determine the most appropriate methodology to carry out the study. The Dictionary of Sociology (1998) defines methodology as a "the methods and general approach to empirical research of a particular discipline." It is implied that various methods exist to approach a particular research problem, and the researcher should give his or her own set of methods considerable thought. While factors such as time and costs certainly play an important part in deciding how to approach a particular research problem, the subject of the research itself should ultimately determine the methods used. A good researcher will evaluate all available options prior to making a decision as to which methods to adapt in the light of being the most useful for the study at hand. Scandura and Williams (2002) note that the impact of management studies often depends 'upon the appropriateness of the research methods chosen'. This further highlights the importance the researcher needs to place at the selection of the right approach if the end-result is expected to be valuable and meaningful from a management perspective. When the most appropriate research method - or a mix of various methods - has been established, it is time to start what Gilbert (2001) calls detective work: "Social research involves detective work. You begin with a problem and then ask a number of questions about it, such as 'what?', 'who?', 'where?', 'when?', 'how?' and 'why?'." A variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods are available to the researcher, ranging from interviews, questionnaires, observation, experiments, to case studies. This paper will focus on three of the above methods, namely questio

Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: International Organisations, grade: 1.6 (A), University of Manchester (Manchester School of Management), course: Manchester School of Management, 28 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: What were the difficulties surrounding China's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO)? Why has it taken the People's Republic of China (PRC) over 15 years to join? What are the expected benefits and disadvantages of joining? What changes is WTO membership likely to bring to China's economy in the future? These are the question this paper aims to address on the following pages. WTO accession by China is often seen as the most significant event about China in the last decade, even ahead of the Taiwan Independence issue, which continues to penetrate world news periodically. Since the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1978, China has been on a course of economic reform. Today, Chinese are richer than ever before in history, with the country itself having experienced extended periods of extraordinary growth, even throughout recent events such as the Asian crisis (Morck and Yeung 2000). Along side the other international organisations in operation today, the WTO has played an important role in liberalising and regulating global markets (WTO Secretariat 2000). It covers numerous aspects of economic and trade globalisation such as commodities trade, services trade, investments relating to trade, intellectual property rights relating to trade, mechanisms on trade policy deliberation and dispute settlement, transparency of regulations, and sustainable development (Linggguang 2001). Wallach (1999) rightly expects that the WTO will 'continue to advance global liberisation through multilateral rules'. Entering the WTO is widely regarded as being of significant importance for China, both in terms of gaining access to foreign markets, but also to use firm WTO rules to fight off

Essay from the year 2003 in the subject Business economics - Personnel and Organisation, grade: 2.1 (B+), The University of Hong Kong (-), 7 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: This first section will consider how Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Unilever recruit and select managerial staff, while the second part of this question will focus on the development of managerial staff at these two companies. Both similarities and differences will be highlighted in each section.

Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject Business economics - Personnel and Organisation, grade: 2.4 (B), University of Manchester (Manchester School of Management), 43 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: How and to what extend do labour systems in general, and wage-setting mechanisms in particular, differ amongst the three biggest economies of the world, namely Japan, Germany, and the United States? Does the trend towards increasing trade liberation lead to pressure to harmonise different wage-setting systems? If so, what is the evidence for convergence?1 What impact could this have on the future of the labour systems of the so-called less flexible countries? These are the questions that this paper will attempt to address on the following pages. While limited in scope, it will attempt to shine a light, however brief, on the above issues, and offer a conclusion that will take into account both the facts presented and a possible future scenario. Specifically, chapter two to four will briefly highlight the main characterises that influence wage-setting in Japan, Germany, and the United States respectively. Chapter five will consider issues of convergence and divergence, in general terms and also more countryspecific. Finally, chapter six will sum up the main findings of this report, and offer a view on the possible future of the convergence debate.

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation from the year 2003 in the subject Business economics - Trade and Distribution, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School (International Business and Management), language: English, abstract: Inhaltsangabe: Abstract: The importance of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for international free trade today has enticed China to join the WTO in December 2001. The significance of WTO membership for China cannot be underestimated, inevitably speeding up much-needed economic reform in the country. The gradual transition from a planned- to a market-economy is expected to continue in the future. The severity of the impacts for the economy will depend on how successful China is in providing policies that will assist the nation in the major adjustment problems that it faces in the future. The expected, actual, and needed implications for China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) resulting from WTO membership will be investigated in detail; in the process, the significance of SOEs to the Chinese economy will be highlighted. SOEs are mostly ill- prepared for a post-WTO China, and the dismal state of these companies has already led to the decline of market share in the past decade. For the future, the retreat of the state is likely to continue. The main implications for SOEs from China's WTO membership are seen in the areas of competitiveness, corporate governance, privatisation, mergers and acquisitions, property rights, unemployment, and attracting and retaining qualified personnel. This dissertation offers one of the first detailed insights into the challenges facing China's SOEs today and the implications of China's WTO membership for these companies, while also highlighting the areas that require future attention. The understanding of the role and meaning of SOEs for the Chinese economy is of immense importance for foreign investors wanting to invest in the country, already cooperating with China's SOEs, or looking into the possibility of s

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2002 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 1,3, Middlesex University in London (unbekannt), language: English, abstract: Inhaltsangabe: Abstract: This report will demonstrate the importance of Loyalty Management in the competitive environment of the airline industry and will show that a successful approach to Loyalty Management consists of three different, interlinked aspects. These three pillars' are Customer Service, Frequent Flyer Programs, and Complaint Management; their interdependence will be analysed in depth, with special attention given to the perceived importance of Frequent Flyer Programs. Findings from a detailed literature review and a survey show that customers do indeed perceive these issues as vital with regards to their loyalty towards a particular airline. It was found that Customer Service can be regarded as the foundation for Loyalty Management; it can help an airline to gain competitive advantage by setting it apart from its competitors. Frequent Flyer Programs, if implemented and run properly, can provide the customer with added value. As such, they compliment Customer Service and can help to increase overall loyalty. Additionally, Complaint Management was found to be gaining importance among airlines. The number of complaints was shown to be rising gradually, stressing the growing significance of efficient Complaint Management and its strong after-effect on customer loyalty. Inhaltsverzeichnis: Table of Contents: 1.INTRODUCTION6 1.1AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE REPORT7 1.2TERMINOLOGY9 1.3BACKGROUND INFORMATION: LOYALTY MANAGEMENT9 1.3.1DEFINITIONS9 1.3.2TRADITIONAL MARKETING AND LOYALTY MANAGEMENT10 1.3.3IMPORTANCE OF LOYALTY MANAGEMENT12 1.4CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIRLINE MARKET13 1.4.1AIRLINE INDUSTRY ANALYSIS - STEEPLE13 1.4.1.1Social13 1.4.1.2Technological14 1.4.1.3Economical14 1.4.1.4Environmental14 1.4.1.5Political15 1.4.1.6Legal15 1.4.1.7Ethical15 1.4.2CONSOLIDAT