...Guidelines for Conducting a Focus Group Surveys assume that people know how they feel. But sometimes they really don’t. Sometimes it takes listening to the opinions of others in a small and safe group setting before they form thoughts and opinions. Focus groups are well suited for those situations. Focus groups can reveal a wealth of detailed information and deep insight. When well executed, a focus group creates an accepting environment that puts participants at ease allowing then to thoughtfully answer questions in their own words and add meaning to their answers. Surveys are good for collecting information about people’s attributes and attitudes but if you need to understand things at a deeper level then use a focus group. If you’ve ever participated in a well-run focus group you’d probably say it felt very natural and comfortable to be talking with a group of strangers. What you didn’t know perhaps were the many hidden structures behind it all. A good focus group requires planning – a lot more planning than merely inviting a few key people to casually share their opinions about a topic. Outlined here are the details for conducting a high quality focus group. Also included are stepby-step instructions for making sense of all the information you collect in the groups. In this Guide you will find checklists for: Defining a focus group Designing focus group questions Recruiting and preparing for participants Conducting the focus group Analyzing the data You will also find...
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...further developed in Young Apprentices. Wider research1 has also confirmed that employers and Higher Education view generic skills and personal attributes as essential in new entrants emerging from education. Given the centrality of these skills, the CfA consulted with partnerships in the sector and agreed that it would be of value to consider how PLTs could be developed through the different components of the Young Apprenticeship in Business & Administration. These components are: • • • • • Delivery of VR qualifications Work placement (CfA work-based project resource.) Enrichment activities Enterprise activities KS4 core curriculum This guidance focuses on the development of PLTs through the VRQ, however, the CfA would like to encourage partnerships to take all appropriate opportunities to develop PLTs in all components. This guidance provides examples of how partnerships are currently approaching the delivery of PLTs. The examples are taken from the Level 2 Technical certificate in Business & Administration but would be equally applicable to the Level 2 BTEC First Diploma in Business. The examples are provided to help you to think about how to develop PLTs through your programme delivery and are not intended to be prescriptive in any way. For example the CfA LMI Data for Administrators across sectors, based on data from 24 SSCs, representing 2,956,000 of the workforce; CfA Business and Administration...
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...recommendations for improving the validity of the marketing research used to contribute to the development of a selected organisation’s marketing plan. In D2 I will be making justified suggestions for improving the validity of the limitations that was mentioned in M2. There are different limitations in market research, I explained five of these in my M2 and I will be discussing these limitations and how they can be improved in this task. I will also evaluate how the limitations of the three methods of market research that Sainsbury’s uses can be improved in order to keep up their performance if they have been doing well or even if they haven’t been failing how these limitations have help improve their business. Food sampling followed by a survey was the first method of research used by Sainsbury’s to which I discussed in M2. There are many limitations when it comes to food sampling followed by a survey and these limitations were discussed in M2 also. The limitations I discussed concerning food sampling followed by a survey were cultural and cost. Both these limitations will always affect how food sampling followed by a survey is done when this research method is being carried out, but these limitations can be rendered simple but still have effect on this research method. Sainsbury’s being the third leading supermarket in the UK they must carry out large sums of market research in order for the them to beat their competitors although they are in close competitions with Wal-Mart’s Asda...
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...description of open systems theory as it applies to both the external and internal environments. There are various types of theories that people may look at to describe how business organizations work. In this text, a main theory that is used is the open systems perspective. This theory helps companies and consumers understand how open systems depend on resources such as raw materials, equipment and job applicants in order to transform inputs to outputs (McShane & Steen, 2012, pp. 5). The external environment is a place where companies may come up with particular laws and regulations, which determine how companies are run. Resources are also used to create the output, which is then used, in the external environment. Internal environment consists of various teams and departments also known as subsystems. An example presented in the book is the Canadian Tire store. The store in Smiths Falls is a subsystem of the Canadian tire chain but the store itself has various subsystems as well (McShane & Steen, 2012, pp. 6). In this particular case, Napanee Beer Co. operates with dependence on the beer production department. This is a prime example of an open systems perspective. An open system relies on other environments for necessary materials to run a business. Napanee Beer Co. had a great marketing plan but did not know how to thoroughly execute it. Their main resource is the production department who supplies the company with the amount of beer and the quality of beer. Without informing...
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...the levels of development. Technology and service sectors also play a significant role in its economy and are growing rapidly (Infoplease, 2005). Objective The objective of the research is to design the research methodology to sell the top-selling product of the XYZ Inc. in Brazil. The different objectives, which the company wants to achieve with the help of the research, are various in numbers. Some of them are: • The company wants to study the market size, market potential and market growth. • The study of market profile and market characteristics is also one of the objectives of the research. • The analysis of market share and market segment. • The measurement and forecasting of the sale for the short run and long run. • The identification of complete business trends and seasonal trends (Ramaswamy & Namakumari, 2007). Research methodology Researches in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge. One can also define research as a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic. In fact, research is an art of scientific investigation. It is actually a voyage of discovery. In the case of the research for the...
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...Training Training Needs Analysis: The major muscle groups that need to be trained are the hips, the upper leg muscles (quads and hamstrings), the lower leg muscles (calves), the chest and shoulders, and the abdominal muscles. Resistance, interval, and anaerobic training should be used. The primary energy systems to be stressed are the ATP-PCr and glycolytic systems. The primary sites of concern for injury prevention are the hip flexors, the quads, and the hamstrings. Phase 1: General Preparation-Preseason Overview: The main objective of this phase is to build a base. To do this it is important to involve the maximum number of muscle groups in order to prepare the muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints to endure the harder workouts later on in training. Interval Program: The program has an emphasis on running technique to make the runners as efficient as possible. This program includes both specific technique and speed development drills. It will involve repeated, short, and intense intervals, focusing primarily on the ATP-PCr energy system. Rest periods between intervals will differ in accordance to the intensity and length of the intervals themselves. Training Sessions: Warm-up: 5-10 minutes of low intensity aerobic exercise (jogging two laps around the outdoor track and four laps around the indoor track is a common warm-up) Flexibility: Active stretching of all major muscle groups- high knees, butt kicks, straight legs, quick leg left/right...
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...President making that 16 of the best people possible to help run the U.S. Group size is also very important, since it is a larger group of people it is going to be harder to equalized opportunities (Gamble 239.). One of the 16 characteristics that would make my cabinet of people perfect would be someone who takes their job seriously. If you cannot be serious about your job then you might as well not work. Especially if you are going to help run the country you should take your job very seriously. This means having good work ethic, taking full responsibility for your actions, and showing that you have pride in your work. Another characteristic that would be great to have in my presidential cabinet is someone who is fun but also again very serious about their job. Every group needs individuality, so someone who is fun and outgoing and also has that bubbly attitude. This characteristic definitely can make a difference in the working area. Being in the president’s cabinet can be tough so having someone who can help balance the group of hard working people helps make a huge positive difference in the working area. Even if everyone is stressed out, you will always have that one person that can turn someone’s bad day into a good one. Since the group size is a lot larger I would want people who have really good communication skills and that are not afraid to speak up. Communication is key in a group of people because that is how not only we will all connect but it will help when a serious...
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... A group of people who have agreed to work together to achieve various goals is known as an organization. Organizational behavior is a broad grouping of beliefs, systems, and tactics studied and implemented to achieve efficiency and help achieve those goals. Complicated and nuanced, these behaviors are subdivided into the following three broad categories: Individual Behavior; Group Behavior; and Organizational Behavior. How well people perform at their jobs, how satisfied with their occupation, socialization and integration with their co-workers, and a multitude of attributes including their personality and ability; attitudes, values, and moods; perception and attribution; learning; motivation; and stress all affect how the individual perceives and changes their workplace. When two or more people interact to achieve their goals, a group is formed. When a group work together intensively and develop team-specific routines to achieve a common group goal, a team is developed. The group dynamic is influenced by the number of members in a group, the type and diversity of team members, the tasks they perform, and the attractiveness of a group to its members. Each of these traits will influence not just the behavior of the group as a whole, but also the behaviors of individuals within the group. A team can be positive and influence its members’ decisions and behaviors on how diligently they approach jobs, or negatively and bring about non-desirable traits such as how often...
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...are detrimental to the overall well-being of a company for seven reasons. First, activists have the wrong time-horizon, focusing on the short-term rather than the long –term. Capitalism desperately needs managers to focus their attention on creating value for their customers and the economy through sustained effort over the medium-term. Activists pursue the maximization of shareholder value as reflected in the current stock price, which leads to negative results, such as destroying real shareholder value. According to Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO of Salesforce [CRM], this theory of business is “wrong. The business of business isn’t just about creating profits for shareholders – it’s also about improving the state of the world and driving stakeholder value.” He has been joined by others in criticizing the goal of maximizing shareholder value, including former chairman and CEO of General Electric Jack Welch, Vinci Group chairman and CEO Xavier Huillard, CEO of Unilever Paul Polman, and co-CEO of Whole Foods John Mackey. Second, the goal of activists, to extract value from companies for shareholders, is wrong. Rather, the goal of companies should be to create value for their customers and the economy. The Economist writes that shareholder capitalism should focus on growth and creation, not just divvying up profits. Activists turn capitalism into extracting value from companies and dividing it...
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...CASE OF LG GROUP: DEVELOPING TOMORROWS GLOBAL LEADERS There is no company which is resistant to environmental changes, especially business environment. As the year comes by, new inventions or innovation will absolutely give impact on every type of business in the world. However, the causes of the impact, in other words, the root of the changes in the environment is not merely coming from company external territory; in most cases the impacts (either negative or positive) can come from external territory and internal territory of the company. This written analysis focuses on the LG Group’s Chairman Koo who once stated and defined his vision for the LG group to develop and improve significantly and to be a leading company in its local market area (Korea) and the wider market scope, international market and increase its revenue significantly within 7 years period. This is known as “LEAP 2005”. Even though is not an easy task to do, he is much certain that the group can do that. He considers the past performance of the group and the major internal changes within the company will enable it to achieve what its chairman wants. The main key success, as the management agrees, lies on the future leaders of the group. There are several questions that arise as the result of the discussion between the management in relation with this key point, namely where and how to find these future leaders, what capabilities of competencies these leaders should possess how to develop these key competencies...
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...Many companies use different metrics and methods to measure customer satisfaction. This paper will explore a few measures that I have researched and how it correlates to my company or company I used to work for in addition to some recommendations. Identification of best practices One of the most commonly used methods to measure customer satisfaction is by conducting a survey. According to TechRupublic, a survey “allows you to quantify the subjective perceptions of the clients by asking them to convert their perceptions into a numerical rating. The ratings then help the project team better understand how they performed” (TechRadar, 2007). I agree in that surveys do a good job of gathering information so that companies can gain knowledge on how to act and improve their overall customer satisfaction. There are many survey methods out there such as internal and external surveys. This can be deployed in a wide range such as a multiple choice or short answer structure. Many I have seen are surveys that utilize a ranking system from low to high for example. Companies have to be careful when deploying surveys as to be aware of who their target market is and what they are trying to achieve, but can be effective in the long run if done right. Another method used to measure customer satisfaction is by having focus groups. Focus groups are great way to view face-to-face interaction and...
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...capabilities. They also determine which Windows Server operating systems you can run on domain controllers in the domain or forest. However, functional levels do not affect which operating systems you can run on workstations and member servers that are joined to the domain or forest. What are the DNS requirements to install active directory? When you install Active Directory on a member server, the member server is promoted to a domain controller. Active Directory uses DNS as the location mechanism for domain controllers, enabling computers on the network to obtain IP addresses of domain controllers. During the installation of Active Directory, the service (SRV) and address (A) resource records are dynamically registered in DNS, which are necessary for the successful functionality of the domain controller locator (Locator) mechanism. What are trust relationships and how are they used? In the Windows NT domain model, domains had to be bound together through trust relationships simply because the SAM databases used in those domains could not be joined. What this meant was that where a domain trusted another Windows NT domain, the members of the domain could access network resources located in the other domain. Defining trust relationships between domains eliminates the need for an Administrator to configure user accounts in multiple domains. What are the FSMO role defaults, how many there are and how the roles are used and/or transferred? Certain domain and enterprise-wide operations...
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...U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Report 1819 FUTURE COMBAT SYSTEMS COMMAND AND CONTROL (FCS C2) HUMAN FUNCTIONS ASSESSMENT: INTERIM REPORT - EXPERIMENT 3 Carl W. Lickteig, William R. Sanders, and Paula J. Durlach U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences Thomas J. Carnahan Western Kentucky University Consortium Research Fellows Program February 2004 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences A Directorate of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command ZITA M. SIMUTIS Director Technical review by Kenneth Copeland, CECOM RDEC C2D Robert A. Rasch, Jr., CECOM RDEC C2D NOTICES DISTRIBUTION: Primary distribution of this Research Report has been made by ARI. Please address correspondence concerning distribution of reports to: U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, Attn: DAPE-ARI-PO, 5001 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304-4841. FINAL DISPOSITION: This Research Report may be destroyed when it is no longer needed. Please do not return it to the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. NOTE: The findings in this Research Report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position, unless so designated by other authorized documents. |REPORT...
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...Oleg Lisovskiy 3/03/12 HBR Business Case Assignment 1. This case starts out in a lab that is located in a building that is operated by Crescordia. Crescordia is a company that makes a range of products such as artificial hips and scalps but also is one of the few companies that sell fixation devices. At the beginning of the case Crescordia holds a seminar for orthopedic surgeons so they can better familiarize themselves with the products and procedures that are needed when dealing with using these fixation plates. During this seminar the CEO Peter Walsh enters excitedly to see what is going on. You can tell right from the start that he is a very big people person and is incredibly interested in finding out the needs and what surgeons are saying about the products that he puts out. After Peter Walsh enters the seminar is put on hold and they all go out to lunch. During lunch one of the surgeons launched into a story about having to remove a resorbable plate, which are fixation devices that instead of having to be removed by doctors after the bone is healed these would just disintegrate after the bone had been healed which would mean that you would not have to have surgery again to remove the plate. The story however takes a sad turn as you find out that most resorbable plates have a lot of problems that have not been figured out and is still a technology that is not capable of doing what it says. The surgeons asked Peter Walsh when Crescordia would plan to launch its own...
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...23, 2011 March 30, 2012 October 12, 2012 The use of the “REIBST2_vaa.xls” data file is restricted to the course MKGM31203 (Q1, 2012-2013) at ESSEC Business School. “Niche” brands can be defined as brands that benefit from an abnormally high repeat rate whereas “change-of-pace” brands can be defined as brands with an abnormally low repeat rate for a given penetration level. Key notions Here are some basic notions you need be familiar with prior to carrying out this exercise: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) What a “variable” is. What a mean (expected value) is and how to compute it; What the notion of independence between two events means and how to test for it; What a correlation between two variables is and how to measure it; What a market share is and how to interpret it; What a penetration is and how to interpret it; What the duplication between two brands is and how to interpret it. Analysis as a scientific process Analyzing data consists of a three-step procedure: (i) (ii) (iii) Defining expectations: What do you expect to find and why? If you have “no idea” about your expectations, you need to develop these ideas by discussing with colleagues, “experts”, reading textbooks and/or using other supporting material; Running the analysis; Comparing your expectations with the findings. Do they match? Did you obtain any surprising result? If so, what are their implications for the practitioner? In summary, in order to obtain results...
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