Saturday, August 31, 2019
Hip Replacement
BSN-3B1 Critical Thinking Exercise Nursing Management of the Client with Total Hip Replacement Situation: A 72-year-old male client is being discharged home from the hospital following hip replacement surgery. In addition to the prevention of other complications, the staff has made every effort to prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: the two most common causes of postoperative mortality in older clients. Prior to discharge, the nurse gives the client a list of instructions for positioning, sitting, and ambulating at home.The client is also instructed to use a walker or crutches until weight bearing is safe, and to employ adaptive devices for everyday activities. Finally, the client is advised to watch for any signs of hip prosthesis loosening or dislocation, and to call the surgeon immediately if such signs occur. 1. What are the signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism? Deep Vein Thrombosis * Swelling of the leg or along a vein in the leg * P ain or tenderness in the leg, which you may feel only when standing or walking * Increased warmth in the area of the leg that's swollen or painful * Red or discolored skin on the legPulmonary Embolism * Unexplained sudden onset of shortness of breath * Chest pain or discomfort that worsens when you take a deep breath or when you cough * Feeling lightheaded or dizzy, or fainting * Rapid pulse * Sweating * Coughing up blood * A sense of anxiety or nervousness 2. What types of adaptive equipment is available for clients who have undergone hip replacement surgery? Adaptive equipment to help in daily activities: * Reaching ââ¬â use a reacher in getting items from cabinets or off the floor. Do not bend over to pick up something from the floor. Dressing ââ¬â since you are not to bend past 90 degrees, use adaptive devices to be as independent as you can when dressing. -Wear slip-on shoes or use elastic shoelaces so you will not have to bend over to tie your shoes. -A long-handled sh oe horn will help you put shoes on or take stockings and socks off. -A dressing stick may be used to put on pants. * Use the hook to catch the waist of underwear or pants. * Place your operative leg first in the pants when dressing, and take it outlast when undressing. * Pull the slacks up over your knees. * Stand with the walker in front of you and pull your slacks up. Socks and Stockings ââ¬â a stocking aid will make it easier to put on socks or stockings. Elastic stockings may be ordered for you. * Slide the sock or stocking onto the stocking aid. Be sure the heel is at the back of the plastic and the toe is tight against the end. * Secure the sock in place with the notches on the plastic piece. Do not pull the top of the sock over the top of the plastic piece. * Holding onto the cords, drop the stocking aid out in front of the operated foot. * Slip your foot into the sock and pull it on. * Release the sock from the notches on the plastic piece using your dressing stick or re acher. To take the stocking or sock off, use the hook on the dressing stick or reacher to hook the back of the heel and push the sock off your foot. * Using the Bathroom * A raised toilet seat may be helpful to you at home. It will keep you from bending too far when sitting or standing. The higher seat also makes it easier to stand up from the toilet. * Clean yourself after toileting as you are used to, just be careful not to bend too far forward or twist too much at the hip. * Bathing ââ¬â unless you have a walk-in shower, you will have to learn a new method for getting in and out of the bathtub.Do not sit down into the tub for 6 to 12 weeks. * If possible, have someone help you the first time you bathe at home. * You may sponge bathe until you are comfortable or have help to shower. * If you have a walk-in shower, you may stand and shower as long as you feel steady and balanced. * If you have a tub shower and need to sit to bathe, you will need a shower bench. Make sure the sh ower bench is placed firmly in the tub. Have someone adjust the height of the shower bench so it is as tall as it can be to allow you to rest your feet comfortably on the floor of the tub when you are sitting. Have someone put non-skid strips or pads in your bathtub for safety. * Have a secure place to put your soap to avoid dropping it. Try soap on a rope or a deep soap dish. These items are sold at many department stores. * Use a long-handled sponge or bath brush to reach your lower legs and feet without bending more than 90 degrees at your hips. * A portable shower hose may be helpful. * Turn on cold water first to avoid burning yourself. * Getting In and Out of Bed * You will get in and out of bed on the same side as you had surgery. A hospital bed may be needed at home. Your physical therapist, nurse and case manager will talk withyou about this if needed. * Some people find it helpful to wear pajamas made of silky materials to help them slide more easily on the sheets. * You w ill need someone to carry youroperative leg as you use your arms and non-operative leg to scoot yourself in and out of bed. * Sitting ââ¬â use a hip cushion to help you sit safely and not break your hip precautions. The cushion adds height to help keep your knees lower than your operative hip when you are sitting.It also may make it easier for you to stand up. If you are not sure about the height of a chair, put your cushion on it to be safe. * Getting Into a Car ââ¬â it is important to know how to get into the car in a safe manner. It is better for you to ride in a mid-size or large car with regular bench seats rather than bucket seats. Use a thick pillow or cushion. On a long trip, be sure to make frequent rest stops, about every 30 minutes. Get out and shift your weight from one leg to the other or walk around. The best choice after a total hip replacement is to ride in the back seat . What are the signs of prosthetic hip dislocation and how can this problem be prevented? * Hip Pain * Uneven Leg Lengths * Numbness Acute phase complications -sciatic nerve damage -inability to perform closed reduction ââ¬â recurring dislocation Recovery phase complications -avascular necrosis -arthritis, chondrolysis -myositis ossificans Precautions: -Do not cross your legs at the knees. -Do not twist at the hip. -Do not bend your hip past 90 degrees. (This means you are not to bend over at your waist or lift your knee higher than your hip if you are sitting)
Friday, August 30, 2019
Heart of Darkness Analysis Essay
The heroic journey. This is a familiar feature of many stories. From Odysseus of ancient Greece to Harry Potter of popular culture, this archetype remains a predominant feature of a myth. From gypsies sitting around campfires telling tales of magic and wonder, to twenty-first century audiences crowding around their television screens, stories that we tell are to enlighten, advise and entertain. The structure of creating tales with archetypes composes an enthralling piece of work and a story line that keeps readers engaged and interested. These archetypal patterns are woven into Joseph Conradââ¬â¢s story Heart of Darkness. The novella encompasses the frames of the ancient myths and the heroââ¬â¢s myth along with the archetypes which reveal the heroââ¬â¢s inner world. Symbolically, the Heroââ¬â¢s journey represents the descent into the unconscious. In Heart of Darkness, the hero is represented in Marlow and his personal unconscious is represented by the jungle, or the forest; the forest is traditionally dark, like a labyrinth. The most developed stage of Marlowââ¬â¢s journey is to realize his Shadow. When he reaches the jungle, he recognizes it. In the story the shadow character is Kurtz. The other archetypes arenââ¬â¢t quite as well developed; nevertheless, their meaning is very important in the understanding of the story. A hero is character that remains almost exactly the same throughout the ages; as it has distinct qualities and characteristics that each adhere to. As Campbell states, the Hero must feel that ââ¬Å"something is missing in lifeâ⬠(Campbell) and it should evoke his desire to leave the familiar space and enter the unknown. For Marlow, a spur to go on a quest was his, ââ¬Å"the marinerââ¬â¢s, not being on a voyage for long enough and desire to visit the place he had wanted to go since childhoodâ⬠(Conrad Pg. 21). His desire to go to Congo was so strong that having failed by himself, Marlow asked his relatives to help him get appointed for a job there; as that notion drove him. Marlow was eager to go to the jungle because there was a river which ââ¬Å"resembling an immense snake uncoiled â⬠¦ had charmed [him]â⬠(Conrad Pg. 22), when he had looked upon a map. A strong impact of the idea on Marlowââ¬â¢s onscious reveals that it was caused by the hero which typically creates either outward or inward necessity for changes. Being a wonderer he could do without traveling. Therefore, the longing for voyages implies that the hero got tired of the surroundings of the land and needed an escape to the sea or a river. However, the need for a change in surroundings may be symbolically viewed as a need of a change in oneââ¬â¢s mind. Campbell claims that the hero has to cross the threshold of consciousness and adds that the entrance is not free and is protected. The guardians ââ¬Å"mark the point of no returnâ⬠(Campbell). In Heart of Darkness the symbolic threshold is the Continental Concern Marlow worked for. Here Marlowââ¬â¢s first entering the company should be considered. He entered the building of the Company through an ââ¬Å"immense double door ponderously ajarâ⬠(Campbell Pg. 45). The door shares its meaning with the threshold. It is a transitional point from one place to another, from lightness to darkness. What concerns Marlow was that he was invited to move from the conscious to the unconscious and discover the different realms. Nevertheless, the manner of his entrance was of great importance; he, the hero ââ¬Å"slipped through one of these cracksâ⬠(Campbell Pg. 47). The contradiction of the ââ¬Å"immense double door ponderously ajarâ⬠and ââ¬Å"the crackâ⬠suggests that the other realm is entered through a narrow passage; a secrecy which creates the feeling of danger. Campbell claims that when the hero reaches his unconscious, another realm, he is overwhelmed with doubtful thoughts and sometimes despair. This is all considered to be a part of the process during the journey of the hero and coming to a realization and understanding, as well as obtaining the ââ¬Å"elixirâ⬠Not only does Marlow feel uncomfortable, but the reader finds him doubtful, too. When he signed the contract, he ââ¬Å"began to feel slightly uneasy â⬠¦and there was something ominous in the atmosphereâ⬠(Campbell Pg. 49). Marlow tried to justify his eerie feeling and explained that in the following way: ââ¬Å"A queer feeling came to me that I was an impostor. Odd thing that I, who used to clear out for any part of the world at twenty-four hoursââ¬â¢ notice, with less thought that most men give to the crossing of a street, had a moment ââ¬â I wonââ¬â¢t say of hesitation, but of startled pause, before this commonplace affair. The best way to explain it to you is by saying that, for a second or two, I felt as though, instead of going to the center of a continent, I were about to set off for the center of the earth. â⬠(Conrad Pg. 93) The very fact that Marlow felt as if going to the center of the earth sharpens its geographical parallel with the human psyche. The movement in the geographical space represents the movement in the heroââ¬â¢s unconscious. One of the key elements in the Heroââ¬â¢s journey and self-acceptance is the realization of the shadow. However, the shadow may contain some positive features if a person under certain conditions represses his positive side and lives out the negative. The shadow embodies the qualities the person dislikes in others and therefore represents the opposite side of the hero. In Heart of Darkness, the man of dark mystery is Kurtz. He is the Shadow figure of the hero Marlow. The first parallel between the hero and his shadow is that these two characters are the only two in the story who are given names. All the other are addressed by their profession, with the exception of the Russian. If the shadow is the opposite of the hero, Kurtz and Marlow respectively, it means that they both have the positive and negative aspects of the character. On the assumption that the hero assumes his shadow as a remarkable person it may be stated that the shadow possesses some good qualities. Consequently, Kurtz as the shadow encompasses both the negative and the positive. Kurtz, archetypally the heroââ¬â¢s Shadow, ââ¬Å"presented himself as a voiceâ⬠(Conrad Pg. 92) and all the other characters ââ¬Å"were so little more than voicesâ⬠(Conrad Pg. 92). The fact that the characters were no more than voices reveals their intangible nature. It may be assumed that the unconscious communicated with the conscious self using voices and the strongest of them was the voice of the Shadow. Kurtzââ¬â¢ ability to talk was the main characteristics he was adored for by other people. Among all his talents Marlow distinguishes the gift to express himself: ââ¬Å"The point was in his being a gifted creature, and that of all his gifts the one that stood out preeminently, that carried with it a sense of real presence, was his ability to talk, his words ââ¬â the gift of expression, the bewildering, the illuminating, the most exalted and the most contemptible, the pulsating stream of light, or the deceitful flow from the heart of an impenetrable darkness. â⬠(Campbell Pg. 61) Although, Marlow is presented as a perfect story teller, it can be assumed that until he integrated his shadow he was an introvert. Marlow recalled that when he was going to the jungle he felt ââ¬Å"the idleness of a passenger, my isolation amongst all these men with whom I had no point of contactâ⬠(Conrad Pg. 67). Due to his reserved nature, the heroââ¬â¢s shadow appeared as an eloquent person implying the quality the conscious needed. The outward experience or the hero may help one to repress the shadowââ¬â¢s drives and impulses. The hero can be defined ââ¬Å"as an inner guiding factor that is different from the conscious personality and that can be grasped only through the investigation of oneââ¬â¢s own dreamsâ⬠(Conrad Pg. 8). However, the shadow may possess ââ¬Å"valuable, vital forces, they ought to be assimilated into actual experience and not repressedâ⬠(Conrad Pg. 83). In such a case the hero must live out what initially seems to be dark, but truly is not. In Heart of Darkness the archetype of the mentor is symbolically represented by the character of the Russian whom Marlow met at Kurtzââ¬â¢ station: ââ¬Å"There he was before me, in motley, as though he had absconded from a troupe of mimes, enthusiastic, fabulous. His very existence was improbable, inexplicable, and altogether bewildering. He was an insoluble problem. It was inconceivable how he had existed, how he has succeeded in getting so far, how he managed to remain ââ¬â why he did not instantly disappear. â⬠¦The glamour of youth enveloped his parti-colored rags, his destitution, his loneliness, the essential desolation of his futile wanderings. â⬠¦Glamour urged him on, glamour kept him unscathed. He surely wanted nothing from wilderness but space to breathe in and to push on through. His need was to exist, and to move onwards at the greatest possible risk, and with a maximum of privation. â⬠(Conrad Pg. 72) The mentor is an archetype pointing to the wholeness of psyche. It is a state when an individual does not have any secret wishes. The Russianââ¬â¢s need to exist ââ¬Å"with a maximum of hardshipâ⬠shows that the mentor is not obsessed by the wishes, opposed to the shadow who is greedy. The mentor urges the hero to move forward and often suggests the ways how the hero should act in order to overcome the obstacles. In the story, it was the Russian who had helped Marlow to face Kurtz. Another archetype of which is distinguished in the novella is that of a woman, the temptress and destroyer of man. In Conradââ¬â¢s story, the archetype of the temptress is a complex one, since it is represented by the two distinctive women characters and is not directly connected with the hero, but is rather viewed in relation to the shadow embodied in the figure of Kurtz. One is the native woman whom Kurtz met in the jungle and another is her opposition; his fiancee in Europe whom Kurtz called ââ¬Å"My Intendedâ⬠(Conrad). Nevertheless, the two women have an indirect impact on Marlow, since ââ¬Å"to him the meaning of an episode was not inside like a kernel but outsideâ⬠(Campbell Pg. . Thus, it may be assumed that, according to the archetypal pattern of the Heroââ¬â¢s journey, Marlow happens to recognize the possible variations of the two-fold temptress. After confronting Kurtz in the jungle and persuading him not to join the natives in their rites, Marlow brought him on the deck of the steamboat and saw the native woman who was Kurtzââ¬â¢ mistress: ââ¬Å"She walked with me asured steps, draped in striped and fringed cloths, treading the earth proudly, with a slight jingle and flash of barbarous ornaments. She carried her head high; her hair was done in the shape of a helmet; she had brass leggings to the knee, brass wire gauntlets to the elbow, a crimson spot on her tawny cheek, innumerable necklaces of glass beads on her neck; bizarre things, charms, gifts of witch-men, that hung about her, glittered and trembled at every step. She must have had the value of seven elephant tusks upon her. She was savage and superb, wild-eyed and magnificent; there was something ominous and stately in her deliberate progress. (Conrad Pg. 102) The description shows the native woman as fascinating and abominable. Marlow found her ââ¬Å"superbâ⬠and ââ¬Å"magnificentâ⬠, self-assured by her femininity as she walked ââ¬Å"proudlyâ⬠and ââ¬Å"with measured stepsâ⬠. But at the same time she was ââ¬Å"savageâ⬠, ââ¬Å"wild-eyedâ⬠and ââ¬Å"ominousâ⬠. Since the savage woman is related to Kurtz and represents the wilderness where he resided, it should be noted that Kurtz both desired and hated ââ¬Å"all this and somehow couldnââ¬â¢t get awayâ⬠(Conrad Pg. 99). Marlow described the state of Kurtz as ââ¬Å"the fascination of abomination ââ¬â you know, imagine the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hateâ⬠(Conrad Pg. . The black woman embodies the negative temptress. The temptress kept Kurtz by her ââ¬Å"charmsâ⬠, however, he strived to get back to his fiancee. He was tempted by the wilderness which was embodied by the native woman. She ââ¬Å"had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiationâ⬠(Conrad Pg. 102). Marlow wasnââ¬â¢t lured into temptation since he recognized the danger of temptation with its devastating effects through his contemplation on Kurtzââ¬â¢ life. Her appearance suggests an element of a female warrior ready to fight for the possession of Kurtz. When seeing her, the Russian said that ââ¬Å"if she had offered to come aboard I really think I would have tried to shoot herâ⬠(Conrad Pg. 89). Since the figure of the Russian represents the very determination of the mentor, and tries to not allow the temptress to approach the hero, it suggests that the temptress was eager to draw the Shadow, manifested in Kurtz, back to the jungle. Therefore, it may be assumed that she tried to prevent the integration of the shadow, but failed as Kurtz had stayed on the steamboat and left for Europe. The temptress, try as she may, was unable to keep Kurtz in the jungle with her. Another representation of the temptress is shown through the figure of Kurtzââ¬â¢ fiancee. Marlow describes her in the following way; ââ¬Å"She struck me as beautiful ââ¬â I mean she had a beautiful expression. â⬠¦She seemed ready to listen without mental reservation, without suspicion, without a thought for herself. She came forward, all in black, with a pale head, floating towards me in the dusk. â⬠¦I noticed she was not very young ââ¬â I mean not girlish. She had a mature capacity for fidelity, for belief, for suffering. â⬠¦This fair hair, this pale visage, this pure brow, seemed surrounded by an ashy halo from which the dark eyes looked out at me. Their glance was guileless, profound, confident, and trustful. She carried her sorrowful head as though she were proud of her sorrow. â⬠(Conrad Pg. 12) As the passage shows, for Kurtz, his fiancee represents an ideal woman in every way possible. She represents the capacity for personal love in manââ¬â¢s psyche. She claimed that ââ¬Å"it was impossible to know him [Kurtz] and not to admire himâ⬠(Conrad Pg. 116). Moreover, when Marlow kept hesitating to tell her the last words of Kurtz since they were very heavy ones; ââ¬Å"The Horror! The Horror! â⬠she cried ââ¬Å"donââ¬â¢t you understand I loved him ââ¬â I loved him ââ¬â I loved him! â⬠(ibid, 204). In her case, the fact that she repeated it three times suggests the spiritual nature of her love.
Shopping Behaviour: Bangladesh
2006 EABR & ETLC Siena, Italy Determinants Of Grocery Store Loyalty Of Consumers In Bangladesh Plato Ranjan Datta, London College of Management Studies, United Kingdom Bonya Rani Chakraborty, London College of Management Studies, United Kingdom Abstract Due to the belief that customer retention is a much cost-effective strategy than attracting new customers, the customer loyalty subject has become of increased interest to most businesses over the last few years. Loyal customers always bring more profit for the organisation as they are more likely to recommend their friends and family, ready to pay premium prices and have increased repurchase intention. This study sets out to examine the degree of consumerââ¬â¢s loyalty in Bangladesh among consumers who shop from various superstores. The main objective is to empirically investigate the strength of loyalty of Bangladeshi food consumers on the basis of their shopping behaviour and store-level service provision, and thus provide evidence which demonstrates a model of consumer loyalty based on these factors. In order to understand consumer loyalty in Bangladesh Oliverââ¬â¢s four stage of loyalty model were adopted. A total sample of 150 food shopping consumers from three leading stores in Bangladesh were selected randomly and interviewed in March by trained interviewers. The survey results indicate that Bangladeshi food consumers are conscious of the cost and benefit (Cognitive loyalty), are conscious with satisfaction (Affective loyalty), satisfied consumers are likely to recommend their primary super store to their family and friends (Co-native Loyalty) and also they have frequencies of visit (Action Loyalty). The findings of research can be used to offer a sound basis for retailers to improve their operations in all the areas, so increasing their profits and to provide the first such survey in this particular (and extremely important) field in the Bangladeshi context and thus offer a foundation and direction for future research. INTRODUCTION The retail industry is dynamic, huge and change is a constant phenomenon. Over the last few decades in both Europe and North America one as seen the emergence of supermarkets as the dominant retail form. This is due to the fact that consumersââ¬â¢ behaviour has changed and shifted towards convenience, high quality produce, provision for customer care, flexible payment methods and sophisticated channels of distribution. To cope with consumer demands retailers are constantly shaping their business strategies and striving to offer the right products and services. Determinants of store choice, customer loyalty and patronage behaviour have been widely studied across the globe. Therefore, a sheer volume of literature exists regarding food retailing. However, there is still vast scope for research in this field as the environment of retailing is in a constant phase of change and the emergence of new store formats in USA and Europe have led to dramatic changes in consumer behaviour. This is particularly true and has significant effect on middleclass consumers in Bangladesh with the newly introduced ââ¬Ëso-calledââ¬â¢ supermarkets which are providing a completely new experience for those consumers offering sophisticated customer service, a wide and assorted variety of goods, pleasant ambience, spacious layout, quality imported and branded products and provision for other western life style facilities. Although there is some research on retailing in other Asian counterparts, there has been very little research in Bangladesh. The retailing industry in Bangladesh is very fragmented and underdeveloped. The so called European 1 2006 EABR & ETLC Siena, Italy style new superstore format has emerged in this sector only in the last few years so this sector of retailing is in an early phase. Therefore, it is of paramount importance for retailers in Bangladesh to know the attributes that appeal to their customers in order to satisfy them. Thus, this study sets out to examine the degree of consumerââ¬â¢s loyalty in Bangladesh among consumers. RETAILING IN BANGLADESH Bangladesh is predominantly a traditional, poor society, where about 90% of the population is Muslim; other groups represented are Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, and other minorities. Per-capita income is about US$ 380 (Gain Report, 2004). The population has grown from 42 million in 1941 to133 million in 2002 (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 2003) making it the 9th most populous country in the world (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Dec. 2002). Retailing industry in Bangladesh is fragmented and undeveloped. Even compared to its South Asian counterparts, Bangladesh is behind in terms of development, structure and organisation. However, the last several years has witnessed dramatic changes, especially in food retailing industry. This is due to the effects of globalisation, economic and trade liberalisation, changing patterns of consumersââ¬â¢ shopping behaviour, substantial increase of middle class consumers and the governmentââ¬â¢s liberal attitude towards foreign imported food products and growth of organised superstores. Bangladeshi food retail sector is dominated by traditional shops, and this traditional food distribution system is through so called `wet markets` which sell fruits, vegetables, meat and fish together with small food stores which sell dry foods. The traditional retailing has been established for some centuries. But its expansion is keeping pace with rapid growth of economy, intense competition, population growth and changing consumption patterns. All these changes led to dramatic changes in the structure of the food retailing sector. Thus modern superstores, supermarkets, convenient stores, one stop stores and multi-store complexes developed to service the growing middle class with their demand for more sophisticated food stores and greater varieties of products, many of which were imported, especially in major cities. Thus organised retail sectors are facing competition from traditional unorganised huge retail outlets. This is due to their distinctive characteristics which are not quality related but rather price related. Most of the traditional shops are unorganised, do not have proper employee structure (normally ââ¬Å"mom and popââ¬Å" shops run by family members), have negligible real estate, no external or underpaid labour costs and no or little taxes to pay. Consumerââ¬â¢s familiarities run from generation to generation and thus they have a strong relationship with most of the customers who are normally local. Therefore customers may have the opportunity to buy any products on credit and pay every month or every week. Thus prices are always less, although quality is not guaranteed and no or few imported products are available. This is again due to the socio-economic group of the middle and lower class which is more sensitive to price rather than quality. On the other hand the organised retail sector is incurring higher costs due to various cost pressures. A substantial proportion of their products are imported and good quality, they employ high calibre employees with consequently high labour costs, have bigger premises and so offer more comfort and value for the customer. However, this growth and expansion was not structurally organised due to lack of attention from government and public. The retail industry in Bangladesh was never before perceived positively as a sector until recently. Therefore there is no or very limited market data available on this sector, but various secondary sources indicate that the turnover of the food retail sector in Bangladesh could be US $ 12-14 billion and the number of retail grocery shops could be around 1 million (Gain Report, 2004). According to the same report, Retail is one of the biggest sources of employment (12%) and it contributed 13% to Bangladeshââ¬â¢s GDP in 2001 / 2002. The organised retail sector (i. e. arge supermarkets) is new in Bangladesh and started to appear less than 5 years ago. Within this short time period it has attracted investors, developed positive perceptions among the public and created government attention. Now it is growing dramatically. The share in terms of volume and value in the organised retail sector of Bangladesh is 49. 60% and 18. 5% in 2003 (post market survey, 2003). To date there are 2 2006 EABR & ETLC Siena, Italy about 30 stores of this kind operating in the country, the majority of which are located in Dhaka and this sector makes up 1% of the total retail sector in Bangladesh. Ownership of all major superstores is private and limited, owned by local retailers except one which is a joint venture and another in Australian ownership. However, the concept of international retailing is at a very early stage in Bangladesh. According to Alexander (1997) ââ¬Å"international retailing is commonly assumed to concern retail operations, owned by a single company in more than one countryââ¬Å". There is no evidence of the physical presence of international large retailers in Bangladesh except one or two of medium size. Traditional shops like small roadside shops accounted for 75% of the retail sector and these shops are visible throughout the country (Gain Report, 2004). They are very small and no foreign or imported products are available except in some shops located in urban or suburban areas where consumers can buy relatively high quality products from neighbouring countries (i. e. India and Burma). These products are imported through mainly unauthorised channels. As these types of small shops are mainly family owned and run, they do not incur huge costs and also are not high quality. Shop sizes are normally 30-100 sq. feet. They open for long hours and consumers can bargain with the sellers in order to lower the price. Other types are typified as Municipal Corporation Mini-Market and mainly found in semi-urban or urban areas and these are under Municipal Corporation ownership. Shops are generally arranged by product or service categories such as fish market, meat market, vegetable market, groceries etc. This category represents 20% of the retail market (Gain Report, 2004). Most of the shops sell imported and quality products although their appeal is limited to only the middle-class or high class consumer market due to the cost factor. Products are acquired by wholesalers and importers. The third category of shops is convenience or departmental stores. These stores are relatively large and offer good quality domestic and imported products. Normally visible in urban areas they represent 5% of the retail sector (Gain report, 2004). Due to their quality and brand name these stores are always expensive and a large proportion of the population cannot afford their products. They are therefore strictly limited to upper-middle or upper class Bangladeshis and foreigners residing in major cities, especially Dhaka. Their products are acquired from importers and distributors with adequate storage facilities and sometimes topped-up by local suppliers. Finally, over the last few years another sophisticated retail format has appeared in the retail sector in Bangladesh; these are organised, developed and more structured which are supermarkets or the organised retail sector which at the moment represent less than 1% (Gain report, 2004). This sector is very young and is in its early stage of development, mainly visible in major cities (i. e. Dhaka, Chittogong). These are large retailers and sell very high quality products, mainly imported goods. Less than 5% of total food consumption comes from this outlet. There are at the moment around 30 superstores and most of them have only 1 outlet except AGORA and PQS with 2 outlets. GROCERY STORE LOYALTY: A LITERATURE REVIEW In todayââ¬â¢s competitive environment to compete with competitors and sustain in business all organisations are investing resources to create loyal customers by offering superior products, superior services to increase customers repurchase intentions, their commitment towards the organisations and satisfy customers needs and wants. A satisfied customer has positive post-purchase behaviour which leads to him/her positive attitude and commitment towards the organisation. A committed customer is always remaining with the company for longer term. An unsatisfied, non-committed customer defect from the company. This is more paramount case in retailing scenario where organisations are making paper thin profit. As Huddleston et al (2003) pointed out that ââ¬Å"to survive in todayââ¬â¢s competitive markets food retailers must create and maintain a loyal customer base. Omar (1999) has emphasised that store loyalty is the single most important factor in retail marketing success and store longevity. A review of literature by Jacoby & Chestnut (1978) indicates that much of the initial research emphasizes the behavioural aspect of loyalty, after a period when the majority of researchers measured loyalty as a pattern of repeat purchasing (Oliver, 1997). However, Cunningham (1956) in early stage of behavioural aspect of loyalty stated that store loyalty concept derived from brand loyalty with respect to tangible 3 006 EABR & ETLC Siena, Italy goods. Current loyalty literature indicates that there are two dimension of store loyalty: Attitudinal and behavioural dimension. Behavioural dimension is measured by proportion of purchase of a specific brand, while attitudinal loyalty dimension is measured by psychological commitment to the target object (Caruana, 2002). There are various advantages for retailers to have loyal customers. As stated by Huddleston et al (2003) customers loyalty can yield favourable operating cost advantage for retailers. Further they have stressed that obtaining new customer costs five to six times as much as retaining current customers. Loyal customer can increase their purchase spending, low costs for retailers for obtaining new customers, price premiums and customer longevity. Dick and Basu (1994) proposed that brand plays a special role in generating repeat purchase. Food Business News defined customer loyalty more concisely as `creating the strongest possible relationship between the retailer and customer, so that people feel they will miss something if they go to another store. However, Sivadas and Baker-Prwewitt defined loyalty as ââ¬Å"to get customers to recommend a store to othersââ¬Å". Odekerken-Schroder et el (2001) defined store loyalty as ââ¬Å" the conscious buying behaviour of a consumer expressed over time with respect to one store out of a set of stores and which is driven by commitment to this store. Huddleston et el (2003) have conducted a study in mid-western US city with six focus group in order to define store loyalty by respondents and also they have investigated respondents likes and dislikes of a preferred food store. Respondentââ¬â¢s likes and dislikes relate to identify factors associated with repeat and loyal purchase behaviour. The conceptual framework of this study was based on Dick and Basu (1994) which conceptualises loyalty as the relationship between relative attitude towards a brand and patronage behaviour. The study identified preferred convenience attributes such as store location, familiarity with store layout, one-stop shopping and being able to get in and out in a hurry. Product related attributes are: product variety, good store brand, fresh produce and meats, making bulk item available and carrying general merchandise. The study also identified environmental attributes such as cleanliness, aisle width, layout and friendly clientele. Noise from announcements and music, small or narrow aisles, too hot or too cold temperatures, bad odours from bottle returns, big size of store, too busy and crowded and layout changes been selected by respondents as negative attributes. Huddleston et al (2003) pointed out that store commitment as a necessary condition for a store loyalty. Without commitment customers are spuriously loyal. Another study conducted by Koo (2003) among Korea Discount retail patrons to examine the interrelationships among store Images, Satisfaction and Store loyalty. How store images can influence consumers satisfaction and how consumers satisfaction can influence store loyalty. The conceptual model developed by Koo (2003) indicates that various discount retail characteristics have positive influences on attitude towards a discount retail store which leads to store satisfaction and this leads to store loyalty. Also it stresses that Discount retail store (DRS) attributes have a positive impact on store satisfaction. Thus create store loyalty. He developed six hypothesis based on his conceptual model. The research identified four store images such as Store atmosphere, employee service, merchandising and after sales service have significant impact on attitude, while location, convenient facilities and value have no impact on attitude. The research findings support Bloemer & Ruyter (1998), but it is contradictory to You et al (1998) who in their study showed that only location has a significant effect on attitude. Findings also partially support that store images (i. e. tore atmosphere and value) have a positive impact on store satisfaction, while location, convenient, after sales service and merchandising have not significant impact on store satisfaction. This support Bloemer & Ruyeter (1998), Kumar & Karande (2000), Thang & Tan (2003). Study further have identified Location, after sales service and merchandising have significant impact on store loyalty which contradict Bloemer & Ruyeter (1998) wh o identified that there is no direct relationship between store image and store loyalty, but an indirect impact on store loyalty through satisfaction. Koo 92003) concluded that the overall attitude towards discount retail has the greatest impact on store loyalty, followed by location, after sales service and merchandising. In Korean discount retail store environment his study indicates that store image and location are important factors in attracting patrons to the store. Furthermore, it indicates that satisfaction has an insignificant positive effect on store loyalty. 4 2006 EABR & ETLC Siena, Italy Jacoby and Chestnut (1978) defined store loyalty as ââ¬Å"the biased (I. e. non random) behavioural response (I. . revisit) expressed overtime, by some decision making unit with respect to one store out of a set of store, which is a function of psychological (decision making and evaluation) processes resulting in brand commitment. However critical part of store loyalty is seen by Bloemer et al (1998) is store commitment which is a necessary condition for store loyalty to occur. They further stresses that a loyal customer is committed and that commitment arises from sharing explicit and extensive decision making as well as evaluative processes. Limited and non explicit decision making and evaluation process can leads to consumers not become committed to the store. Therefore they are not loyal. Based on store commitment they have defined a degree of store loyalty as true store loyalty and spurious store loyalty. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION TO CUSTOMER LOYALTY Customer satisfaction can be defined in many ways, one of which is ââ¬Å" a personââ¬â¢s feeling of pleasure or disappointment from comparing a productââ¬â¢s perceived performance (or outcome) in relation to his or her expectations (Kotler, 2000). Bloemer et al (1998) also support this definition which states that satisfaction is occur through a matching pf expectation and perceived performance. Bloemer et al (1998) have identified two different types of satisfaction: manifest and latent satisfaction. Manifest satisfaction is the result of an evaluation which is well elaborated on where as latent satisfaction is the result of an implicit evaluation which is not elaborated on (Bloemer et al, 1998). Customer satisfaction positively influences customer retention, and increasing repeat sales (Anderson, Claes & Lehman, 1958). Moreover, `satisfaction level is a function of the difference between perceived performance and expectations` (Kotler, 1994). If the performance falls short of expectations the customer is dissatisfied. If the performance is exceeds expectations, the customer is highly satisfied. `High satisfaction may create an emotional affinity with the brand, not just a rational preference and this creates high brand loyalty (Kotler, 1994). Even if the customer is not highly satisfied, still from behavioural aspect of brand loyalty, the customer can be brand loyal. This can occur if no other alternative is available or may be alternatives are of a higher price which the consumers can not afford or if the customerââ¬â¢s purchase power is limited. Bloemer et al (1998) were conducted an empirical study in major Swiss city in the German-speaking part of Switzerland to establish relationship between Image, satisfaction and loyalty by developing three hypothesis. Hypothesis 1 examine whether positive relationship between manifest satisfaction and store loyalty is stronger than the positive relationship between latent satisfaction and store loyalty. Hypothesis 2: store image has a direct positive effect on store loyalty and hypothesis 3 examines the indirect positive effect of store image on store loyalty through store satisfaction. Their findings indicated that the relationship between store satisfaction and store loyalty depend on the type of satisfaction and tested all three hypotheses positively. However, the study conducted by Huddleston et al (2003) indicates that satisfaction does not imply commitment to a store either; many respondents stated that they could be persuaded to shop elsewhere. However, Heskett (2002) suggests that customer satisfaction is the lowest level from the five levelhierarchies of customer behaviours. Others customer behaviours are: mere loyalty (repeat purchase), commitment (willingness to refer others to a product or service), apostle-like behaviour (willingness to convince others to use a product or service) and ownership. Nevertheless, Sivdas and Baker-Prewitt (2000) pointed out that satisfaction influences relative attitude, repurchase and recommendation but has no direct effect on store loyalty. According to Sivdas and Baker-Prewitt (2000), service quality directly affects both relative attitude and satisfaction and that satisfaction affects relative attitude. Both relative attitude and satisfaction influence the likelihood of recommending but only satisfaction plays a part in influencing repurchase. Study further indicates that there is no direct relationship between relative attitude and repurchase and both relative attitude and satisfaction have no direct impact on royalty. Thus, it appears that relative attitude and satisfaction which is influenced by service quality can influence customer recommendation which leads to both customers repurchase and loyalty. Sivadas and baker-Prewitt (2000) study support Oliverââ¬â¢s model of loyalty in a store loyalty context. 5 2006 EABR & ETLC STORE IMAGE AND CUSTOMER LOYALTY Siena, Italy Existing literature indicates that store images have critical impact on store loyalty (Bloemer & Ruyter, 1998). Theoretical foundations of store images are found in theories of brand images (Koo, 2003). Store image or store attributes have significant influence on satisfaction. Store image is defined as the complex of a consumerââ¬â¢s perceptions of a store on different (salient) attributes (Bloemer and Ruyter, 1998), or a given consumerââ¬â¢s or target marketââ¬â¢s perception of all of the attributes associated with a retail outlet to create and maintain a level of storeservice provision or quality for the store loyalty (Keaveny and Hunt, 1992; Lascu and Giese, 1995). The competition and increasing customer expectations have created a climate where ââ¬Å"quality is concerned to be a major strategic variable for improving customer satisfaction (Smith, 1990). Lucas, Bush and Gresham (1994) said that decision to visit a particular store can be influenced by many factors, understanding such factors and building them into store operations can increase the profitability of gaining customer loyalty. They had identified the nine basic motives for the store selection includes: general store characteristics, physical characteristics of the store, convenience, merchandise, prices, store personnel, in-store effects, customer service and advertising. They had also identified the five motives for patronising ervices which include: quality of service provided, appointments, reasonable fees, waiting areas, attitude of service provider. Early studies of store images are closely related to the multiattribute model. Lindquist (1974) defines store images as a ââ¬Å"structure of some sort that is tying together the dimensions that are at workââ¬Å" and conceptualises store images as nine key attribute categories: merchandise, service, clientele, physical facilities, transaction satisfaction, promotion, store ambience, institutional factors and post transaction satisfaction. By combining retail marketing mix elements Ghosh (1990) identified eight elements of store image. These are location, merchandise, store atmosphere, customer service, price, advertising, personal selling and sales incentives programs. Customers may have different perception for different stores and different store may apply different attributes to attract different types of customers in different times and in different locations. Store images may differ between smaller and larger stores. A study conducted by Mitchell and Kiral (1998) found that there are differences between primary store loyal customers perception of their store and secondary store loyal customer perception of that store. This view is support to Hansen and Deutscher (1978) proposition that store attributes vary by store types. Mitchell and Kiral (1998) in their study they have asked 30 shoppers to identify which store attributes they use in Manchester at two grocery stores (e. g. Tesco and Kwick-save). They have identified three factors associated with customer perception and these are: Quality, Time and convenience, value. Tesco customer perceived quality, convenience and value factors in that order of importance while kwick-save customer perceived quality, value and convenience when considering Tesco. Theoretical base for modelling the grocery store loyalty After behavioural perspective on loyalty majority researchers measured loyalty as a pattern of repeat purchasing. The most relevant of the models for measurement the grocery store loyalty is Oliverââ¬â¢s four-stage loyalty model (Oliver, 1997). Oliverââ¬â¢s four-stag loyalty model produced in 1997 in a simplified form and suggests that customer loyalty progresses in four phases, with each phase representing a greater degree of loyalty. Four stages are: cognitive loyalty, affective loyalty, conative loyalty and action loyalty. Figure: The Oliverââ¬â¢s four stages of loyalty model COGNITIVE Cost and benefits AFFECTIVE CONATIVE ACTION *Frequency of shopping Relative attitude *Recommendation *satisfaction *Repurchase intentions Cognitive Loyalty: At this stage consumers are more concerned about quality and prices of the products and services and this is why they patronise the store rather than other stores. However, at this stage loyalty may not be that strong because consumers can defect from that store and move to another store if they perceive it as a better 6 2006 EABR & ETLC Siena, Ita ly option. So, service quality evaluation can be taken as a good indicator of their cognitive loyalty. To understand Bangladeshi consumersââ¬â¢ cognitive loyalty three questions were selected to measure this category of loyalty. Affective Loyalty: At this stage consumersââ¬â¢ loyalty is based on relative attitude towards the store and satisfaction gained. The relative attitude is the result of their previous loyalty based on cognitive loyalty. Therefore relative attitude and satisfaction were used as independent variables to measures consumersââ¬â¢ affective loyalty towards the store. There are 26 question in nine categories selected to measure affective loyalty. Categories are: convenience of store location, convenience of service provisions, congestion, cleanliness and store atmosphere, variety of ranges, shopping difficulties, travel difficulties, unfamiliarity and degree of customer service from sales personnel. Co-native Loyalty: Having a relative attitude towards the store and being satisfied with the store a consumer will hold a commitment to buy there, so repurchase intentions will be increased and consumers are willing to recommend to others. Two questions were selected to measure a consumerââ¬â¢s co-native loyalty towards the store. Action loyalty: This is the final stage of a consumerââ¬â¢s loyalty. With this loyalty a consumer will be retained with the store thus leading to frequency of shopping there. Therefore, one simple question was asked to consumer to measure this loyalty. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The research was based on selecting three (3) leading grocery retailers from Bangladesh. Stores were selected based on market share and length of operation. In order to understand consumer loyalty in Bangladesh Oliverââ¬â¢s four stage of loyalty model (Cognitive loyalty: consumers consciousness with cost and benefits; Affective loyalty: Consumer conscious with satisfaction; Co-native loyalty: consumers recommendation to other people and repurchase behaviour and Action loyalty: consumersââ¬â¢ frequencies of store visits) were adopted. Data were colleted using a random sample of consumers. The data and information were collected from selected grocery stores in Bangladesh. Consumers who have significant knowledge of the topic were identified and selected at random for questioning. Interviews were conducted face to face on exit from three selected superstores to capture the attitude and experience of consumers who had just purchased grocery items. The choice of face to face interview was in order to get high response rate and reduce the response bias. A low response rate is a common problem with self-completion questionnaires and can be subject to response bias, especially in that people with reading and writing difficulties are less likely to respond (Robson, 2002). Furthermore, the refusal rate for face to face interviews is very lower than the non-response rate for postal questionnaires. A sample of 50 consumers in each store (3*50) making a total of 150 food shopping consumers from the three (3) selected stores in Bangladesh were selected. However, 10 subjects were not included due to incomplete answers. It is logical that the larger the size of the sample, the greater is the precision or reliability when research is replicated (Saunders et al, 1997). But constraints on time, manpower and costs influenced decisions on sample size in this study. The sample size was found to be representative for the store population. A study conducted by Bloemer and Ruyter (1998) in a major Swiss city in the German-speaking part of Switzerland used only 153. The current market leaders in grocery retailing in Bangladesh include-Agora, Nandan, and Value Plus were selected as samples for investigation. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Data were collected in early March 2005 by trained interviewers throughout the week. In order to reduce possible shopping patterns biases all interviewers used stratifying interviews across the time of the day (morning, early afternoon, and late afternoon) (Odekerken-Schroder et al, 2001) and weekend (Thursday and Friday). As a Muslim populated country Friday is the official holiday and Thursday normally half-day off. But special consideration were placed on weekend and evening when most of the people are going for shopping and this time always busy. All interviews were last for maximum of 12 minutes. 7 2006 EABR & ETLC Siena, Italy After collecting data from the field data were coded and analysed by using SPSS version 11 software programmes. Quantitative analysis was used to understand the degree of store loyalty. RESULTS The main findings were: Cognitive Loyalty Cognitive loyalty factors are associated with cost and benefits and three statements were asked to consumers concerning cost and benefits. The mean average of consumers was 3. 94 and SD was 0. 929. These refer to the grocery consumers in Bangladesh conscious with cost and benefit when they were shopping (on a scale rating from one to five). In this category, the first question was ââ¬ËIf a store provides a better price, I am going to buy from the storeââ¬â¢, the mean averages and SD of the consumers replies was 3. 77 and 0. 876. The second question was `If any store provides better quality, I am going to buy from that store`. The mean average and SD was 3. 92 and . 953. The third question to understand the degree of consciousness towards cost and benefits was `I am always concerned about price and quality`, the mean and SD for this was: 4. 13 and 0. 958. Table: Cognitive loyalty Cognitive loyalty factors If a store provides a better price, I am going to buy If any store provides better quality, I am going to buy I am always concerned about price and quality Total Mean 3. 77 3. 92 4. 13 3. 94 Std. Deviation . 876 . 953 . 958 0. 929 Affective loyalty The mean average was 3. 98 and SD was 0. 892 . These results indicate that consumers in Bangladesh conscious with satisfaction when they did shopping. In this category total 25 statements were asked to consumers with nine specific factors. These factors were: convenience of store location, convenience of service provisions, congestion, cleanness and store atmosphere, variety of ranges, shopping difficulty, travel difficulty, unfamiliarity and customer service by sales personnel. These factors were chosen to understand consumerââ¬â¢s relative attitudes the store and satisfaction 8 2006 EABR & ETLC Table: Affective loyalty Affective loyalty factors Parking facilities Convenient location Inside the store temperature Good place for shopping with children Credit card payment Opening and closing times Visually appealing interior Good customer service Duration of checking out time Convenient to move around Atmosphere of the store is good Cleanliness of the store Pleasantness of the place Variety of items Variety of branded items Quality & variety of imported products Overcrowded in the store Long waiting time at the checkout Transportation is inconvenient Much time & effort for parking a car I am familiar with store layout Familiar with the store since I used to shop here Has presentable sales personnel Has sales personnel who show a sincere interest Has sales personnel who are willing to help Total Mean 3. 89 4. 06 4. 21 3. 86 3. 66 3. 86 4. 02 4. 46 3. 46 3. 89 4. 46 4. 60 4. 59 4. 51 4. 49 4. 37 3. 12 3. 8 3. 21 3. 29 3. 32 3. 49 4. 37 4. 37 4. 37 3. 98 Std. Deviation . 874 1. 09 8 . 747 . 878 . 845 . 878 . 809 . 723 . 932 . 972 . 661 . 644 . 710 . 735 . 791 . 924 1. 042 . 916 . 956 . 834 . 984 1. 083 . 733 . 743 . 752 0. 892 Siena, Italy Co-native loyalty Two questions were selected to measure consumersââ¬â¢ co-native loyalty towards the store. At this stage consumers must have a positive attitude and commitment towards the store and thus create repurchase intention. Based on customerââ¬â¢s satisfaction they tend to recommend their friends and relatives. Findings indicate that satisfied consumers are likely to recommend their friends and repurchase. The first question was `how likely would you be to recommend`, where the mean average and SD were: 4. 35 and 0. 709. The second question was `how likely would you be to purchase at this store`, giving a mean average and SD of: 4. 17 and . 831 respectively. Table: Co-native loyalty Co native Loyalty factors How likely would you be to recommend How likely would you be to purchase at this store Total Mean 4. 35 4. 17 4. 26 Std. Deviation . 709 . 831 . 776 Action loyalty This is the final criteria of Oliverââ¬â¢s loyalty model which indicates that having fulfilled all previous stages at this stage consumers tend to retain their connection with the store so leading to continued frequencies of shopping. Only one simple question was asked to measure consumers retention and that was `how often do you purchase at this store`. The mean average and SD were 3. 47 and 1. 305 9 2006 EABR & ETLC Table: Action loyalty Action Loyalty factor How often do you purchase at this store Total Mean 3. 47 Std. Deviation 1. 305 Siena, Italy DISCUSSIONS The survey results indicate that Bangladeshi food consumers are conscious of the cost and benefit (Cognitive loyalty), are conscious with satisfaction (Affective loyalty), satisfied consumers are likely to recommend their primary super store to their family and friends (Co-native Loyalty) and also they have frequencies of visit (Action Loyalty). Table: Level of food consumer loyalty in Bangladesh Stages of loyalty Cognitive Affective Co-native Action Store loyalty Conscious with cost and benefits Conscious with satisfaction Likely to recommend to their family and friends Have frequencies of visit Consumers respond differently in every country (Child, Heywood and Kliger, 2002), as international retailing has become an important feature of global distribution systems. This has been brought about through changing socio economic patterns, favourable political and cultural environments and a shift from manufacturing to service based economies (Quinn and Alexander, 2002). Although in Bangladesh the retailing environment is totally different from its counterparts the results indicate that Oliverââ¬â¢s four stages of consumer store loyalty model is still applicable. Consumersââ¬â¢ loyalty can be measured through cognitive, affective, co-native and action behavioural patterns. From the findings it is clear that consumers are very conscious with cost and benefits (cognitive loyalty). This is the basis to create a favourable attitude towards the store and through the process of providing store and service attributes consumers will be satisfied, thus indicating that consumers are conscious with satisfaction (affective loyalty). A satisfied consumer will tend to recommend to their friends and family the product and service they tend to buy from (Co-native loyalty) and at the same time their repurchase intention tends to increase (Action loyalty). CONCLUSIONS Store loyalty is a very important phenomenon for retailers to understand the underlying principles and antecedents in order to retain and acquire more customers. Loyal customers spend more money and at the same time recommend the store to their family and friends, thus bringing more customers and profit for the retailers. It is of paramount important for managers to identify the specific characteristics which can influence consumers to shop from their store. As characteristics of retailing environments are changing, along with consumerââ¬â¢s behaviour, patterns of choice and mode of shopping, retailers must respond quickly to those changes in order to sustain and achieve competitive advantage. The study looked at the degree of store loyalty by applying Oliverââ¬â¢s four stages of store loyalty model. The implications for management and retailers are that they must look closely at the kind of price and quality they are offering, as customers are more conscious with cost and benefits. Although this cognitive stage of consumersââ¬â¢ loyalty will not create a strong association with their commitment or favourable attitude, it does have positive impact on their next stage of loyalty behaviour which is the affective stage. To create a favourable attitude amongst consumersââ¬â¢ towards the store retailers must use specific service or product attributes. The research indicates that convenient location, good customer service, atmosphere of the store, 10 2006 EABR & ETLC Siena, Italy cleanliness, quality and variety of imported products and good sales personnel are the major attributes to satisfy customers. Thus, to create consumers relative attitude and satisfaction which leads to co-native loyalty of consumers, where consumers tend to recommend to their family and friend and increase repurchase intention. If these three previous stages can be implemented appropriately, consumerââ¬â¢s frequency of shopping will increase. Organised retailing in Bangladesh is in the introductory phase of development. Competition is virtually non-existent. However, growing health awareness is making consumers more quality conscious and imported food items are considered good quality, also a growing number of middle class consumers, due to their high income capacity can afford to purchase good quality imported products. Therefore, our results thus provide strategic justification for major retailers for continued investment in store image and targeting specific consumer groups with the right demographic variables. REFERENCES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 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Thursday, August 29, 2019
Film papers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Film papers - Essay Example Eventually the girls find them amid troubles and hysteric breakout of the fact of their witchcraft trial which culminate into gruesome climax and put the girls into tremendous trouble culminating into the death sentence of John and other convicts who show the guts to tear the confession and embrace death reciting the Lordââ¬â¢s Prayer which they end before they could say the word ââ¬Å"Amenâ⬠. The film is an exact representation of the myriad myths and punitive measures that were undertaken for the practice of witchcraft. The film ââ¬ËThe Crucibleââ¬â¢ viewed from the historical perspective would definitely take its audience back to the play by Arthur Miller on which it is based and to the basic historical events with which the book deals. The main purpose of the film is to project and evolve awareness amid people far beyond the constraint of time frame, the actual reason behind the myths and superstitions are only for the fulfilment of some different desire altogether . The scene in the film which depicts the climax is very much relevant with history and bears much resemblance with the book.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Hostage Negotiations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Hostage Negotiations - Research Paper Example The actual negotiation period may take hours or even days to bring the situation to a positive conclusion. Discussion of the hostage-takers, negotiators and techniques used are given in the following information. First of all there may be many circumstances involved in why a hostage situation takes place. Some examples include 1. A situation of a desperate mother or father who locks themselves in with their own child. 2. It could be a bank robber disturbed and having financial problems. 3. Or it may be a terrorist situation that has taken hostages in return for demands being met. In any hostage situation, however, there are differing circumstances. There may be more than one hostage, or there may be more than one hostage-taker, or the situation could be planned or just a last minute desperate attempt to have their demands met. In any of these situations it is the negotiator who must control the situation using his skills to bring the situation to a prompt conclusion and a positive ou tcome. The hostage-taker has little choice in the outcome once the situation escalates. He can either ââ¬Å"kill hostages or release them, kill himself or be killed by a shoot out, negotiate a way out (which is seldom done), or give themselves up.â⬠Most major incidents that law enforcement deal with involving hostages are less than 20 percent and most are resolved with no loss of life. It has been proven in critical situations that negotiation strategies produce a 95 percent success rate in concluding a hostage situation without fatalities of neither hostages nor hostage-takers. The hostage-takerââ¬â¢s role in the situation is to have his demands met by using people as a bargaining chip. So when the police arrive the first thing they do is to find out as much as possible about the hostage-taker and why he has taken a hostage or hostages. The hostage-taker may be emotionally or mentally disturbed. The specific reason for the hostage taking may be illogical to the negotiator but it may make perfect sense to the hostage-taker. In cases such as these the hostage is usually related to the hostage-taker and normally its some type of domestic dispute. In most cases, this is the type of situation that police officers face in hostage situations. In other situations innocent bystanders are used as ââ¬Å"human shieldsâ⬠to protect the hostage-taker from the police. This type of situation is normally unplanned and just a panic reaction of a caught criminal situation. The most extreme hostage situations are terrorist situations, which are always planned. From the very beginning it is the plan of the hostage-takers to use the lives of the hostages to achieve their specific goals. The participants in these types of situations are usually radical political groups, terrorists, or other extreme activists. Another form of hostage crisis is kidnapping, but in this type of situation the hostage taker uses other means to communicate their demands. Therefore, a negot iator is not necessarily needed. Lt.. Schmidt of the Cheektowaga Police Department in Cheektowaga, NY says, regardless of the situation, basic technique is the same. ââ¬Å"You work to build a rapport and encourage them to bring about a peaceful conclusion. The same techniques are
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
A Comparison of Watching a Movie at Home and Watching a Movie at a Essay
A Comparison of Watching a Movie at Home and Watching a Movie at a Theater - Essay Example A Comparison of Watching a Movie at Home and Watching a Movie at a Theater The Drive-in Theater has provided new dimensions in the movie-world. Don Sanders and Susan Sanders (2003) in their book, ââ¬Å"The American Drive-In Movie Theatre,â⬠elucidate, ââ¬Å"The Drive-in theater idea virtually transforms an ordinary motor car into a private theater boxâ⬠¦The younger children are not permitted in the movie theatres â⬠¦. Here the whole family is welcome regardless of how noisy the children are apt to be and parents are further more are assured of childrenââ¬â¢s safety because youngsters remain in the carâ⬠(12). Watching a movie at home or at the theatre are thrilling experiences. It is an antidote to oneââ¬â¢s weariness. It renews and provides new dimensions to friendship. The snacks that you share at home or at the theatre have a special meaning and taste, and one will remember such experiences forever. Comfort: Home An individual can make optimum use of the family time by watching the movie at home. One has the choice to watch. The family-members enjoy their private time, share the ideas, and comment on the acting, apparel, and the overall talents of the characters. The family relationship is improved. The family is in a secured environment, free from tensions. If one does not follow the theme of the story, one can consult other family members and get their versions. One can get rid of the tedious songs and sequences with the facility to rewind and fast forward. One can view the movie in causals, and need not follow and dress code. Comfort: Theater In the theatre, the atmosphere is dazzling and an individual or family member are surrounded by people and can engage in interesting conversations. If one attends the night show, the excitement is all the more. Experience in the movie theatres is always memorable and sometimes, one happens to meet the important personalities that have come to watch the movie. One disadvantage is that one does not enjoy privacy and does not have the freedom to scream, shout and expre ss emotions in loud overtones. The aggressive laughter may be considered as an indecent gesture. The posture of sitting has got to be disciplined and one cannot lie down on a cozy sofa. One cannot stretch the legs beyond the permissible limit and one is not expected to distract others by loud remarks. There are persons sitting in front and behind. No facilities for rewind and fast forward, in the group-viewing system. If one wishes to see a particular part of the movie that interests much, one has to patiently bear it. If one does not like the movie, one may walk out, with no entitlement for refund of the amount paid for buying the tickets. Also, be ready to shell out some good amount fort the food, soft drinks etc. If one gets the wrong seat, meaning a tall person is sitting in front, sitting in a slanting posture may be problematic. Price: Home The price and time factors are of utmost importance. No journey time is involved; no gas expenses are incurred, no waiting for the traffic jams, and one need not buy tickets for the show. Watching movie with low volume and through small screen is advantageous. Now, with the availability of the bigger screens one can have big or small screens. With the one-time investment on a big screen, one can watch the movie as if in a theater. Price: Theater The decision to view the movie at the theater means spending more, sometimes lavishly. Movie going is followed by the family dinner and such exercises for a
Monday, August 26, 2019
The most common factors causing therapeutic compliance Research Paper
The most common factors causing therapeutic compliance - Research Paper Example The study problem is a discussion of therapeutic compliance among patients. This means that the research has to do with pharmaceutical issues. Coincidentally, all four researchers have professions relating to pharmacology. With a research problem that relates to the professional background of the researchers therefore, it was highly expected that the researchers would display personal pre-understandings of the research problem. Reading through the research article however, it can be seen that almost all ideas, findings and philosophical analysis presented in the research work were taken from secondary sources without any prelude to researchersââ¬â¢ existing knowledge or experience. The researchers worked around three major pharmaceutical terms, which were treatment refusal, patient compliance, and patient dropouts. All these are terms that relates to everyday patient-pharmacists interactions. It was expected therefore that the researchers would give broader overview of their perso nal understandings and previous experiences as practicing professional in this regard but this did not happen. Generally, the quality of the literature review will be said to be outstanding. The general approach adapted by the researchers was to conduct research searches to come out with expected results on factors leading to the achievement of the research purpose. In this regard, it was expected that the researchers would conduct a thoroughly researched literature review. On the whole, ââ¬Å"a total of 102 articles was retrieved and used in the review from the 2095 articles identified by the literature review processâ⬠(Jin, Sklar, Oh and Li, 2008). A critical assessment of the 102 articles that were eventually selected and used by the researchers show that most of the articles were not more than a decade old. Some of these include Benner et al 2002, Apter et al 2003, Opolka et al 2003, Spikmans et al 2003, Butterworth et al 2004, Kaplan et al 2004, Dominick et al 2005, Horn e and Weinman 1999, Ghods and Nasrollahzadeh 2003 and Senior et al 2004. With such current literature works, the researchers were sure to have an updated portfolio of information to work with. In pharmaceutical circles, research on drugs and patient behavior keep changing by the day. For this reason, when
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Marketing audit or environmental scanning Essay
Marketing audit or environmental scanning - Essay Example During the contemporary period, it can be noted that organisations operate in an environment that is characterised by both internal as well as external factors over which the company in some cases has very little control.From a marketing perspective, this is referred to as marketing audit or environmental scanning (Lancaster & Reynolds 1999). Both the external as well as internal environments have a bearing on the way an organisation operates. Against this background, this report seeks to critically analyse and explore some of the external as well as the internal factors that affect the operations of LVMH Moet Hennessy particularly in the fashion and leather goods sector using PESTEL analysis, SWOT analysis, Porterââ¬â¢s Five Forces model as well as the TOWS matrix model. It starts by outlining a brief historical background of the organisation in question for the sake of easier understanding then followed by an analysis of the above mentioned tools for scanning the environment in which the organisation operates and this analysis will be limited to the geographical location of UK. In essence, scanning the environment enables the marketing managers of an organisation to be better positioned to know the situation obtaining on the ground for them to be able to gain a competitive advantage. Background According to its official website, world leader in luxury, LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton possesses a unique portfolio of over 60 prestigious and the group is active in five different sectors: wines and spirits, fashion and leather goods, perfumes and cosmetics, watches and jewellery, selective retailing (http://www.lvmh.com/groupe/pg_mot.asp?rub=2&srub=0). The report will specifically focus on fashion and leather goods sector by Louis Vuitton, a trunk-maker in Paris since 1854 which became a legend in the art of travel by creating luggage, bags and accessories as innovative as they were elegant and practical. Specific focus in this report will be limited to the activities of the organisation in UK especially on how the micro and macro environments are impacting on the organisation using the tools for analysis mentioned above. PESTEL analysis for Louis Vuitton PESTEL stands for factors which may affect the operations of business such as political, economic, social, technological, environmental as well as legal factors (Lancaster & Reynolds 1999). These are explained in detail below and appendix 1 shows a summary of the major points noted. This is a very useful tool in analysing the environment in which an organisation operates. It can be noted that there are various factors that affect the operations of any given organisation and these have to be taken into consideration by an organisation that is serious about its viability so as to achieve competitive advantage (Kottler 1999). Any given organisation is guided by certain factors that so as to ensure that it does not violate the needs and interests of the consumers as well as the other sta keholders. Political In UK, there are policies that govern the operations of all organisations that are involved in manufacturing of different products so as to meet the expected standards. Consumer law in UK is effective and under the EU law, every big organisation like Louis Vuitton is expected to protect the needs and interests of the customers. It can be noted that the current political environment prevailing in the EU is not exploitative which is seen as the reason why exclusive manufactures like Louis Vuitton continue enjoying growth and expansion since inception to the present day. Economic factors The organisation has not been spared by the impacts of the recent global economic recession though it managed to bounce back in the first half of 2010. By virtue of specialising in producing only exclusive products with premium prices, the operations of the organisation are likely to be affected during turbulent times given that premium prices charged are specifically meant for a f ew people who can shift their buying behaviour which negatively impacts on
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Egyptian Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5750 words
Egyptian Religion - Essay Example The people would revere the king as a person having a divine person. The king is also described as a human being. Also, the king is also depicted in movies and storybooks as a dictator king. The people bow down and obey his commands without hesitation. The following paragraphs explain the three interconnecting functions of the king or pharaoh. The kingââ¬â¢s role in Egyptian religion is three -pronged. First, the king has a divine function. Second, the king is has a human form. Lastly, the king has an influential political role to implement on his subjects. First, the king has a divine function. The king is considered a god. The Egyptians were believed to have conceived the world as a social process that from dawn to dusk. The Egyptian king helps maintain the balance of the universe after its original maintainer was treacherously killed. The king is also helped by the Egyptian priests in the maintenance of a universe that moves in complete harmony. This theory of the delicate balance that the Egyptian universe hangs shows that the king plays a very precarious role indeed. The Kingââ¬â¢s power then extends beyond the horizon in Egypt because the sky also extends to the far reaches of the king of Egypt. The king is also called by such names as gods of the provinces, gods of the towns of the earth and other names (Quirke 70). As a god, the king grants prizes and rewards to his subjects that follow his every command.The book Ancient Egyptian Kings states that the kings were revered as gods through the construction of monuments like the landmark Pyramid. Egyptian society looked at the king as an elite member of society. Many quarters in Egypt even consider their king as more important than their gods in heaven. The country could not run without the king god ruling over them. In fact, the king is considered as the unifying apex of any dualities that form the Egyptian society. The king services as the mediator between the people and the Egyptians gods up in the sky. The king god of Egypt is replaced by heredity. This means that the next King -god must be the son of the current king. In addition, the god Horus was worshipped in Egypt by many people. The goddesses namely Wadjet and Buto, Saisin were linked to the Egyptian king (Baines, 100). The king gods were often helped by their temple priests.The king built temp les in the form of pyramids. And the province of Fayoum is one of the largest oases in Egypt. This is located Southwest of the Egyptian capital city of Cairo. The temple in antique for. "the kings of the 12th Dynasty (1991-1786 BC) chose to build their capital city here, and to be buried in pyramids built nearby, on the edge of the desert. Subsequently, priests and other personnel were employed in the pyramid temples, where the king's mortuary cult was performed after his death and burial. Around this nucleus, the community soon developed and lawyers, doctors, scribes, craftsmen, tradesmen and all the other elements of a thriving society came together.1" The above quote shows that a major portion of an ordinary Egyptian's life is spent constructing the pyramids. The pyramids have always caught the amazed and awe of its spectators. For, the ordinary people of today do not know how such a huge mammoth building was built with the primitive instruments that the Egyptians used during those time period. The pyramid is the resting place of the pharaoh or king when he dies. It has a locking mechanism so that no one can enter the tomb after the king is buried. For, this pyramid lock is used to prevent the looting of the treasures hidden inside the dead king's pyramid chamber. For."throughout the ages,
Friday, August 23, 2019
Has international law governing the use of force dramatically changed Essay
Has international law governing the use of force dramatically changed since 2001 - Essay Example The charter terms use of force as a threat to the peace, a breach of the peace, or an act of aggression3. On the other hand, Article 2, paragraph 4 of the UN charter, prohibits use of force. It states that; all members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations4. This is just an emphasis of the mission of UN Charter as contained in Article1 (1) ââ¬ËMaintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace.5ââ¬â¢ the articles apply to all members and non-member state. Notwithstanding these provisions in the UN charter, there are two exceptions that allow use of force; Article 42 permits the council (and to member states) to ta ke appropriate measures to restore peace and international security. It states that the council has power to take any action where non-forcible measures have proven to be inadequate. However, the authorization to use force must be given by the Security Council alone and not members to decide to apply force6. The second exception is the general rule of using force for self-defense as stated in Article 51 of the UN Charter; ââ¬ËNothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security7. However, Article 51 is not the only authority that permits use of force; the Customary International law has historically allowed the use of force for self-defense. The Customary International Law not only enforces Article 51 but also allows pre-emptive measures8. According to Wallenstein, ââ¬Å"the customary right of self-defense is also accorded to States as a preventive measure, taken in ââ¬Ëanticipationââ¬â¢ of an armed attackâ⬠9. The requirements giving rise to this customary right were enunciated in the widely cited Caroline incident, where in 1837, some British soldiers attacked an American boat; Caroline, set it on fire and the only justification the British gave was ââ¬Å"for self-defense.â⬠Accepting this explanation, the then American Secretary of State Daniel Webster set out the basic elements of the right, stating that there should be a ââ¬Å"necessity of self-defense, instant, overwhelming, leaving no choice of means and no moment for deliberation10â⬠The UN Security Council Res 1368 recognizes that the right for self-defense can be used to respond to terrorist attacks. On the Armed Activities Case; ICJ recognizes that there could be armed attacks by non-state actors in the absence of an effective government authority. However, wh ere the act of aggression is committed by a non-state actor, the act of self-defense can only be justified if that act of aggression is attributed to that State. The attacks are justified as long as the state acts as soon as the attacks have occurred or the enemies have set security threatening messages11. The charter states clearly states that a nation can use self-defense when the enemy has attacked them, simply implying that there must be evidence of armed attack. Thus,
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Is skill in implementing coordinated information technology really a Essay
Is skill in implementing coordinated information technology really a competitive advantage for a firm Why or why not - Essay Example nt of the effective human resource and sphosticated technology establshment is simlimy intended for taking a better competetive edge or is also aimed at improving the business, operations managemnt, business managnet and corporate processes handling. This paper will analyze and assess the answer of this question. This paper will also outline differetnt aspects of information technology implementation regarding the corporate business opertions enhancment or simply taking a better competetive edge. Data are collection of unprocessed facts demonstrating events occurring in firms or the physical environment prior to they have been structured and organized into a structure that people can identify and make use of these facts. Data can include text, numbers, images and videos. On the other hand, information refers to data that have been processed or transformed into a form that is valuable and functional to human beings (Shelly, Cashman, & Vermaat, 2005, p. 6; Norton, 2001, p. 4; Laudon & Laudon, 1999, p. 7). Oz Effy (2008) states that decision making and problem solving both require information. Decision making is vital part of everyoneââ¬â¢ life, as people perform theirs tasks, play games, communicate or do anything they need information. In a corporation gathering the accurate information efficiently, storing properly so that it could be utilized and manipulated when needed, also making use of it to assist the firm or individuals to accomplish personal or business objectives . Therefore, the main intention of information technology implementation is to facilitate and support the above mentioned areas. We can utilize and apply these understanding and information for getting the success in all the areas. In a corporation an information system (IS) encompasses hardware, data, telecommunications, activities, software, and workers. Oz Effy (2008) mentioned that, an increasing number of ISs are modules of a huge enterprise system, like ERP or SCM system (Oz, 2008; Laudon &
Appropriate Climate Responsive Technologies for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development Essay Example for Free
Appropriate Climate Responsive Technologies for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development Essay Life is strange; we donââ¬â¢t know what would be the next moment of it? What will it bring to us? What will it take from us? If it will raise us to the top of our happiest moment or it will throw us in the dark of death? We only knew to respond its moves. Its human nature to keep hope for the best. We never ever think about the end of life, instead we always think about the most remarkable, comfortable easy-going journey of life. And to do this, we have been working since our very first scientific finding of Fireâ⬠¦ Change is being the law of nature, and we made it a habit to respond the change. We responded, but we forgot to respect it. Now, climate change is the most serious challenge human society has ever faced and everybody including business houses have already realized the gravity of the issue. Greed for the energy and power of the human society is leading to the emission of carbon right from the ancient time. And now we are suffering with climate change. Climate change is a global environmental problem which has been receiving intense political attention both at domestic and international levels. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) defines ââ¬Ëclimate changeââ¬â¢ as a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. The major characteristics of climate change include rise in average global temperature, ice cap melting, changes in precipitation, and increase in ocean temperature leading to sea level rise. Precisely at a time when India is confronted with development imperatives, we have been severely impacted by climate change. Like other developed countries, several sections of Indian populance are not being able to buffer themselves from impacts of global warming. With close economic ties to natural resources and climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water forestry, India is facing a major threat and requires serious adaptive capacity to combat climate change. As a developing country, India can little afford the rise economic backlashes that industrialized nations can. With 27. 5% of the population still below the poverty line, reducing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change is essential. Although not an emitter historically , India currently has one of the fastest growing economies in the world with a government target 8% GDP to achieve development priorities, a share of one sixth of the global population, and changing consumption patterns, Indiaââ¬â¢s emissions are set to increase dramatically. The International Energy Agency predicts that India will become the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases by as early as 2015. Besides this, developing countries are still emitting carbon greenhouse gases at higher rates, contributing to the climate changes. Use of the fossile fuels, coal at large extent is the basic reason for the carbon emission. Power sector is 28. 9% of greenhouse gas emission, while domestic sector where coal LPG, wood kerosene are being used as fuel is contributing 6. 4% followed by industrial sector 12. % and construction sector 9. 7 %( required for production of steel, cement brick, etc. ) Technology simply means the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, has a very vital role in the strategies to mitigate climate change. In 1987, the United Nations released the Brundtland Report, which included what is now one of the most widely recognized definitions: Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The World commission on Environment Development has defined ââ¬ËSustainable Developmentââ¬â¢ as balancing the fulfillment of the human needs with protection of the natural environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. In simple words, we want a development which lasts for the infinite time without any harm to the nature as well as society. The word sustainable has been used in too many situations today, and ecological sustainability is one of those terms that confuse a lot of people. You hear about sustainable development, sustainable growth, sustainable economies, sustainable societies, and sustainable agriculture. Everything is sustainable. The term ââ¬ËInclusive growthââ¬â¢ includes the overall development of population with correct wealth distribution, development of poor underprivileged , and deprived part of society by way of providing education for all, better agriculture production, and industrial development. Inclusive growth by its very definition implies an equitable allocation of resources with benefits incurred to every section of the society. But the allocation of resources must be focused on the intended short and long term benefits of the society such as availability of consumer goods, people access, employment, standard of living etc. It sets a direct relationship between macro and micro determinant of the economy and its growth. The micro dimension includes the structural transformation of the society and macro dimension includes the countryââ¬â¢s gross national product (GNP) and gross domestic product (GDP). To maintain rapid and sustainable growth is some time very difficult this is because resources vapourises during the allocation and may give rise to negative externality such as rise in corruption which is major problem in the developing nation. But however it has created an environment of equality in opportunity in all dimension of livelihood. Such as employment creation, market, consumption, production, and has created a platform for people who are poor to access good standard of living. If we focus on the inequality between poor and rich household in a country we can reach to an optimal solution so that we can minimize the difference.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Nonfunctional Requirements with Data Mining
Nonfunctional Requirements with Data Mining INTRODUCTION à à à à à The use of software has invaded our daily lives as it enable us to accomplish many tasks especially those which are associated in doing various business processes and in dealing with different business systems. It enables the use of knowledge on both computing and computers to be able to help solve various problems which confront everyday situations. The often most encountered problems encountered in the field of software engineering deals with computers and computing although its underlying causes are not actually on such dimensions, and oftentimes go beyond such. To be able to distinguish a good software engineering program, the following criteria must be accordingly observed: there is quality in what we can recognize but we cannot define; there is fitness of purpose; there is an existence of conformance relative to specifications; it is tied to inherent product characteristics; and it can also be assumed to be dependent on the amount at which the customer is wi lling to pay (Pfleeger Atlee, 2006). à à à à à With the complexities and the complications confronting the businesses nowadays, the requirements for system engineering has been seen to offer a solution. The requirements are the ones which form the basis for planning the development of a system and accepting it on a completion. They can form a basis for project planning, risk management, acceptance testing, trade-off, and change control (Hull et al, 2005). Requirements are meant to specify the specific sets of features which are essential to the software or program. They can either be functional or non-functional. Functional requirements can be defined as the specification of a function that the system must support while non-functional requirements refer to the constraints associated on the operation of the system that is not directly related to a function of the system (Bruegge Duttoit, 2010). à à à à à In simpler terms, non-functional requirements take into consideration not what the software will do but how the software will do it. It is geared towards a much wider scope as it deals more with the requirements for process rather than just the tools which are necessary for functionality. The researcher agrees to the fact that non-functional requirements are indeed important because they are able to address various issues which are important in the achievement of quality. They are very vital for the success of the system and if they are not properly addressed, the result can be damaged and they can be inconsistent and poor quality, users and customers would end up being dissatisfied, and it can also affect time and cost which are associated with running the system. LITERATURE REVIEW à à à à à One of the most recognized importance of non-functional requirements in software engineering is its capacity to define system properties and constraints. Non-functional requirements can be classified as product requirements, organizational requirements, and external requirements. Product requirements refer to specifications which deal with how a particular product which is delivered should behave in a particular way such as those related to execution speed and reliability. Furthermore, organizational requirements refer to the consequences of the policies and procedures of the organization such as the variety of process standards which are sued as the requirements undergo implementation. Lastly, external requirements are those which arise because of the various factors which are external to the development process and system. The main reason on why non-functional requirements arise because of the needs from the users, budget constraints, and existing policies of th e organizations, there is a need for interoperability with other hardware or software systems, and because of the presence of external factors such as standards for safety (Puntambekar, n.d.). à à à à à According to Chung et al (n.d.), software engineering illustrates both pragmatic and systematic alternatives in which we are provided with the ability to to establish software systems of the highest standards and quality with regards to its usage and functionality. It calls for the need of software engineered systems to be modifiable, accurate, and secured which are some of the indications of a high performing software system. However, they are very subjective making them a hard subject for the purpose of evaluation. The system typically interacts with each other making their functions affect the general system and therefore it also affects the entire system. à à à à à Non-functional requirements are also being characterized for being hard to deal with as compared with functional requirements primarily because their impact is not generally localized to only a specific part of the system. Instead, it involves the entire system. The various changes with functional requirements in software will also inevitably affect the non-functional requirements. An effective software architecture evaluation is often the tool which is used to be able to deal with the numerous impacts of non-functional requirements (Aurum Wohlin, 2005). à à à à à Data mining can be considered as one of the important aspect of software system and of software engineering. Data mining involves solving data problems which already exist in the software particularly referring to the process of discovering patterns in the data. The process should be either automatic or semi-automatic and it should be present in substantial quantities to be able to reap the maximum benefits out of these existing data (Witten Frank, 2005). It can be aptly defined as ââ¬Å"extracting or mining knowledge from large amounts of dataâ⬠(Han Kamber,2006). It can be actually treated as the process of mining knowledge from existing data and not the other way around. The process of data mining could include the following procedures: data cleaning, data integration, data selection, data transformation, data mining, pattern evaluation, and knowledge presentation. à à à à à Data mining activities are some of the practices executed by organizations, especially among software engineers, to be able to improve software quality and productivity. Data mining in the field of software engineering ahs recently emerged because it ahs been recognized among industries that such is needed in order to increase the abundance of data and they are also helpful in solving different types of real-world problems. Data mining algorithms are by being increasingly used in different software engineering tasks to be able to improve the productivity of the system or the software. These algorithms can be able to help engineers to what code locations must be changed when another code location is changed. Data mining in the field of software engineering can be done in the series of the following procedures: collection or investigation of software engineering data; determining software engineering tasks; pre-processing of data; adapting or developing algorithm wh ich will be executed for mining; and post processing or application of mining results (Xie 1t al, 2009). à à à à à The non-functional requirements in data mining could come from the operating environment, the users, and the competitive products. In the operating environment, data can be affected by the system which is used in supporting the process. It poses problem on how the software will work towards establishing dynamic data architecture. Furthermore, users are also behind the non-functional requirements for data mining in software engineering primarily because they control a big fraction of the entire program and they are the ones who completely understand the attributes of the system. Lastly, the existence of competitive alternatives affects the non-functional requirements because of their features which generally affect the quality of the system (Malan Bredemeyer, n.d.) RESEARCH QUESTIONS: à à à à à In order to properly carry out the purpose of the research, that is to provide an insight on the various non-functional requirements which exist with regards to data mining, the study will attempt to answer various research questions which will form foundation of the research and which will form the backbone of the study. The research questions which the researcher will attempt to shed light to will include: What is the nature of non-functional requirements in software engineering and how they are different with functional requirements with regards to the extent of use and practice in the general industry? What are the examples of non-functional requirements in data mining? How are these non-functional requirements in data mining addressed by the software engineers of today? Are they addressed effectively? What does the future of requirements analysis in the field of software engineering hold for the non-functional requirements in software engineering? RESEARCH METHODOLOGY à à à à à To be able to successfully carry out the purpose of this research, the researcher will employ an exploratory research design wherein the primary objective of the study will be the provision of insights into and comprehension of the topic at hand. The research will be qualitative in nature, which will take into account significant data and previous researches which are related to the topic rather than dealing with quantitative techniques of research. à à à à à In carrying out a qualitative research, the researcher will make use of widely available secondary data and literature from credible sources such as books, scholastic articles, academic journals, credible websites, and other reputable sources which will provide the researcher with additional information regarding the non-functional requirements of data mining in the field of software engineering. Because of the very nature of the topic, first hand information will be quite hard to obtain that is why second hand information will be preferred for this study. Widely available references will provide significant researches which have been previously done and will be geared towards shedding light to the topic. It must be however understood that although the topic is limited to data mining in software engineering, where the researcher finds its niche against other works, resources and references regarding software engineering in general will also be sued in order to pro vide a general perspective of the topic at hand. RESEARCH PLANNING à à à à à To successfully finish the paper and generate significant findings, there will be a pre-determined time-frame which will include all the activities which will be related to the completion of this research. In the first weeks of conducting the study, the researcher will focus into redefining or reshaping the fundamentals of the research given that some modifications can be eyed. However, since the topic seems to be good enough as an area of study in the field of software engineering, the succeeding weeks of the research will be focused towards extensive research which shall form the big part of the entire paper. Since the researcher decided to make use of secondary sources widely available, much of the time will be spent browsing through books and other reputable sources to gain more idea regarding the topic. Once the information needed has already been enough and sustainable to support the researchers claim and to give answers to the research questions earlier ide ntified, writing the general research based on a previously outlined structure will commence which will be followed with subsequent proof reading and revisions which will ensure that the work is fully furnished before finally submitting the work and the final presentation of the research. REFERENCES: Aurum, Aybuke, Wohlin, Claes, (2005). Engineering and Managing Software Requirements. Sweden: Springer Bruegge, Bernd., Duttoit, Allen (2010). Object-oriented Software Engineering. 3rd ed. USA: Pearson Education Inc. Chung, L., Nixon, B., Yu, E., Mylopoulos, J. (n.d.). Non-functional Requirements in Software Engineering. Han, Jiawei., Kamber, Michelin (2006). Data Mining Concepts and Techniques. Elsevier: USA Hull, Elizabeth., Jackson, Ken., Dick, Jeremy, (2005). Requirements Engineering. 2nd ed. United Kingdom: Springer Malan, Ruth, Bredemeyer, Dana, (n.d.). Defining Non-functional Requirements. Bredemeyer Consulting Pfleeger, Shari Lawrence., Atlee, Joanne (2006). Software Engineering: Theory and Practuce. 3rd ed. USA: Pearson Prentice Hall Puntambekar, A. A. (n.d.). Software Engineering. Technical Publications Pune Witten, Ian., Frank, Eibe (2005). Data Mining: Practical Machine Learning Tools and Techniques. USA: Elsevier Xie, Tao., Thummalapenta, Suresh., Lo, David., Liu, Chao (2009). Data Mining for Software Engineering
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