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Analyzing Quantitative Data Assignment

ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH DATA ;Analyzing Quantitative Data

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ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH DATA
Analyzing Quantitative Data
Previously you discussed how data is collected. Now you will consider how the information gathered with data collected is analyzed.
How does the researcher go about organizing and looking at the data in order to understand what it means? In quantitative research this is accomplished through the use of statistics.
The methods for data analysis depend on the purpose and data collection methods. Most all studies will have descriptive statistics. These statistics describe the sample that was studied. They include data like the percent of men and women, the mean age of the sample, and any other demographic data collected.
The two other most common methods of data analysis are the paired t-test, which measures the differences in means between two groups, or the same group with a pretest and posttest; and the Pearson’s r which measures the relationships between two variables. Pearson’s r can also be used to identify relationships between demographic data and other variables.

Activities
REQUIRED ACTIVITIES
From your textbooks, read:
Introduction to Nursing Research Incorporating Evidence-Based Practice
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
Please look up and read the following articles before completing the critique of this paper

• Coughlan, M., Cronin, P., & Ryan, F. (2007). Step-by-step guide to critiquing research. Part 1: quantitative research. British Journal Of Nursin, (BJN), 16(11), 658–663.

• Giuliano, K., & Polanowicz, M. (2008). Interpretation and use of statistics in nursing research. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 19(2),211–222

• Ingham-Broomfield, R. (2008). A nurses’ guide to the critical reading of research. Australian Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 26(1), 102-109.

Please review the following websites.
Please visit the following sites to understand statistics and nursing research:
• Basic Statistical Concepts for Nurses. Retrieved from
http://www.nursingplanet.com/-Nursing_Research/basic_statistical-_concepts_nurses2.html

• Statistics for Nurses. Retrieved from
http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~mb55/msc/nurse/nurse.htm

You are to answer in the template provided,

SAMPLE ANSWER

Analyzing Quantitative Data

Full and Complete Reference for the Article:

KuKanich, K. S., Kaur, R., Freeman, L., & Powell, D. A. (2013). Evaluation of a Hand Hygiene Campaign in Outpatient Health Care Clinics. AJNonline; 113(3).

Problem:

What is the problem the study was conducted to research?

Many research studies conducted earlier have tested the interventions for improving hand hygiene within teaching hospitals and clinics and the interventions were found to be successful. Nonetheless, moderately few research studies have actually tested such interventions within outpatient hospitals and clinics.

Why is the problem an important one for nursing to research?

The problem is an important for nursing to research primarily because it will help to improve adherence to hand hygiene practices of health care workers in outpatient settings.

Study Purpose

What is the purpose of the study?

The purpose of the research study is essentially to improve hand hygiene in 2 outpatient healthcare clinics by introducing an informational posters as well as a gel sanitizer (Kukanich et al., 2013).

Research Question

What is the main research question?

The researchers formulated 5 main/primary questions that were to be addressed in the study. These include the following:

Could an intervention campaign carried out in 2 outpatient healthcare clinics result in improved hand hygiene?
Are there any dissimilarities in the observed frequency of hand hygiene at baseline compared with that at 1 week and 1 month after introducing the intervention?
Are there any dissimilarities in the observed frequency of hand hygiene basing on the gender, profession, and timing (post-patient and pre-patient contact) of the worker?
Which tools of hand hygiene do healthcare staffs in these settings – outpatient settings – prefer?
Would the observed healthcare staffs later on report that both or either intervention tools were actually motivating and indeed influenced habits of hand hygiene?

Hypothesis/hypotheses

What is the study hypothesis? If it is not stated, what would you say the hypothesis is?

Interventional campaigns in the 2 outpatient health care clinics will lead to improved hand hygiene. The use of a multifaceted implementation approach that consists of a gel sanitizer and giving informational posters helps in achieving significant improvement in adherence to HH practices and practices within outpatient clinics.

Study Variables

INDEPENDENT

Define the meaning of the term “independent variable.”

Independent variables (IV) are those variables which are manipulated or varied by the researcher during the investigation. In essence, the IV is the presumed cause, it is the antecedent. In experiments, the IV is the one which is manipulated and controlled by the person doing the experiment. In non-experiment research in which there is no experimental manipulation, the IV is basically the variable that logically has some effect on the Dependent Variable (Hoe & Hoare, 2012).

Identify the independent variables in this study and provide a definition of the variable.

It is notable that 2 outpatient health care clinics were used in this research study. The 1^st clinic was an outpatient oncology clinic, and the 2^nd clinic was an outpatient gastrointestinal (GI) clinic. The IV in this study basically comprised the introduction of an informational poster and a gel sanitizer as an intervention.

How is the independent variable carried out in this study?

Gel sanitizer was included in this study in order to provide HCWs with an alternative to foam sanitizer and water and soap. The researcher’s created an informational poster in order to increase HCW’s awareness of HH, offer information regarding when HH has to be done, and encourage HCWs to take personal responsibility for decreasing the spread of infections which are associated with health care (Kukanich et al., 2013).

DEPENDENT

Define the meaning of the term “dependent variable.”

A Dependent Variable (DV) is understood as the response which is measured in an experiment. The DV is the presumed effect, it is the consequent. The Dependent Variable is not manipulated by the investigator, rather, it is the Dependent Variable which is measured or observed for variation as a presumed, supposed outcome of the variation in the Independent Variable (Venkatesh, Brown & Bala, 2013). The Dependent Variable is essentially the status of the outcome or the effect in which the investigator is interested. In essence, the DV is the variable that the researcher observes and is likely to change in response to the IV.

Identify the dependent variables in this study and provide a definition of the variable.

In this study, the DV is the adherence of health care workers – doctors, nurses, and other workers in the hospital setting – to hand hygiene practices and guidelines.

How is the dependent variable measured in this study?

The DV variable was measured by directly observing HCWs to measure HH opportunities as well as attempts at baseline, after the intervention, and in the course of the follow-up period. Direct observation by trained observers is essential in providing more precise, exact information as regards the preferences of a health care worker for hand hygiene tools. The investigators measured the number of HH attempts against the number of HH opportunities. The opportunities were monitored by direct observers who recorded the attempts. HH opportunities were defined as the opportunities which occurred instantaneously prior to, and after a HCW directly contacts a patient. HH attempts are efforts to do HH in each opportunity (Kukanich et al., 2013).

Conceptual Model/Theoretical FRAMEWORK –

Is the framework explicitly expressed or must the reviewer extract the framework from implicit statements in the literature review? JUSTIFY your response!

In this research study, the conceptual model/theoretical framework is not explicitly expressed. The reviewer has to extract the framework from implicit statements in the literature review. This is because it is not overtly or clearly stated by the authors anywhere in the article and to know it; the reviewer must read through the statements contained in the literature review.

Is the framework based on scientific, substantive, or tentative theory?

The theoretical framework in the article is based on tentative theory; the researchers built tentative theory basing on certain propositions.

Does the framework identify, define, and describe relationships among the concepts of interest? Provide examples and rationale for your response.

Yes, the framework identifies, defines and describes relationships amongst the concepts of interest. For instance, the researchers have pointed out that an earlier hospital-wide study included the promotion of alcohol-based sanitizers, which led to increased usage of these hand sanitizers that resulted in improved adherence to HH guidelines. Simply put, there was a relationship between the promotion of alcohol-based sanitizers and improved adherence to HH guidelines; the more it was promoted, the more the HCWs in that hospital used it. Another example is the relationship between alcohol-based sanitizers, soap and water, and bacteria. When properly used, studied have demonstrated that alcohol-based sanitizers are more effective in removing some bacteria relative to water and soap (Kukanich et al., 2013).

How is the framework related to the body of knowledge in nursing?

The framework is related to the body of knowledge of nursing in that it helps in understanding how exposure of HCWs in busy outpatient healthcare settings to interventional tools could result in improvement of adherence to HH guidelines. It also helps to understand how gel sanitizers or informational posters help to improve adherence.

Review of the Related Literature

Are the articles relevant with previous studies and theories described?

Yes, the articles are relevant with previous studies and theories described. This because the articles are largely about adherence of HCWs to HH guidelines, which are in line with the previous theories and studies described which are also about the same thing – adherence of HCWs to guidelines of hand hygiene.

Are the references current? Identify the number of sources within past 10 years and the number of sources within past five years.

A total of 28 references were used by the researchers in this study. Most of them are relevant since out of the 28, 18 of them are from past the 10 years – dated 2004 up to present year –, and 5 are from the last 5 years – 2009 up to present year.

Describe the current knowledge about the research problem.

The practice of hand hygiene (HH) by healthcare workers (HCWs) including nurses and physicians using either water and soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, is regarded as the most effective and significant method utilized to prevent healthcare-associated infections. Earlier studies have clearly shown that hand hygiene helps to reduce the rates of healthcare-related infections, adhering to the guidelines of hand hygiene is low amongst HCWs. In order to improve the adherence to HH guidelines and sustain such improvement in the long-term, it is important to recognize and address barriers. The main barriers basically include: a perception that HH interferes with patient-worker relationships; skin irritation; poor habits that were learned early in life; time constraints; poor access to HH materials; time constraints; forgetfulness; as well as lack of knowledge of HH guidelines (Huis et al., 2013).

Cleaning hands using an alcohol-based sanitizer usually takes less amount of time compared with washing with the use of water and soap. In addition, when utilized properly, it has been demonstrated that alcohol-based sanitizers are more effective compared to water and soap in eliminating some bacteria. It is on account of this that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) actually recommend the utilization of alcohol-based sanitizers or hand rubs for clinical healthcare contexts. Nonetheless, washing hands using water and soap is still the favored way when hands are noticeably dirty. It is also the preferred method whenever one suspects contact with some infectious agents, for instance norovirus and Clostridium agents, considering that these organisms are very much resistant to killing with the use of alcohol (Boudjema et al., 2014).

Individual HCWs generally have dissimilar preferences of HH products and they can be affected to some extent by dissimilar barriers and motivators to HH. Santos (2013) noted that it has been shown by earlier studies that the use of more than one method is necessary in order to attain improved HH practices and sustain them over the long-term. In essence, such campaigns typically comprise the promotion of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Even though evidence is lacking showing that educational materials alone for instance posters are actually effective at altering behavior of HCWs to adhere to HH guidelines, those which employ messages framed in terms of possible gains instead of losses and which entreat the HCW’s sense of responsibility for the health of the patient might be of benefit in combination with other vital strategies.

Specify the gap in the literature that justifies the need for the research.

There is little or very limited knowledge about the adherence of HCWs in busy outpatient settings to hand hygiene guidelines. There is also gap in knowledge regarding the effectiveness of using gel sanitizers and informational posters in the overall HH performance of HCWs within outpatient clinics. This study was aimed at addressing this gap in existing knowledge.

Many research studies have tested interventions that can be applied to improve HH in teaching hospitals and it was found that they were actually successful. Nonetheless, fairly few studies have tested these sorts of intervention within outpatient clinics. Mensah (2005) in their study which they carried out in outpatient clinics in Britain observed that baseline HH adherence was 18 percent. In a different research study carried out in an outpatient clinic in Israel, Cohen (2002) observed the behavior of doctors and sampled their hands for bacteria, although there was no intervention that was introduced. Observance to HH was low at just 31 percent. It was also observed that 69 percent of the doctors had Stapholococcus aureus in their hands. Some of the reasons that doctors cite for not adhering to HH guidelines include the absence of hygiene facilities, lack of awareness, too much workloads, as well as negative reactions to disinfectants (KuKanich et al., 2013).

Study METHODOLOGY

NAME the specific quantitative methodology of the study.

Observation is the specific quantitative methodology that was applied by the researchers. At times one cannot control a situation, and conducting an experiment is typically not feasible. Nonetheless, it might be probable to observe what goes on.

Provide a clear description/definition of this methodology (in your own words); use an article or your text to support the definition and provide a citation.

Quantitative observation is basically an observation that could be measured in numbers for instance length, volume, and acceleration. In essence, quantitative observations are usually made using instruments (Lubbe & Roets, 2014). They are observations observed of data in numbers; objects are counted or measured and are commonly with numbers.

Why was the choice of this methodology appropriate for this study? JUSTIFY your response.

The choice of observation quantitative methodology is appropriate for this study since the researchers has to collect data through observations. They needed to observe the subjects/participants in order to monitor the HH opportunities and to record the HH attempts of the HCWs in the 2 clinics.

Sample and Setting

Identify inclusion and exclusion sample criteria.

The inclusion criteria included the following: (i) the participant had to be a health care worker; (ii) the participant had to be working at either GI clinic or at the oncology clinic; (iii) the subject had to be a nurse or a physician; and (iv) the subject has to be aware of hand hygiene practices. The exclusion criteria: (i) the individual not being a health worker; (ii) the participant not working at either GI clinic or at the oncology clinic; (iii) the individual not being either a nurse or a physician.

Indicate the method used to obtain the sample. Provide a definition of the method and discuss why it was an appropriate choice for this study

The sampling method utilized by the researchers in this study is purposive sampling. Purposive sampling is essentially a sampling method in which the researcher samples with a purpose in mind. The researcher would typically have 1 or more precise groups that he/she is seeking. Purposive sampling is essentially a kind of non-probability sampling wherein some elements of population do not have any chance of selection, or in which the probability of selection cannot be established accurately (Yarcheski & Mahon, 2013).

Purposive sampling method was appropriate in this research study since the researchers started with a purpose in mind; they wanted a certain predefined group – health care workers in busy outpatient clinics. As such, they only had to sample individuals who are health care workers working in outpatient clinics.

State the sample size. Indicate if a power analysis was conducted to determine the sample size.

This study included a sample size of 88 participants: 41 HCWs at the GI clinic and 47 HCWs at the oncology clinic. Power analysis was not performed to determine the size of the sample.

Identify the SPECIFIC characteristics (demographics) of the sample.

The demographic in this study is defined in terms of gender. Survey was conducted in which 56 HCWs were sent questionnaire survey: 15 from the GI clinic and 41 from the oncology clinic. Of the 56 respondents, 30 were females while 26 were male.

Identify the sample mortality (or attrition) number and percentage.

Sample attrition or mortality is understood as the number of individuals who drop out of the research study in the course of the study. Initially, 88 health care workers were mailed questionnaire survey and only 56 of them returned the survey. As such, the attrition is 32. This is equal to 36.36%.

Indicate the type of consent obtained and institutional review board approval.

Getting consent for the participation of participants in any research study is of major importance. The main types of consent include proxy, post-hoc, implied/implicit, and explicit/express/informed. Implied/implicit consent was obtained from the participants of this research study given that the consent was not obtained through formal ways, for instance verbal or written approval (Schneider, Nicholas & Kurrus, 2013). The participants completed questionnaire forms and this implied their consent to take part. Approval was obtained from the administration of the two clinics.

Identify the study setting and indicate if it is appropriate for the study purpose. JUSTIFY your response!

The research study was conducted in 2 outpatient clinics. This setting is appropriate for the purpose of the study since the researchers wanted to improve HH in the 2 outpatient health care clinics by way of introducing an informational poster and a gel sanitizer.

Identification and Control of Extraneous Variables

Define extraneous variables

Extraneous variables are basically understood as undesirable and unwanted variables which influence the relationship between the variables being examined by the investigator. Extraneous variables influence an experiment’s results, although they are not the variables of interest (Hoe & Hoare, 2012).

What are the extraneous variables in this study? In what way(s) were appropriate measures used to control for the influence of the extraneous variables? Describe fully. If not addressed, explain how you know this and identify the extraneous variables you would note.

In this research study, the extraneous variables include gender, age, background and mood of the participant. It is notable that during the research study, female HCWs were more consistent in HH compared to male HCWs. The influence of extraneous variables was controlled by using almost the same number of male and female participants in the study, and ensuring that they all have the almost the same background regarding knowledge of hand hygiene practices.

Study Instruments/Tools

Identify the instruments used in the research

Survey was the instrument used.

FOR EACH INSTRUMENT: Instrument #1; Name of Instrument: Discuss how the instrument was developed or purpose of use. Cite the source for the background information about the instrument.

Survey was the instrument utilized by the researchers. A survey was mailed by the researchers to the nurse managers at the 2 clinics, and was circulated to 41 HCWs at the GI clinic and to 47 HCWs at the oncology clinic, 3 months following the final day of the follow-up observations. The researchers carried out the survey in order to evaluate the HCWs’ opinions of HH at their respective clinics, as well as their preferred tools of HH – gel sanitizer, foam sanitizer, or water and soap (Kukanich et al., 2013). Surveys are a descriptive, non-experimental method of research and they are particularly valuable whenever the investigator wants to gather data on phenomenon which cannot be observed directly, for instance opinions and perspectives of participants (Hoe & Hoare, 2012).

Identify the type of measurement strategy (e.g., Likert scale, visual analog scale, physiological Measure, questionnaire, observation, or interview).

Questionnaire, observation and Likert scale were used. Observation was measurement strategy applied. Interventional observation was used as the participants were directly observed to monitor HH opportunities and record HH attempts. Questionnaire was used after the observation. A 5-item Likert scale that ranged from strongly agree to strongly disagree was utilized for questions about the motivational effectiveness of each of the intervention tools.

Identify the level of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval/ratio) achieved by the measurement strategy. Provide a definition of the level of measurement(s) you identified and justify WHY you believe the instruments represent this level of measurement.

The measurement strategy achieved ratio. In ratio measurement, a meaningful absolute zero is always there. This implies that the researcher can construct a meaningful ratio using a ratio variable (Yarcheski & Mahon, 2013). The instruments represent ratio level of measurement because in the survey conducted in this study, there could be zero HCWs who believe that HH campaign has improved their HH practices.

Report the reliability of the instrument from previous studies and the current study.

He instrument is consistent. The information collected by the survey is consistent.

Report the validity of the instrument from previous studies and the current study.

The instrument is accurate and it serves the function that it was intended to serve, and always gives information that is correct.

Data Collection Methods

Detail how the data were collected.

Data were collected through observation and the use of survey. Through observation, the investigators observed the subjects/participants in order to monitor the HH opportunities and to record the HH attempts of the HCWs in the 2 clinics. One month following the final day of interventional observations, the researchers conducted follow-up direct observations of HH on 3 non-consecutive days. Survey was carried out to evaluate the HCWs’ opinions of HH at their respective clinics, as well as their preferred tools of HH – gel sanitizer, foam sanitizer, or water and soap

In what way(s) is the data collection procedures appropriate for this study?

Observation is appropriate since they needed to observe the subjects/participants in order to monitor the HH opportunities and to record the HH attempts of the HCWs in the 2 clinics. Survey is appropriate since it was useful in assessing the HCWs’ sentiments of HH at their respective clinics, as well as their preferred tools of HH.

In what way were appropriate steps taken to protect the rights of the subjects?

The subjects were respected and treated as autonomous agents and those who wanted to drop out were allowed to do so. In essence, there right to end participation in the research study at any time was respected. They were also given access to information as regards the research study.

Statistical Analysis Procedures

Identify the statistical procedures used in the study: Statistical Procedure #1 (Name and definition):

Chi-square: Pearson’s x² was used. Pearson’s chi-squared is essentially a statistical test which is used in sets of categorical data in evaluating how probable it is that any observed dissimilarity between the sets came about by chance (Yarcheski & Mahon, 2013). In essence, it is utilized in determining whether there is any sort of relationship between 2 categorical variables.

Pearson’s Chi-square is the only statistical procedure that was used.

How was it used in the study?

Pearson’s x² analyses were utilized in comparing the frequency of HH attempts throughout the 3 observation periods and in comparing the post-contact and pre-contact frequency of such attempts. It is notable that every calculation had 1 degree of freedom, and a P value equal to or less than 0.05, that is, <= 0.05, was seen as significant (Kukanich et al., 2013). Only descriptive statistics were utilized in assessing the frequency of HH by HCW’s profession and gender considering that there were considerably less observations of male HCW’s to allow comparative analyses. In addition, descriptive statistics were utilized to compare the HH tools utilized, given that product availability did vary in the course of the study.

Complete the table below with the analysis techniques conducted in the study:

Statistical Procedure

Statistical Findings

Significance (provide a narrative description of the significance as well as the actual statistical values

Chi-square

Before intervention: Rate of attempt at GI clinic = 21%

Rate of attempt at oncology clinic = 11%

After intervention:

Rate of attempt at GI clinic = 54%

Rate of attempt at oncology clinic = 36%

In both the GI and oncology clinics, the overall rates of HH attempts to HH opportunities were 21% and 11% respectively.

This improved greatly after the intervention was introduced to 54% and 36% respectively, and remained improved at the 1-month follow-up period 51% and 32% respectively.

What are the specific results of the study? Provide DEPTH and write IN YOUR OWN WORDS.

In the GI clinic, at baseline, the overall rate of HH attempt to opportunities was 21%, it was 11% for the oncology clinic, and after the intervention, these improved substantially to 54% for the GI clinic and 36% for the oncology clinic. Half of those who were surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that the HH campaign had actually increased the awareness of HH. On the whole, 34 percent of the subjects agreed that HH campaign had improved their HH practices. Moreover, half of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that introducing gel hand sanitizer served as an effectual motivator and resulted in improved frequency of HH. HH performance was consistently better after contact with patient compared to before contact with patient.

Strengths\Limitations

What are two major strengths of the scientific merit of this study? (This does not refer to findings of the study)

It was easier to answer the research questions using a small sample size than a large one
The study was carried out on a new area which has not been examined previously thus it greatly contributes to the body of existing knowledge.

What are two major limitations of the scientific merit of this study?

The possibility of the Hawthorne effect – some HCWs may have noticed that they are being observed, and hence they cleaned their hands more regularly.
Only 56 subjects actually took part in this study which is a very small figure hence the findings cannot be generalized to the entire population of outpatient HCWs. It is difficult to generalize findings from a small size (Hackshaw, 2010).

How did the researcher generalize the findings?

The researchers generalized the findings by stating that the HH campaign demonstrated that providing informational posters and introducing a gel sanitizer could bring about short-term improvements in HH performance within outpatient clinics.

What did the researchers say the relevance of the data was? Describe the researchers’ interpretation of the findings.

They stated that the results of the research show that the HH frequency by HCWs in busy outpatient healthcare settings is low. They added that short-term exposure to interventional tools could result in modest improvement still seen at 1-month follow-up. Moreover, pre-testing interventions within a particular healthcare setting and utilizing a multi-faceted implementation approach may help in achieving the highest improvements. Reinforcing and/or establishing a clinic-wide expectation that HCWs would follow HH recommendations is also an important measure which might further encourage HH adherence.

Where in nursing can the results of the data be applied?

In busy outpatient settings

What suggestions for further study were identified?

The researchers recommend that in future, after the collection of baseline data, researchers should seek the ongoing involvement and support of influential HCWs who may also act as role models for other HCWs.

Is the description of the study sufficiently clear for replication? Explain and Justify your response

Yes, the description of the data is adequately clear for replication. This is because the instruments used were valid and reliable. They were accurate and measured what they were designed to measure.

REFLECTION

Reflect upon your newly developed understanding of quantitative research. What has this experience critiquing a quantitative research study meant to you and how will this make a difference in your overall practice of nursing? Please provide depth and be sure you respond to the question. This is a subjective response and must be at least 2 full paragraphs. Please respond in reference to understanding quantitative methodology and not the specific focus of the research study.

What has the experience of reading and critiquing a quantitative study meant to you?

It has meant much to me as it has helped to gain essential knowledge and skill that I can effectively utilize to conduct a useful quantitative research. It has helped me to identify the weaknesses such as small sample size that I need to avoid in order to ensure that the findings which I obtain can be generalized. It has also offered me a better, clear understanding of Chi-square/Pearson’s X² and how I can use this statistical procedure in quantitative data analysis.

How will understanding and using quantitative research findings make a difference in your practice of nursing?

The understanding of using these quantitative research findings will make a difference in my practice of nursing in several ways. It will allow me to effectively apply the findings in my workplace, for instance by adhering to HH guidelines. Moreover, it will help me to focusing on doing what is right in order to improve outcomes.

References

Boudjema, S. S., Dufour, J. C., Aladro, A. S., Desquerres, I. I., & Brouqui, P. P. (2014). MediHandTrace®: a tool for measuring and understanding hand hygiene adherence. Clinical Microbiology & Infection, 20(1), 22-28. doi:10.1111/1469-0691.12471

Cohen, H. A .(2002). Handwashing patterns in two dermatology clinics. Dermatology;205(4):358-61.

Hackshaw, A. (2010). Small Studies: Strengths and Weaknesses. European Respiratory Journal; 32(5):1141-1143.

Hoe, J., & Hoare, Z. (2012). Understanding quantitative research: part 1. Nursing Standard, 27(15-17), 52-57.

Huis, A., Hulscher, M., Adang, E., Grol, R., van Achterberg, T., & Schoonhoven, L. (2013). Cost-effectiveness of a team and leaders-directed strategy to improve nurses’ adherence to hand hygiene guidelines: a cluster randomised trial. International Journal Of Nursing Studies, 50(4), 518-526. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.11.016

KuKanich, K. S., Kaur, R., Freeman, L., & Powell, D. A. (2013). Evaluation of a Hand Hygiene Campaign in Outpatient Health Care Clinics. AJNonline; 113(3).

Lubbe, J., & Roets, L. (2014). Nurses’ Scope of Practice and the Implication for Quality Nursing Care. Journal Of Nursing Scholarship, 46(1), 58-64. doi:10.1111/jnu.12058

Mensah E. (2005). Hand hygiene in routine glaucoma clinics. Br J Ophthalmol;89(11):1541-2.

Santos, L., Souza Dias, M., Borrasca, V., Cavassin, L., Deso di Lobo, R., Bozza Schwenck, R., & … Bierrenbach, A. (2013). Improving hand hygiene adherence in an endoscopy unit. Endoscopy, 45(6), 421-425. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1326284

Schneider, B., Nicholas, J., & Kurrus, J. E. (2013). Comparison of Methodologie Quality and Study/Report Characteristics Between Quantitative Clinical Nursing and Nursing Education Research Articles. Nursing Education Perspectives, 34(5), 292-297.

Yarcheski, A., & Mahon, N. E. (2013). Characteristics of Quantitative Nursing Research from 1990 to 2010. Journal Of Nursing Scholarship, 45(4), 405-411. doi:10.1111/jnu.12038

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Telenursing Research Assignment

Telenursing

Order Instructions:

Telenursing…the Future Is Now Paper
Guidelines and Grading Rubric
PURPOSE
The purpose of this assignment is to explore the specialty of telenursing as one example of the use of technology in various practice settings. Advantages and disadvantages for the patient and legal and ethical principles for the nurse of this technology will be explored.
COURSE OUTCOMES
This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
CO #2: Investigate safeguards and decision-making support tools embedded in patient care technologies and information systems to support a safe practice environment for both patients and healthcare workers. (PO #4)
CO #6: Discuss the principles of data integrity, professional ethics, and legal requirements related to data security, regulatory requirements, confidentiality, and client’s right to privacy. (PO #6)
POINTS
This assignment is worth a total of 200 points.
DUE DATE
Your completed Telenursing…the Future Is Now paper is due at the end of Week 4. Submit it to the basket in the Dropbox by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. mountain time. Post your questions to the weekly Q & A Forum. Contact your instructor if you need additional assistance. See the Course Policies regarding late assignments. Failure to submit your paper to the Dropbox on time will result in a deduction of points.
BACKGROUND
Our text (Hebda, 2013) provides us with a broad perspective on telehealth. However, the specialty of telenursing is only briefly discussed. Healthcare is readily embracing any technology to improve patient outcomes, streamline operations, and lower costs. This technology includes the use of various applications based in various environments where registered nurses indirectly provide professional nursing care.

SCENARIO
The following scenario serves as the basis for your paper:
Manuel, one of your colleagues, is considering leaving his medical-surgical position where both of you have worked for the past 12 years. In fact, he has an interview in two weeks for a Telenurse Specialist position at a nurse-owned home health agency. This agency monitors the elderly and those with chronic illnesses to keep them from being readmitted to the hospital. Manuel is doing some research on his own and knows that the hours sound great and the pay is comparable. One advantage is that he can work from home (telecommute) most of the time and only interface with the agency for required meetings.
Manuel knows you are enrolled in this course. You have discussed various concepts that you noted in your Syllabus including technology, privacy, confidentiality, interoperability, legal and ethical issues, and patients’ access to the World Wide Web, just to name a few. Manuel has shared that he does not know much about telehealth and the role of nursing in this “new” technology. He has asked you to educate him on the advantages and disadvantages to patients of telenursing. Frankly, he does not understand what he might be doing on a day-to-day basis. One concern is the technology that may be involved.
Manuel has indicated that he realizes the final decision about a career move will be his choice, but he is seeking your knowledge based on concepts presented in this course. He wants to be knowledgeable about the role of the professional nurse in this practice setting prior to his interview.
You tell Manuel that you will need to do some research and that you will get back to him about your conclusion and recommendation. You have heard of telenursing and how it can prevent patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and CHF (congestive heart failure) from being readmitted to the hospital, but you recognize that you will need to do much more investigation.
DIRECTIONS
1. You are to research (find evidence), compose, and type a scholarly paper based on the scenario described above. Reflect on what you have learned in this class to date about technology, privacy rights, ethical issues, interoperability, patient satisfaction, consumer education, and other topics. Your text by Hebda (2013, Chapter 25) discusses telehealth in detail. However, your focus should be on the professional nurse’s role in telehealth, such as telenursing. Therefore, do not limit your review of the literature to your text. Nurses in various specialties need to know about the advantages and disadvantages of telenursing as it applies to their patients. For example, when you discharge a patient from an acute care setting, will a telenursing service assist that individual with staying out of the hospital? You may need to apply critical thinking skills to development of your paper.
2. Use Microsoft Word and APA formatting to develop your paper. Consult the Publication manual of the APA, 6th edition if you have questions, for example, margin size, font type and size (point), use of third person, and so forth. Take advantage of the writing service, Smarthinking, which is accessed by clicking on the link called the Tutor Source, found under the Course Home tab. Also, review and use the various documents in Doc Sharing related to APA.
3. The length of the paper should be 4–5 pages, excluding the title page and the reference page. Limit your references to key sources.
4. The paper should contain an Introduction that catches the attention of the reader with interesting facts and supporting sources of evidence, which need to be mentioned as in-text citations. The Body should present the advantages and disadvantages of telenursing from a patient perspective. The Conclusion and Recommendations should summarize your findings and state your position on whether Manuel should accept the position should it be offered to him.
5. NOTE: Review the section on Academic Honesty found in the Chamberlain Course Policies. All work must be original (in your own words) unless properly cited. This assignment will automatically be submitted through Turnitin, a plagiarism detection system.
6. Submit the completed paper to the Telenursing…the Future Is Now Dropbox by Sunday, 11:59 p.m. mountain time at the end of Week 4. Please post questions about this assignment to the weekly Q & A Forum so that the entire class may view the answers.

GRADING CRITERIA
Category Points % Description
Introduction 50 25% The Introduction provides evidence of an information search including in-text citations of the sources of evidence. It catches the reader’s attention with interesting facts and supporting sources.
Body 100 50% Appropriate headings are used to delineate when the introduction ends. More than three advantages and three disadvantages are identified, discussed briefly, and supported by citations.
Conclusion and Recommendations 25 12.5% Appropriate headings are used, making clear the conclusion and recommendations based on solid evidence, privacy rights, and ethical principles, and so forth. Writing in the third person, state your position regarding whether your colleague should consider this position.
Scholarly Writing and APA Format 25 12.5% • Title page, running head, and page numbers. (3 pts.)
• Introduction, body, and conclusion/recommendations sections are clearly labeled. There is a logical flow between the sections. (10 pts.)
• Grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure are correct. (2 pts.)
• Citations throughout demonstrate support of student’s ideas and opinions. (5 pts.)
• Reference page includes all citations. (3 pts.)
• Evidence of spell and grammar check. (2 pts.)
Total 200 100%
A quality assignment will meet or exceed all of the above requirements.

GRADING RUBRIC

Assignment Criteria A
Outstanding or Highest Level of Performance B
Very Good or High Level of Performance C
Competent or Satisfactory Level of Performance F
Poor or Failing or Unsatisfactory Level of Performance
Introduction
50 points Evidence of information search. Catches the reader’s attention with interesting facts and supporting sources that include citations to three or more scholarly sources.
46–50 points Evidence of information search. Catches the reader’s attention with interesting facts and supporting sources that include citations to two scholarly resources.
42–45 points Evidence of information search includes only one citation to scholarly resource.
No attention catching “hook” noted.
38–41 points Little or no evidence of information search. No citations provided and/or there is no attention-catching “hook.”
0–37 points
Body
100 points More than 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages from a patient perspective are identified and supported by citations.
92–100 points At least 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages from a patient perspective are identified and supported by citations.
84–91 points At least 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages from a patient perspective are identified and supported by citations.
76–83 points Only one advantage and one disadvantage from a patient perspective is identified and supported by citations.
0–75 points
Conclusion and Recommendation
25 points Conclusion is presented with recommendation based on solid evidence, personal privacy rights, and ethical principles supported by citations.
23–25 points Conclusion contains evidence for recommendation, but may lack persuasive use of privacy rights and/or ethical principles. Includes citations.
21–22 points Indicates conclusion and recommendation but does not address privacy rights and/or ethical principles.
19–20 points Fails to include conclusion or recommendation.
0–18 points
Scholarly Writing & APA Format
25 points • Title page, running head, and page numbers. (3 pts.)
• Minimum of three sections including the Introduction, Body, and Conclusions and Recommendations. Each section has at least three sentences. (10 pts.)
• Grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure are correct. (2 pts.)
• Citations throughout demonstrate support of student’s ideas and opinions. (5 pts.)
• Reference page includes all citations and no errors in format are noted. (3 pts.)
• Evidence of spell and grammar check. (2 pts.)
23–25 points • Some errors in APA title page noted.
• Some errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and/or sentence structure noted.
• Citations are present but not in correct format.
• References are present, with some errors in format.
• Some red or green wavy lines within document.
21–22 points • Minimal error in APA title page noted.
• Minimal errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and/or sentence structure noted.
• Citations are present but not in correct format.
• References are present, with minimal errors in format.
• Minimal red or green wavy lines within document.
19–20 points • Multiple errors in APA formatting.
• Multiple grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors noted.
• Citations are missing.
• References are missing or incomplete.
• No evidence of proofreading prior to submitting paper.
0–18 points
Total Points Possible = 200 points

Please note the length of the paper should be 4-5 pages, excluding the title page and the reference page. Limit references to key sources.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Telenursing

The use of technology in healthcare has been of great impact in healthcare. This is particularly in relation to telenursing. However, there are challenges that should be solved early so as to avoid risks (Schlachta-Fairchild, Elfrink & Deickman, 2008). Although a nurse is required to communicate with her patients with the use of the internet or telephone, she is also supposed to assess, plan, evaluate, and intervene. In addition to this, there might be a need to use audio feeds, videos, telemonitoring tools, and digital assessment equipment. However, the key thing to note is that nursing care remains the same where the guidelines and the expected outcomes should be met.

In the global healthcare environment, the use of telenursing is increasing at an alarming rate (Snooks et al., 2008). However, it is worth noting that the work involved in telenursing is knowledge-intensive and complex. Nurses are required to be able to operate independently, make decisions regarding the patient’s need for more care, offer self-care advice, and refer patients to proper help sources. As telenurses triage the conditions their patients are suffering from, their assessments are normally founded on verbal communication (Snooks et al., 2008). As such, there is a high need for high communication skills’ level as well as the ability of listening. Telenurses face a major limitation in that they are unable to see their patients. Nurses feel that they possess considerable responsibility towards the patients and fear making improper decisions. In addition, telenurses may think of the relationship with their patients in telenursing as a conflict between acting as a gatekeeper and care provider.

Safeguards and decision-making support tools

When engaging in telenursing, there is likely to be the emergence of constant and new challenges such as potential liability issues. Regardless of the fact that the absence of legal precedents brings about uncertainty regarding telenursing liability, vividly defined accountabilities can go a long way in addressing various recognized liability categories. This is more so in cases dealing with the health professionals involved, particular applications or technologies, the involved organizations, and training and human resources. Telenurses should be key participants in the documentation and development of the risk management plans as well as the related policies (Snooks et al., 2008). There is a great need for telenurses to discuss liability issues with the legal counsel and employers (Schlachta-Fairchild, Elfrink & Deickman, 2008).

Telenurses possess the primary accountability of ensuring that their technical and clinical competencies are current. This is closely related to the need of telenurses to evaluate and identify their learning needs regularly; come up with as well as implement the learning plans, in addition to evaluating the learning impact on their practice. It is advisable for telenurses to utilize the ‘Building Your Profile’ as well as other performance management and professional development systems in their practice so as to promote the delivery of competent, safe, ethical, and compassionate telenursing practice.

Consumer education, patient satisfaction, interoperability, ethical issues, privacy rights, and technology

There is a great need for telenurses to network and collaborate with other professionals readily. This goes a long way in ensuring that ethical issues on record keeping, patient care, and confidentiality are worked out as needed. Clinical safety is extremely vital when practicing telenursing. Considering the limitations of technology, higher chances for incomplete and inaccurate information, and the fact that no face-to-face interaction is involved, providing telenursing services may be accompanied by immense risks. Although the patient-nurse encounter during telenursing is a bit different from the traditional setups, the nurse still remains responsible of promoting the delivery of safe, ethical, and appropriate care and services. Promoting and maintaining security, privacy, and confidentiality in telenursing settings is basically extremely challenging as opposed to ordinary health-care environment. Principally, this is because of factors like electronic information transfer (client data as well as video imaging) between the sites. This is in addition to the increasing number of people participating in the care. In this regard, nurses as well as employers have the responsibility of developing, implementing, as well as adhering to telenursing policies. This goes a long way in promoting privacy, security, and security in all interactions. Nurses should also obey all relevant legislation. It is also very important for nurses to participate in measures that are aimed at improving quality including audits (Snooks et al., 2008).

The professional role of nurses in telehealth

In the present technological era, nurses are also acknowledged to be knowledge workers. As such, they possess an increased role in coming up with telehealth solutions that is very essential in increasing client benefit. Telenurses are also participants in data collection that includes outcome data as well as system utilization. In addition, telenurses are required to support the evidence-based practice by leading as well as participating in research. This goes a long way in evaluating and informing telehealth practice. This is particularly in areas such as accessibility, the clinical impacts of the clients, and cost-effectiveness of services.

Advantages and disadvantages to patients

Telenursing is beneficial to patients as well as the physicians (Snooks et al., 2008). Patients benefit from quick and immediate care access in addition to information. The second benefit is that patients get education chances, and this enables them to know more regarding the conditions they are suffering from. Through telenursing, nurses are involved more in making decisions about their care. Patients are also empowered since as they are getting healed from operations and managing chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes, they take up dedication to self-care more enthusiastically (Snooks et al., 2008). The patients become increasingly knowledgeable and can care for themselves even better. This is based on the assurance that assistance is only a call away. Patients also save time and money considering that no travelling is involved.

On the other hand, patients may have the attitude telenursing brings about dehumanizing impacts. This is based on the fact that regardless of the fact that care of different conditions goes on, physical interaction is absent (Snooks et al., 2008). As a result, some may opt not to use the telenursing services. With the use of telenursing, patients are forced to remain lonely and there is no chance to connect with as well as share experiences with patients ailing from similar conditions. This may greatly contribute to delayed healing or even depression from the loneliness, which may complicate the condition.

Additional costs come in the form of the extra payments for the communication forms in use. There may also be challenges as the patient tries to utilize the care equipments. This is usually very technical as it indicates delayed care. There are high chances of the equipment malfunctioning and as such, care is also delayed (Schlachta-Fairchild, Elfrink & Deickman, 2008).

Ethical and legal principles

When practicing telenursing, telenurses should obey the registered nurses’ code of ethics, relevant legislation, relevant practice guidelines, as well as the professional practice standards (Williams et al., 2012). When the patient begins offering telenursing services to a patient, she should introduce her name, provincial and territorial regulatory body, place of work, and professional designation. This is usually the starting point towards creation of rapport and a lasting relationship that is based on trust and confidentiality. The healthcare professional should also be keen on knowing the details about the patient (medical and personal history). This gives the patient an insight that the professional is really concerned and cares about him. When a positive relationship exists between the patient and provider, this permits the provision of high quality care (Schlachta-Fairchild, Elfrink & Deickman, 2008). On the same note, if the patient is aware about his provider’s details, he can follow up in case of clarifications and when seeking more information. The same case applies when filing for a complaint. Similar to the telenursing setup, the normal settings are also required to offer high quality care. As such, nurses are required to promote nonmaleficence, confidentiality, and autonomy. In telenursing, the most ethically troubling areas are autonomy, integrity, documentation, information prioritizing, confidentiality, security, and privacy (Schlachta-Fairchild, Elfrink & Deickman, 2008).

Telenurses experience an ethical dilemma involving the conflict between the relative’s and patient’s autonomy, in addition to the ambition of the nurse to assist the patient. In this regard, the beneficence and autonomy principles are in conflict (Jerant et al., 2003). There is an ethical question regarding the manner of ensuring the identity of the caller within telenursing (Kuriakose, 2011).

Conclusions and recommendations

It is highly advisable and recommendable that Manuel should seek extensive and high-quality training. This will be essential in making telenursing productive, preparing him for the role, and preventing the risks involved with it. There is also a great need for him to network with more experienced as well as the new telenurses for more learning.

References

Jerant, A. F., Azari, R., Martinez, C., & Nesbitt, T. S. (2003). A randomized trial of telenursing to reduce hospitalization for heart failure: patient-centered outcomes and nursing indicators. Home health care services quarterly, 22(1), 1-20. (Googlescholar)

Kuriakose, J. R. (2011). Telenursing an emerging field. International Journal of Nursing Education, 3 (2), 52. (http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/77635007/telenursing-emerging-field) (EBSCO)

Schlachta-Fairchild, L., Elfrink, V., & Deickman, A. (2008). Patient Safety, Telenursing, and Telehealth. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2687/?report=reader (NCBI- PUBMED)

Snooks, H. A., Williams, A. M., Griffiths, L. J., Peconi, J., Rance, J., Snelgrove, S., … & Cheung, W. Y. (2008). Real nursing? The development of telenursing. Journal of advanced nursing, 61(6), 631-640. (Googlescholar)

Williams, L., Hubbard, K. E., Daye, O., & Barden, C. (2012). Tele-ICU Enhancements. Telenursing in the Intensive Care Unit: Transforming Nursing Practice. Critical Care Nurse, 32 (6), 62 (http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/83835228/tele-icu-enhancements-telenursing-intensive-care-unit-transforming-nursing-practice) (EBSCO)

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Measurement Scales/Variables Paper

Measurement Scales/Variables, Measurement, and Statistics

Order Instructions:

SECTION A (1.5pages)
Measurement Scales
Quantitative analysis requires the use of numeric data to describe and interpret the results. The types of numeric data collected will determine what statistics can be utilized.
1. Please provide a definition of the nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales and develop a simple chart with an example of each and specifying the types of statistics that might be used with each as follows:
Type of Data Example Statistical Procedure
Nominal (provide definition)
Ordinal (provide definition)
Interval (provide definition)
Ratio (provide definition)
2. Conclude your discussion with a reflection on how statistics might be utilized in your own evidence-based practice.
3. Provide at least three citations with full references to credible nursing scholarly articles supporting your definitions and discussion.

SECTION B (1.5pages minimum)

Variables, Measurement, and Statistics
A nurse has decided to research the following PICOT question: “Adult clients who are admitted to the cardiac unit with congestive heart failure are more likely to develop nosocomial infections than other cardiac clients admitted to the cardiac unit.” A quantitative research design is planned for this Project.
1. From the PICOT question, determine the following:
a. Identify the variables
b. Identify the levels of measurement of each variable
c. Identify the statistical test(s) to be used.
2. Provide at least three citations with full references to credible nursing scholarly articles supporting your definitions and discussion.

Resources to be used for each of the sections

• Coughlan, M., Cronin, P., & Ryan, F. (2007). Step-by-step guide to critiquing research. Part 1: quantitative research. British Journal Of Nursing, (BJN), 16(11), 658–663.

• Giuliano, K., & Polanowicz, M. (2008). Interpretation and use of statistics in nursing research. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 19(2), 211–222

• Ingham-Broomfield, R. (2008). A nurses’ guide to the critical reading of research. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26(1), 102-109.

From your textbooks, read:
Introduction to Nursing Research Incorporating Evidence-Based Practice
• Chapter 8: “Quantitative Design”
• Chapter 12: “Data Analysis”
• Chapter 13: “Critique Process”

SAMPLE ANSWER

Measurement Scales/Variables, Measurement, and Statistics

Section A

Types of data	Example	Statistical procedure
Nominal	Hair color	Mode for central tendency
Ordinal	How do you feel?	Mode and median
Interval	Celsius temperature, time	Arithmetic mean, median, mode, standard deviation, and range
Ratio	Height and weight	Arithmetic mean, median, mode, harmonic mean, geometric mean, studentized range, and coefficient of variation.

Nominal scales are utilized for labeling variables in the absence of quantitative value. They can simply be referred to as labels or names. The scales have no overlap or are mutually exclusive and none has numerical significance.

Ordinal scales; the order of values is more significant and important. However, the variation between each one is unknown. These are typically non-numeric concepts’ measures such as discomfort, happiness, and satisfaction. These can be easily remembered through the word ‘order’. The mode and median are the best when determining the central tendency is an ordinal data set (Moorhead, 2013).

Interval scales; there are numeric scales where the order as well as the exact variations between values is known. The statistical analysis realm on the data sets opens since the mean, median, statistical deviation, and mode can be calculated. These scales have no true zero and this makes it impossible to calculate the ratios (Moorhead, 2013). For instance, there is no time or no temperature. With the interval data, one can subtract and add but cannot divide or multiply. The key thing to remember in interval scales is the interval, which implies the space in between.

Ratio scales are acknowledged as the overall as far as the measurement scales are concerned. This is because they tell about the order, exact values between units, and possess an absolute zero that permits the application of a wide array of both inferential and descriptive statistics. Ratio scales also have a vivid definition of zero. Ratio scales offer a wealth of possibilities as far as statistical analysis is concerned. With these variables, it is possible to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. It is also possible to measure the mean, median, mode, coefficient of variation, and measures of dispersion (Ingham-Broomfield, 2008).

How statistics can be used in evidence-based practice

Recently, evidence-based practice has become very essential in healthcare. In this regard, there is a need for healthcare professionals to be aware with the practice, how to use it, and its significance in guarding patient safety. More specifically, the Obama Administration is dedicated to policy decisions that are guided by evidence. In this regard, there should be a greater promotion of statistics use as well as the statisticians’ role in making proper decisions that are founded on objective evidence. Evidence-based medicine refers to the explicit, conscientious, and judicious use of the current best evidence when making decisions on individual patient care. The practice of using evidence-based medicine implies integrating personal clinical experience with proper available clinical evidence from external sources (systemic research). In this regard, statistics is fundamental to the evidence-based medicine (Moorhead, 2013).

It is worth pointing out that that evidence-based practice emerges from the most recent evidence. This implies the deep connection between recent research and the decisions being made in the healthcare practice. The statistics that are used in the research form the foundation of the strategies that will be implemented as well as the decisions that will be made. In this regard, the statistics and data should be trustworthy. This brings in the aspect of validity and consistency of data. If possible, only statisticians should be allowed to handle the data so as to ensure that the right procedures are being followed and that the data collected is proper. As a result, the evidence-based practice becomes more productive and applicable (Coughlan, Cronin & Ryan, 2007).

References

Coughlan, M., Cronin, P., & Ryan, F. (2007). Step-by-step guide to critiquing research. Part 1: quantitative research. British Journal Of Nursing, (BJN), 16(11), 658–663.

Ingham-Broomfield, R. (2008). A nurses’ guide to the critical reading of research. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26(1), 102-109.

Moorhead, S. (2013). Nursing outcomes classification (NOC): Measurement of health outcomes. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier/Mosby.

Section B

The PICOT format in clinical questions aims at ensuring that researchable and answerable questions are developed (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). P (patient population), I (issue of interest or intervention), C (comparison issue of interest or intervention), O (outcomes of interest), and T (the time needed for outcomes to be achieved in the intervention) (Giuliano & Polanowicz, 2008).

‘Adult clients who are admitted to the cardiac unit with congestive heart failure are more likely to develop nosocomial infections than other cardiac clients admitted to the cardiac unit.’

Variables

Other cardiac patients and congestive heart failure patients. There are also variables of the cardiac unit and nosocomial infections.

Each variable’s levels of measurement

Cardiac patients- ordinal

Congestive heart failure patients- ordinal

Cardiac unit- nominal

Nosocomial infections- ordinal

Statistical tests

Based on the fact that there are only ordinal and nominal levels of measurement, it is impossible to have statistical tests such as mean, mode, and median. Therefore, there are high chances that the study being conducted was qualitative where no kinds of inferential and statistical tests are required (Boswell, Boswell & Cannon, 2014). The Ch-square, Fisher’s exact, and Wilcoxon- Mann Whitney tests will be used since there are independent variables.

Basically, the use of PICOT questions when carrying out evidence-based practice is very use. This promotes the development of answerable and researchable questions. This ensures that the evidence gathered is more applicable in the practice (Aveyard & Sharp, 2013).

References

Aveyard, H., & Sharp, P. (2013). A Beginner’S Guide To Evidence-Based Practice In Health And Social Care. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.

Boswell, C., Boswell, C., & Cannon, S. (2014). Introduction to nursing research: Incorporating evidence-based practice. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Giuliano, K., & Polanowicz, M. (2008). Interpretation and use of statistics in nursing research. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 19(2), 211–222

Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

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Observational Checklists in Qualitative Ethnology Study

Order instruction

This week you will create an observational checklist, containing at least 10 items, to examine people within a social setting while completing a qualitative ethnology study. Using this observational checklist, complete an observational data collection by visiting a community venue, such as a shopping mall, a library, or college campus social area, in which people are readily seen in natural surroundings. Conduct a brief observational research study using your checklist. Consider how this experience differs from analyzing numbers when conducting quantitative research.

Please post your 10 item checklist along with your discussion.

Describe your experience of conducting a brief observation and the experience of this form of data collection.

Compare this experience with your data analysis experiences in biostatistics.

Summarize the strengths and limitations of each type of data collection.

Which method of data collection and analysis are you most comfortable with?

Note: Students are NOT allowed to approach/communicate with people for this assignment. The only method to be used is simply observing people in their natural environment and taking appropriate notes. Contact and communication with observed subjects may result in a violation of Walden IRB policies.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Observational Checklists in Qualitative Ethnology Study

The checklist

The level of friendliness and social interactions between the students
Expression of anger using facial expressions, sulking, crying, and complaining
Verbal or physical retaliation against offensive behavior and language
Attempts to evade or escape from the offended
The capacity of displaying humor
The level of positive mood
The capacity to empathize
The level of nonverbal interaction (Staples, 2013).
Level of rejection and neglect between students
Overt hostility and chronic aggression against the peers

It was very thrilling to conduct the brief observation. On the same note, I consider this kind of data collection to be very effective based on the fact that the participants are studied within the natural settings without their knowledge. Therefore, it is possible to gather original data regarding all their behavior (Staples, 2013). After the observation, it was easy to conclude that the student had many positive social interaction traits. There was a high level of positive mood, capacity to empathize, humor, nonverbal communication, and accepting others. If there were cases of offensive behavior and language, hostility or aggression, this was reported to the authority, which was very essential in promoting positive interactions.

When analyzing data using biostatistics, the measurement process is central since it offers the fundamental link between the mathematical expression and empirical observation. In this regard, narrow questions and gather numerical data (percentages and statistics) from participants. There is hope that the results are unbiased so as to allow generalization to larger populations.

Using qualitative ethnology study is inexpensive, simple, there is acquisition of first-hand information, and it is possible to deeply understand processes that surveys may not be able to. However, there are ethical challenges, potent observer effects, and relying on subjective measurement (Staples, 2013). With quantitative studies and biostatistics, a sample that is representative can be selected, the findings can be generalized, structural factors can be analyzed, the studies can be replicated using standardized approaches, and the extraneous variables’ effects can be controlled. However, it is impossible to gather data on sensitive topics, self-reported information from questionnaires may be inadequate, expensive, time-consuming, and inflexibility of the research methods. The qualitative ethnology methodology is more comfortable to work with based on its benefits and advantages.

Reference

Staples, J. (2013). The Interview: An Ethnographic Approach. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.

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Is AOL inching towards becoming an Internet Bank?

Order Instructions:

for this paper it is critical to follow the instructions and properly elaborate on all the points requested most importantly to support your proposal with documentary evidence and research.

Is AOL inching towards becoming an Internet Bank?

In March 2004, America Online (AOL) launched a streamlined new service for online bill payment. No, it doesn’t yet provide the capability to pay online bills directly through AOL, but it does seem to be a step by AOL toward making that reality.
The service-called AOL Bill pay-is free to all AOL members and is provided through an alliance with Yodlee.com, Inc. (www.yodlee.com) , a company that provides a variety of online personal financial services. After AOL members sign up for the service, they will receive summaries of their online bills via AOL e-mail messages. The messages will include links directly to the business e-commerce websites where members can make their payments.
A nice feature of AOL bill pay is that it creates a single portal (the AOL account) with only one user ID and one password. Once inside his or her AOL account, an AOL member does not have to enter a new ID and password at any of the e-commerce websites.
AOL members can configure AOL bill pay to provide alerts in several different forms (Multichannel service delivery); e-mail, instant messaging, or a text-based message to cell phone. The system can trigger an alert that is more of a warning message when for example, an AOL member bank account balance drops below a certain limit or a credit card transaction exceeds a prespecified amount. It is AOL’s hope that its members will see these types of alerts and warnings as a value-added service.
AOL Bill Pay connects directly to 2,500 web sites that offer bill paying over the internet. If a certain AOL member makes payments over the internet. If a certain AOL member makes payments to a web site not on AOL Bill Pay’s list, AOL can easily add the website to the list.

Assignment questions

Write a 2 page minimum word document responding to this below;

The above case study implies that AOL is “inching” toward becoming an Internet bank. Based on your reading of the articles in the resources below, “The Impact of E-commerce Announcements on the Market Value of Firms” and “E-commerce Processes: A Study of Criticality,” what recommendations would you make to AOL management? What processes (and outcomes) would you advise them to expect?
• Then, consider the case of a small office supply company whose customers are local businesses. The company doesn’t have a big budget for IT, but does have a big need to be able to manage materials, delivery schedules, and build customer loyalty. Based upon your readings this week, would you recommend a B2B model of electronic commerce or instead extend the business by offering a B2C model? What critical factors would come into play in making this decision? Be sure to support your proposal with documentary evidence and research.

Resources.
Articles
• Cullen, A. J. (2007). A model of B2B e-commerce, based on connectivity and purpose. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 27(2). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM global database.

This article presents a comprehensive model by which electronic commerce transactions may be categorized.

• Subramani, M., & Walden, E. (2001). The impact of e-commerce announcements on the market value of firms. Information Systems Research, 12(2). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.

This study examines the impact on market value of B2B and B2C e-commerce announcements.

• Duffy, G., & Dale, B. G. (2002). E-commerce processes: A study of criticality. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 102(8/9). Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global database.

This article examines ten processes critical to the success of an e-commerce engagement
Web Site

• Schoder, D., & Madeja, N. (n.d). Is Customer Relationship Management a Success Factor in
Electronic Commerce? Retrieved from http://www.csulb.edu/web/journals/jecr/issues/20041/Paper4.pdf

This article discusses the relationship between customer relationship management and the effectiveness of B2B and B2C companies in Germany.

Be sure to properly use the resources hear to respond to the questions in the paper, and also read the case study at the beginning before responding to the questions as it will play a critical rule in responding to this assignment.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Is AOL inching towards becoming an Internet Bank?

AOL is largely dependent on business to consumer model and studies show that the model’s cumulative return from investing in e-commerce is higher than for a business-to-business model (Subramani & Walden, 2001). It is thus very pertinent that AOL ensures high-level efficiency of its e-banking system to maximize its performance. AOL requires extensive advertising of its e-commerce services and increase consumer turnover for its services (Subramani & Walden, 2001). It is also important that AOL invest in service differentiation as a way of influencing prices and beating competitive forces that result from multiple companies offering similar digital services.

As a company in the process of developing an internet banking facility, AOL must expect to have strict revenue and expenditure controls through a financial control process. An e-commerce facility employs the use of decentralized order fulfillment of its financial services as well as call center operations and it is imperative that its monitors its payments and credit card clearance through a single financial system (Duffy & Dale, 2002). IT or web changes is another vital process that AOL must anticipate. It involves adjusting e-commerce plat forms promptly responding to threats and opportunities that arise in the business environment.

Prompt response ensures that customers remain satisfied with the e-commerce service and reduce the threat of a mass move to competitors that may have better e-commerce services and response to IT malfunctions (Duffy & Dale, 2002). AOL must also use a call center process to support its e-banking facility. The company may outsource of establish its own call center with round the clock operation and competence on the overall business scenario. It is also very important for the company to ensure a 24-hour sound operation of its website as customers may access it at any time (Duffy & Dale, 2002).

The small supply company that relies on a business-to-business model already requires expanding its model to incorporate a business to consumer model. Studies have shown that integration of e-commerce on attract higher revenues in business to consumer than business-to-business models. In this case, it is important for the company to explore the different types of B2B e-commerce models that would be easily integrated with interact directly with both businesses and consumers (Cullen & Webster, 2007).

It is necessary for the company to clearly understand how different B2B models such as individual trading, collaboration, marketplace, proprietary sales, private exchange aggregation, intranet, and restricted bid may affect its business performance. The different models present different connections serving different purposes to a supplier such as the potential to make large volume sales to an aggregate composed of buyer groups, or making small volume sales to unlimited individual buyers as provided by the individual trading model (Cullen & Webster, 2007). The individual trading model such as website presents the best avenue to tap into both B2B and B2C market for the small supply company.

It is also very important to factor in how to the small supply company intends to manage its relationships with its customers as part of its loyalty management. A customer relationship management system (CRM) is a crucial aspect of an e-commerce venture. It helps the business to analyze customer data and customize marketing initiatives to customers buying habits and preferences. It is essential for the company to focus more intently on valuable customers as a way of improving business performance (Schoder & Madeja, 2004). A CRM is necessary in allowing the company to effectively target its marketing practices to its existing customers and retain them in the long run (Chimote & Srivastava, 2011). It is because it is easier to sell to existing than to new customers.

References

Chimote, N. K., & Srivastava, A. (2011). A Study of the Effectiveness of Relationship Marketing Practices with Existsing Customers in Banaking Industry. Romanian Journal of Marketing, 6(4), 42-48.

Cullen, A., & Webster, M. (2007). A Model of B2B E-commerce Based on Connectivity and Purpose. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 27(2), 205-226.

Duffy, G., & Dale, B. (2002). E-Commerce Processes: A Study of Criticality. Industrial Management+ Data Systems, 102(8/9), 432-441.

Schoder, D., & Madeja, N. (2004). Is Customer relationship Management A Success Factor in Electronic Commerce? Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, 5(1), 38-53.

Subramani, M., & Walden, E. (2001). The Impact of E-commerce Announcements on the Market Value of Firms. Information Systems Research, 12(2), 135-154.

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Combining assets to obtain a superior balance between risk and return

How an investor can combine different assets to obtain a superior balance between risk and return

Order instruction

We aim to improve your understanding of how, in theory, an investor can combine different assets to obtain a superior balance between risk and return, and how traded options (one of the most common forms of derivative) work. You will also apply what you have learned to comparing the relative merits of investment funds.

Hints: Part A

In Part A, Question 1 is designed to help you build up your understanding of Markowitz efficiency and portfolio theory. You will find it useful to look back at Online Unit 3 and Chapter 3.

In your answers to Questions 1c(ii) and 1d, you are recommended to first practise using the Portfolio segment of the Investment Tool by working through the teaching and activities in Online Unit 3. You need to consider data from both the Performance and the Risk/Return tabs in the Portfolio segment, and you are advised to try different combinations of the securities specified before deciding on your answer. You could use diagrams to illustrate your reasoning either by copying and pasting the relevant diagram(s) from the Investment Tool (the Investment Tool guidance instructs you how to do this) or, if you prefer, by making your own copy of the diagram(s) shown in the Investment Tool.

Question 2a requires you to briefly explain the type of option that best fits each objective and how this would work. For Question 2b, you are not expected to give precise calculations, but an answer could be illustrated with actual numbers if you wish. A similar example, for the alternative case of put options, is provided in Activity 4.3 of Online Unit 4.

Question 2c requires you to think about the profile of investors described in the extract (age, goals, life-stage, expertise). You may find it useful to refer back to some of the investment risks considered in Chapter 2 of the module textbook. You do not need to write long answers. Question 2d does not require you to use the extract but instead to use material in the module to provide some explanation about the wider risks of trading options and derivatives.

Hints: Part B

Question 3 requires you to write an essay that draws on the information provided in Table 2, showing that you have thought about what an investor might expect from investment funds. This essay should include definitions of the terms ‘active’ and ‘passive’, as well as comments and definitions of the different performance indicators; it should also describe how these relate to relevant theory, such as the Capital Asset Pricing Model.

Part A – Question 1 – 1000 Words

a. Explain what is meant by an efficient frontier in portfolio theory. (4 marks)

b. Briefly explain what would be the rationale for a tyre manufacturer, in a relatively wet country like the UK, to keep producing tyres that are needed in dry weather. (2 marks)

c. Gemma has just been given some shares in easyJet. She would initially like to combine these in a portfolio with another share.

i. If she has only the information in Table 1 available, identify which asset would be sensible to choose and why. (2 marks)

ii. Using the Investment Tool (Portfolio segment), calculate the optimal proportions of such shares in Gemma’s portfolio to minimise its risk. Report the risk and the expected annualised return of such a portfolio. (5 marks)

d. Gemma is not happy with this outcome and would like to use one of the shares in Table 1, in combination with easyJet, to construct a portfolio with a much greater expected return (above 20%) but a risk no greater than 5%. Using the Investment Tool (Portfolio segment), identify:

i. which of the four remaining shares would allow such a combination

ii. the minimum risk that can be achieved for this portfolio while still reaching an expected annualised return of at least 20%

iii. the proportion of easyJet shares in this new portfolio. (6 marks)

e. Briefly explain why Gemma would not adopt a stock-picking strategy, of the type described in 1c and 1d above, if she believed in the semi-strong form of the Efficient Markets Hypothesis? (6 marks)

Table 1: Correlation coefficients between monthly real returns

	BSkyB	Glaxo	Diageo	Rolls-Royce	Tesco
easyJet	0.15	0.12	0.37	0.40	0.22

Question 2

Read the extract below and answer the following questions.

a. Briefly explain which options could be used by Mark Brisley and Evie Petrikkou to:

i. protect their portfolio of shares (3 marks)

ii. increase their income. (3 marks)

b. The last two paragraphs of the extract give an example of the potential gains and losses that can be made from issuing a call option. Explain how the potential loss per share would increase if the issuer of the call option no longer owned the shares. (7 marks)

c. Describe two risks of option trading for ‘do-it-yourself investors’: baby boomers such as those described in the extract. (6 marks)

d. Considering the entire market of derivatives, briefly explain how they could affect systemic risk. (6 marks)

New baby boomer hobby: trading options

After the financial crisis of 2008 hit their stock portfolio hard, Colorado Springs information technology contractor Mark Brisley and his wife Evie Petrikkou were worried. Casting about for a way to make up big losses, the two hit upon a strategy often considered the purview of Wall Street insiders: They could trade options.

Brisley began with the basics, buying and selling ‘puts’ – contracts that convey the right to sell a stock – to earn a little bit extra and protect the family portfolio from another debacle. Initially, he didn’t dabble in ‘calls’ – contracts that convey the right to buy a stock.

Now, five years later, he is a habitual trader who has embraced increasingly arcane options strategies. ‘We treat it almost like a business,’ says Brisley, 51.

Brisley may be the new typical options player – a do-it-yourself investor with a touch of gray. The average options trader now is 53 years old; 28 per cent of all options users are between the ages of 55 and 64, according to the Options Industry Council, a trade group. And those mom-and-pop enthusiasts have pushed trading volume up 16 per cent a year (by number of contracts) for the past decade, according to the Chicago-based OCC, the world’s largest equity derivatives clearing organization

When Fred Tomczyk, chief executive of brokerage firm TD Ameritrade, recently went to an investor education class on options trading, he noticed the crowd around him. ‘It was all people who look like me,’ Tomczyk, 58, told Reuters in a recent interview. ‘It was older people who are about to retire or just retired.’

Jared Levy, author of ‘Your Options Handbook’ and managing partner at Belpointe Alternative Investments in Greenwich, Connecticut, says it is no surprise that baby boomers are driving the options train. ‘A lot of the increasing volume has been coming from boomers with high net worth who have gained the ability to trade from home.’

But retirees should think twice before trading in their tennis rackets or bridge games for an options-trading hobby. Options are complex derivative instruments that may protect your portfolio and let you squeeze in some extra earnings – or cause you to lose your shirt and your pants along with your stock holdings.

Most share options allow traders in effect to place bets on the movement of share prices, and individual investors are notoriously bad about timing those bets in the first place. In fact, a recent analysis of more than 200,000 investors done for Reuters by online financial planning platform SigFig revealed that those who did not trade options thumped those who did. Investors who stayed away from options racked up 13.2 per cent in portfolio gains for the year ended June 25, while those who embraced the options trade lagged by 6 percentage points, with returns of 7.3 per cent.

In their basic form, options contracts are known as puts and calls. The buyer of a put has a right to sell the asset (like 100 shares of a stock or exchange-traded fund) at an agreed-on price. That could provide downside protection if the asset plummets in value. A call conveys the right to buy shares at an agreed-on price.

Say, for example, you own 100 shares of a company trading at $50 a share. You could sell a 90-day call at a $60-per-share strike price, for $200. If the stock goes down, you’ll keep the $200 and the call will expire. If the stock goes up to $58, you’ll keep the shares, the $200 and the $800 gain (on 100 shares). Again, the call will expire.

If the stock goes up to $75, you’ll keep the $200 and the $10 per-share gain between $50 and $60. But you’ll lose the extra $15 per share in gains because you’ll have to sell the stock at $60 a share – it will have been ‘called’.

Word limit Part B: 1000 words

Part b -Question 3

Compare the performance, risk and charges for the three funds reported in Table 2. To what extent might this data provide useful evidence to guide an investor in choosing between an active or passive approach to investing?

Table 2: Fund performance data

Fund	Type of fund	Annualised returns %			3-year data					OC (% pa)
		1 year	3 year	5 year	Volatility	Alpha	Beta	Sharpe ratio	R-squared
Baillie Gifford UK Equity Alpha	Active	28.79	14.38	18.92	14.42	2.05	1.07	0.72	0.91	1.55
F&C UK Alpha	Active	10.96	2.14	12.83	13.44	–6.79	0.99	0.08	0.92	1.72
HSBC FTSE All-Share Tracker	Passive	23.22	10.52	15.29	13.19	–0.67	1.03	0.46	0.92	0.17
FTSE All-Share Index		22.20	10.63	16.94

Source: www.trustnet.com and www.morningstar.co.uk (Accessed 29 October 2013)

Notes: OC stands for ongoing charges. HSBC FTSE All-Share Tracker tracks the FTSE All-Share Index.

Annualised total returns are calculated per annum on the bid price of 29 October over the respective period of 1 year, 3 years and 5 years (with net income reinvested).

SAMPLE ANSWER

Combining assets to obtain a superior balance between risk and return

Introduction

Correlation coefficient is applied when analyzing different types of stocks and asset behavior. Asset correlation in personal investing guards against exposure to excessive risks. It however doesn’t account for the reasons, causes or effect of the risks. (Markowitz 2009)

1a. Efficient frontier in the portfolio theory

It’s a theory in modern portfolio management that was initiated by Markowitz and it involves various combination of assets or portfolio in a way that brings out the best level of expected returns in an efficient way considering its level of risks. The standard deviation of the asset returns is plotted against the portfolios expected return which is obtained against the tangent of a risk free rate. The part of the hyperbola that represents the opportunity with the highest amount of expected return for a particular level of risk is known as the efficient frontier. (Elton & Gruber 2011)

1b. The rationale would be that the tyre manufacturer basically produces enough tyre for the UK market and also enough for export to other countries that would have a different kind of weather some may be dry. UK tyre manufacturer would have to satisfy even the markets that require the tyres that are needed in dry weather.

1c. i) The best assets would be Rolls-Royce and BSkyB stock. The stock represents very high returns but the risks are also high. The relationship that exists between the above stocks and the gains in the FTSE are very strong and positive relationship with the portfolio. For example a positive relationship shows a positive gain in the FTSE and the portfolios while a negative correlation coefficient shows that could actually lose some portfolio value as the FTSE gain gains value.

1c. ii) investors prefer investments with higher returns as well as investments with low risks. The best option is to select the most suitable and profitable option from the efficient frontier. The best way to point out the best option is by evaluating the indifference curves which represent the preference of the investors on different combination of risks and returns.

Optimal Performance calculations of EasyJet

	Easyjet	Glaxo	Port	BSkyB	Port	Diageo	Port
Expected Val mon %	2.32	0.30	1.31	1.22	1.77	1.07	1.70
Expected Ret (ann %)	31.72	3.60	16.89	15.72	23.48	13.60	22.35
Variance	71.50	22.94	26.04	45.54	33.43	16.01	28.12
STD %	8.46	4.79	5.10	6.75	5.78	4.00	5.30
5 yrs Beta	0.86	0.45	0.65	0.49	0.67	0.52	0.69
5 yr Alpha %	27.20	0.42	13.04	12.42	19.57	10.20	18.39
5 yr Sharpe ratio	3.55	0.40	2.98	2.08	3.77	2.98	3.90
5 yr total return	222.44	11.51	102.10	81.98	160.65	80.28	152.56


	HSBC	port	Roll Ro	Port	Tesco	Port
Expected Val mon %	0.17	1.25	1.95	2.14	-0.18	1.07
Expected Ret (ann %)	2.10	16.05	26.06	28.86	-2.11	13.66
Variance	37.17	31.31	36.96	37.50	37.31	32.78
STD %	6.10	5.60	6.08	6.12	6.11	5.73
5 yrs Beta	0.26	0.56	0.91	0.88	0.73	0.79
5 yr Alpha %	-0.43	12.52	21.38	24.26	-6.22	9.34
5 yr Sharpe ratio	0.07	2.57	4.01	4.44	-0.06	2.09
5 yr total return	-0.78	92.07	186.51	219.17	-19.70	72.23

The minimum risk is 5%

1d. i) Diageo

	Expected returns	Risks
Tesco	14%	6%
Rolls Royce	29%	6%
HSBC	15%	5.50%
Glaxo	17%	5%
Easy jet	31.72%	8.46%
Diageo	22.35%	5.30%
BSkyB	23%	5.78%

1d. ii) 5.3%

1d. iii) The proportion of Easyjet shares would be 50%.

1e. The lowest standard deviation and the average return of the portfolio and the capital allocation line gives the Sharpe ratio. The optimal portfolio balance is usually where the line’s slope is highest.

2a. i) The major challenge in the management of investment is basically the choosing of a convenient and appropriate investment while also designing a particular unit that will meet the expectation and the objective of the investor while also considering his constraints. These constraints could be the liquidity, need for regular monthly or periodical income, age, the risk tolerance or even the tax liability. Investments can be classified broadly as financial or real investments while financial investment can be further classified as fixed income or variable income investments.

To protect their shares portfolio, Mr. Mark Brisley and EviePetrikkou should sell a call that’s covered. For example, if they owned 100 or more shares that they intended to sell as stock (writes) that’s a call option. The buyer of the option would pay a premium so as to gain the right to buy the 100 shares at an agreed price known as the strike price for a certain limited time that’s until the options expire. If the stock’s value appreciates the option owner gains otherwise all the gains would have all ended up with the stockholder. The cash ensures protection from the stock price devaluation. They can also protect their shares portfolio by buying puts. For example during the 2008 economic crisis, the value of puts would generally have increased as the stock’s value deteriorated. The put owners have a right to sell their shares at the agreed strike price. The main advantage of buying puts is that the losses are mostly limited. The owner is allowed to pick a strike price that can match the risk tolerance and the minimum selling price is also guaranteed. The value of the portfolio cannot be allowed to fall beyond a certain amount. The other alternative is to replace all the stocks with options.

2a. ii) They can increase their chances of getting more income by taking options with a longer period of time that the option can be exercised.

2b) The potential loss per share would increase if the value of the shares reduces to 45 per share or less. After buying the options for 50 per share, the potential loss would increase to 5 per share which will culminate to a loss 500 for the 100 shares excluding the 200 premium.

2c) The risks in the extract can be analyzed from two approaches, the sellers and the buyers. When a trader purchases an asset that has a three months expiration and within that period the potential stock remains at a price that is lower than its original purchase price, then the risk of getting losses is inevitable.

The sellers also incur losses as there are some options that have unlimited risks or possibility of ending up in losses which largely depend on the movement of the potential stock. There are instances where the sellers are under obligation to sell even when the trading is not profitable.

Risks are inherent to any form of trading as the higher the risk the higher the profits.

2d) Derivatives have contributed largely to the need of increased risk management procedures. Derivatives have to led to the growth of the financial economy which had been preceded by the production economy in the late 1960,s and early years of 1970’s. (Ciner 2006)

Derivatives can affect systematic risks as its nature and implication go beyond the realms of the entire financial economy, social and also political framework of most economies. (Dodd 2005) This is possible as derivatives do not affect the underlying asset but only the price change of the asset which predisposes the assets to wide range of systematic risks. (Williams 2010) With increased innovations derivatives have evolved into new forms which have created cross-linkages in different asset valuation and price changes through different forms of automated digital platforms like swaps. (Blackburn 2008) Swaps provide the means and capacity to exchange one asset risk which is in a different class to another without actually gaining ownership of any asset with the investors. Such innovation has increased systematic risks that are associated with different forms of derivatives and has contributed to the interdependency of several different assets and their relative price changes. (Zeyu, Podobnik, Feng and Baowen 2012) Instability in only one class of a certain assets can cause a very widespread effect on the systematic stability several other related assets hence create a complex manifestation of associated risk in a financial economy. (Brownlees, Engle 2010)

3b) Alpha is also known as the Jensen index and it measures the risk adjusted return of an equity security while beta measures the volatility of the security as compared to its benchmark index. It basically indicates the securities or the stocks ability to gain value and it’s based on the company’s rate of earnings growth. Volatility measures the riskiness of a particular stock compared to the market. R-squared determines the exact proportion of a stock or security’s return. The F&C r-squared of 0.92 indicates that 92% of the returns of the security are basically due to the gains in the market while 8% is due to other factors related to the security. Sharpe ratio compares the overall relationship of risks and related rewards while exploring different investment strategies. Its Sharpe ratio is 0.08 or 8% and it’s the most risky security among the three as its ratio is the lowest. A higher ratio indicates a less risky investment. The F & C beta of 0.99 shows that the market has similar risks as the security while the r squared of 0.92 indicates that the bench mark index is almost wholly determined by the portfolio’s performance. It’s very high and it’s also referred to as the coefficient of determination. The volatility for F & C shows that its lower than 50% hence its acceptable as the beta is also close to 1.

The Baillie r-squared of 0.91 indicates that 91% of the returns of the security are basically due to the gains in the market while 8% is due to other factors related to the security. Sharpe ratio compares the overall relationship of risks and related rewards while exploring different investment strategies. Its Sharpe ratio is 0.72 or 72% which is the best among all the portfolio and it’s the safest to invest in as it’s less risky than all the rest of the securities. A higher ratio indicates a less risky investment. The Baillie beta of 1.07 shows that the market has similar risks as the security while the r squared of 0.91 indicates that the bench mark index is almost wholly determined by the portfolio’s performance. The volatility for Baillie shows that it’s lower than 50% hence it’s acceptable as the beta is also close to 1. (Elton & Gruber 2011)

The HSBC r-squared of 0.92 indicates that 92% of the returns of the security are basically due to the gains in the market while 8% is due to other factors related to the security. Sharpe ratio compares the overall relationship of risks and related rewards while exploring different investment strategies. The 0.46 or 46% shape ratio indicates that its return is risky. A higher ratio indicates a less risky investment. The HSBC beta of 1.03 shows that the market has similar risks as the security while the r squared of 0.92 indicates that the bench mark index is almost wholly determined by the portfolio’s performance. The volatility for Baillie shows that it’s lower than 50% hence it’s acceptable as the beta is also close to 1.

Reference

Brownlees, C.T., Engle, R.F., 2010. Volatility, correlation and tails for systemic risk measurement,

Blackburn, R., 2008, The Subprime Crisis, New Left Review, 50 Mar- Apr 2008.

Ciner, C., 2006, Hedging and Speculation in Derivatives Markets: the Case of Energy Future Contracts, Applied Financial Economics letters, 2, 189-192

Dodd, R., 2005, Derivatives Markets: Sources of Vulnerability in US Financial markets, In Gerald A. Epstein (Ed) Financialization and the World Economy, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham

Elton, E.J. & Gruber, M.J., 2011, Investments and Portfolio Performance. World Scientific. pp. 382–383.

Gray, D. F. and Andreas A. J., 2011, “Modeling Systemic and Sovereign Risk,” in: Berd, Arthur (ed.) Lessons from the Financial Crisis (London: RISK Books), pp. 143–85.

Markowitz, H.M., 2009, Harry Markowitz: Selected Works. World Scientific-Nobel Laureate Series: Vol. 1. Hackensack, New Jersey: World Scientific. p. 716

Sullivan, A. & Sheffrin, S.M., 2003, Economics: Principles in action. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

Williams, M.T., 2010, “Uncontrolled Risk: The Lessons of Lehman Brothers and How Systemic Risk Can Still Bring Down the World Financial System”. Mcgraw-Hill

Zeyu, Z., Podobnik, B., Feng, L. and Baowen L., 2012, “Changes in Cross-Correlations as an Indicator for Systemic Risk” (Scientific Reports 2: 888 (2012))

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Annotated Bibliography Assignment Available

Annotated Bibliography

Order Instructions:

It is important to take note of the community health promotion proposal which is (Obesity in Washington DC). and a minimum of 3 pages is require and you must follow proper guidelines for written an annotated bibliography .

This assignment gives you the skills and knowledge to begin collecting credible information needed for future assignments and experience with APA citation by creating your own annotated bibliography.
Annotations vary, and for this assignment, your annotations should provide a(n):

Summary of the book, article, white paper, web-site, or other resource

Evaluation of resource

Application to your community health proposal (Obesity in Washington DC).

Assignment Requirements
1. Annotate TEN sources.
a. at least five sources must be scholarly (peer-reviewed, evidence-based)
b. Three articles from professional and credible websites (i.e. NIH, CDC, etc.)
c. remaining two sources is your personal choice, although they must be credible
2. The articles should support your community health promotion proposal (Obesity in Washington DC).

SAMPLE ANSWER

Annotated Bibliography

Introduction

The following exercise entails the annotation or brief description of literature sources that discuss obesity in Washington DC. Majority of these sources are from peer-reviewed journals while others are from the websites of healthcare-oriented organizations’ websites.

Young, L. R., & Nestle, M. (2002). The contribution of expanding portion sizes to the US obesity epidemic. American journal of public health, 92(2), 246-249.

This article discusses the connection that exists between portion sizes of commercial food outlets and the rise in cases of obesity and overweight in the country. The gradual increase in the quantity of food provided in the market began in the 1970s and this went on until the level recommended by the Federal government was increased. The authors further propose that eating out needs to be prioritized as a sensitization area in the event of any community based intervention strategies.

Davidson, M. H., Hauptman, J., DiGirolamo, M., Foreyt, J. P., Halsted, C. H., Heber, D., … & Heymsfield, S. B. (1999). Weight control and risk factor reduction in obese subjects treated for 2 years with orlistat: a randomized controlled trial. Jama, 281(3), 235-242.

The article is based on the scientific fact of excess weight and or obesity being a risk factor for many cardio vascular conditions. What was established from the study conducted was that the weight-related risk factors for these health conditions could be reduced and even eliminated through weight loss.

Chidlcare.org (2014) Washington, DC Factsheet on Obesity, Childcare Website. Retrieved from http://www.childhealthdata.org/docs/nsch-docs/district-of-columbia-pdf.pdf on July 14, 2014

This is a document that Graphically illustrates the different dynamics of Childhood Obesity across the United States of America. With regard to Washington DC, the document indicates a drop in the prevalence rates from what they were in 2003. The document also states that Washington DC ranked as number 43 in terms of overall prevalence of childhood obesity. With regard to low income children who reside in Washington DC aged above two years but under five years, 24% of this group were considered to be obese.

Gillum, R. F. (1987). The association of body fat distribution with hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, coronary heart disease, diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in men and women aged 18–79 years. Journal of chronic diseases, 40(5), 421-428.

This article was not exclusively focused on Washington DC. The status of this city as a cosmopolitan area however made its statistics on obesity useful for purposes on this study. It was established that across the age groups, symptoms of obesity and other cardiovascular diseases were affected by ethnicity and gender with African Americans having a higher propensity to these illnesses when compared to whites. The key symptom that was used as a parameter was high blood pressure since it is manifested in most if not all of these illnesses.

Harris, H (2010) Childhood Obesity Report gives DC a starting point for improving diets, Washington Post Online. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/12/AR2010051204107.html on July 14, 2014

This article published online discusses the participation of the first lady, Michelle Obama and how this initiative being run from her office needs to be guided by the Obesity report that reveals the areas that need urgent attention as well as the neighborhoods where the condition is generally better managed.

Drewnowski, A., & Specter, S. E. (2004). Poverty and obesity: the role of energy density and energy costs. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 79(1), 6-16.

This article was derived from the results of a study that was conducted to investigate the relationship between levels of wealth and the control of obesity. The hypothesis that was in application during the study was that higher rates of obesity were generally being reported in populations whose members had lower education and higher poverty. This led to a disparity in healthcare between the rich and the poor. The study established that the rise in incidences of obesity resulted from an increase in people whose disposable income only allowed them to spend less and less on quality food, instead buying more of high fat, high sugar foods.

CDC (2012) District of Columbia’s Response to Obesity, Center for Disease Control, Online. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/stateprograms/fundedstates/dc.html on July 14, 2014

This webpage summarizes the statistics on obesity and how the three main age groups are affected by it. These age groups are adults aged 18 and above, adolescents who are in between the grades 9 through to 12 and also Children. The statistics for overweight and obesity indicate that this problem increases gradually with age and of the two, obesity sharply increases between adolescence and adulthood.

DOH (2014) Childhood Obesity. Department of Health Online. Retrieved from http://doh.dc.gov/service/childhood-obesity on July 15, 2014

The material presented in this webpage discusses childhood obesity with an emphasis on strategies that can be used to prevent it. The main strategy of providing dietary advice to the young as well as their parents is also explained. This is followed by the listing and brief description of the different initiatives that this office has kick- started.

McCann, B. A., & Ewing, R. (2003). Measuring the health effects of sprawl: A national analysis of physical activity, obesity and chronic disease.

This is an article that was published following a research study that sought to find out if there was a difference in the state of health of people who lived in urban areas and those who lived in sprawls at the time of the interview. The study too into account the amount of walking people from the respective groups undertook. It was established from this study that those who lived in sprawls generally had worse health records based on their weight and blood pressure. They had more weight and higher blood pressure. The study also found that those in urban areas walked more than those who lived in the sprawls. This was mainly due to the fact that they did less walking in general. Urban dwellers walked for exercise, to work as well as for daily errands. The study however found no correlation between these living conditions and diabetes and this was then hypothesized to be the because of the influence of heredity.

NIH (2014) NIH Obesity-Related Scientific Meetings, Conferences and Workshops Archive. National Institute of Health Website. Retrieved from http://www.obesityresearch.nih.gov/news/meetings-archive.aspx on Jul 15, 2014

Since the National Institute of Health has been researching on obesity for several years, it remains with an important cache of literature in the form of research studies, articles and also meetings by experts in this condition. This page contains links to the findings and discussions of these sources of information on obesity.

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Generic strategies concept definition Essay

Generic strategies concept definition

Order instruction

The final exam is a 3000 words essay. It is strongly advised to start working on it from the beginning of the course.

The aim of this essay is to demonstrate your understand of key concepts in strategic management and your capacity to craft a professional document. It will be a very good preparation for your dissertation.

You are asked to:

First part

. choose a concept/model in strategic management. You can choose this concept among the ones discussed in the course or choose another one. Examples of concepts are: core competencies, generic strategies, mergers and acquisitions, alliances, CSR, blue ocean strategy, etc…

. define this concept

. present the history of the concept: when was it discussed first, how did it evolve?

. discuss how/if the concept is relevant or not to today’s business challenges.

The first part should include a minimum of 10 academic references: books and/or articles from academic journals. It excludes textbooks and articles from business magazines that you can use also if needed.

All sources should be adequately referenced as for any professional academic document.

In the second part, you are asked to:

. present a real life application of the concept. You can use your own company or a company of your choice. This section should be like a mini-case study where you will present the situation of a company, the issues faced and how the concept was used to solve the issues and raise the general performance of the firm.

Approximately 2000 words should be dedicated to the first part and 1000 words to the second part.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Generic strategies concept definition

Companies utilize three types of generic strategies as ways of establishing their competitive advantage. Implementing a pure generic strategy is advocated as the ideal way of attaining sustainable competitive advantage. This paper outlines Wal-Mart’s low cost generic strategy that allows it to maintain its leadership position in the retail industry. Wal-Mart utilizes different tactics in logistics, and operations to make savings that are necessary to maintain a price competitive advantage.

The understanding of sustainable competitive advantage is a central area of focus in strategic management. Strategic management explores different concepts and theories that examine the market environment as well as internal factors of a company in a bid to underscore the best strategy for achieving sustainable competitive advantage. Generic strategies form one of the key concepts in determining a company’s strategic direction (Bordean, Borza, & Glaser-Segura, 2011). Generic strategies are three types of pursuits that organizations engage in to achieve competitive advantage. The pursuits mark the position of a company as a leader in a context of increased competition among business rivals. They include cost advantage, differentiation and focus strategies (Tanwar, 2013).

Porter outlined that companies’ competitive advantage may be defined through an approach on low cost operations where they produce goods and services at the least cost in the industry. The other is differentiating the products and services in a distinct way that sets the company apart from other players in the industry. Companies differentiate through providing unique or superior quality, special features or additional services. Differentiation enhances premium value on products or services resulting in higher profits than their rivals. Cost and differentiation are the two main strategies. Focus is the third strategy that entails companies directing their low cost or differentiated strategy towards a particular customer segment. The products or services are developed to suit a particular niche by customizing them to appeal to only one or a few customer segments in an industry. The focus strategy is used for segments that larger competitors ignore either because of geographic factors, buyer’s special needs, or product specifications. It is pertinent that the chosen segment provides adequate growth potential that is not of central importance to major competitors (Allen, 2006).

History of the concept: when was it discussed first, how did it evolve?

In 1985, Porter proposed the generic strategies through his book titled ‘Competitive Strategy’ (Porter, 1985). The strategies are called generic because they can be applied in any organization in any industry. The discussion evolved from the need to underscore the structures of industries within which companies operate through a model of analysis that evaluates their profit capability and attractiveness in 1980. This structural analysis originated from economic disciplines about environmental relations, organizational behaviour, and performance in the 1950s. The 1950’s approach viewed companies as passive but porter’s work changed this perspective by demonstrating that strategies albeit influenced by the respective sector structures, also had the capacity to influence the structures. Porter’s industry analysis model proposed outlined that generic strategies are beneficial when the associated gains are sustainable in relation to actions of the five forces of competition.

In 1989, porter indicated that generic strategies establish a sustainable profitable position against forces that drive competition in a particular industry. This implied that generic strategies involve a combination of external and internal approaches (Weber & Polo, 2009). Porter also indicated that it is rarely possible for businesses to achieve success by combining different generic strategies. It is because generic strategies require exclusive commitment. He also indicated that a business’ choice of a generic strategy is influenced by the five competitive forces that he identified in industries (Furrer, Sudharshan, Thomas, & alexandre, 2008). Selecting one of Porters generic strategies presents the initial step in formulating a business strategy.

How the concept is relevant or not to today’s business challenges

Company’s main business objective lies in attaining sustainable superior performance. Companies pursue either one of the generic strategies to maximize financial performance. There is contention about using a hybrid of the two main generic strategies. Opponents of a hybrid application indicate that pursuing a single strategy is beneficial in industries where customers display pronounced preferences for either quality or price. A pure low cost strategy is effective where customers are highly sensitive to price and where there is a fighting chance to retain a costs advantage. It may be achieved through proprietary technology or exclusive access to cheap factors of production or channels of distribution (Powers & Hahn, 2014). Companies use this concept to determine the most efficient approach based on their customers sensitivity. They evaluate the different customer segments and scrutinize their sensitivity to either quality or price and then tailor products or services to suit customer preferences.

Companies have used porter’s generic strategies since the 1980s to establish their competitive advantage and register above average returns in the industry. In determining which of the strategies to apply in a particular business to maximize performance, managers require an in-depth understanding of the tactics associated with the three generic strategies. For an organization to successfully pursue a differentiation strategy, there are various tactics that a manager must incorporate in its operations. One of the necessary tactics includes investing in innovation in the company’s marketing technology and methods. It may be operationalized through use of databases to identify customers of particular products that match a particular profile and targeting a marketing event to them. Using technology such as a database and mailing system is effective in generating new sales to the existing customers of a particular type of product or service. Marketing managers require using more technology applications efficiently to sell, as interact with consumers, and track the lifetime value of individual customer relationships. This differentiation tactic follows the recommendation that it is less expensive to market to existing customers than finding new customers (Akan, Allen, Helms, & Sprails, 2006).

Another tactic involves fostering innovation and creativity which is not focused on incremental improvements on existing products but rather, it focuses on building new products or services to achieve holistic innovation. It may involve observing customers daily activities to inform new designs of products and services. Its operationalization may be achieved through computational fluid dynamics to understand product performance. It requires that managers are in sensitive to changes in their market environment and invest in cross-functional teamwork that explores perspectives such as customer attitudes, industry trends and new technologies. It is also very imperative that managers create an environment where teams value innovation and creativity. This way, companies target quality differentiated products and uniquely engineered customer experience to sophisticated and knowledgeable customers that are willing to pay higher prices for the products (Akan, Allen, Helms, & Sprails, 2006).

Building a high market share is another imperative tactic for companies to pursue a successful differentiation strategy. Managers require leveraging diversity as an important way of achieving high market share. Recruitment managers require incorporating diversity in the hiring processes to ensure that a particular company’s workforce has a multicultural composition that matches cultural-ethnic diversity in a particular market. This is particularly relevant in a market such as the US, which has rich multicultural demographics. A diverse workforce provides required cultural intelligence that is necessary in designing strategies to reach target consumers. It informs strategies such as customized advertising and new product launches tailored to suit the buying power of various cultural groups within the industry. For instance, minorities may prefer to buy products or services from persons with similar ethnic or racial background. Leveraging workforce diversity achieves success because buyers form better relationships with salespeople that share their cultural values. They bond better with them because they trust them and it often results in repeat sales. It is also imperative that companies use ethnic media such as newspapers, television and radio to increase sales of their quality and differentiated products (Akan, Allen, Helms, & Sprails, 2006).

Managers also use different tactics in their pursuit of cost leadership strategies. For a successful cost leadership strategy, managers require adding value through replenishment logistics. One of the most successful tactic reducing distribution costs is cross docking. Retailers are renowned for minimizing distribution costs because they use retail cross docking and improve their customer service simultaneously. In this approach, goods move directly from the receiving dock and directly shipping. Sometimes goods are temporarily stored in staging to before being moved to the shipping dock. Retailers often order predictable quantities from vendors and this also helps them to benefit from discounts associated with large volume purchases. It eliminates redundant costs emanating from processes such as warehousing. Cost leadership strategies such as cross docking is therefore very necessary in solving business problems of redundant expenditure.

Managers also use different tactics in pursuit of a focus strategy. A manager may either choose a low-cost focus strategy or a differentiation focus strategy. In the low cost focus strategy, one of the tactics that a manager pursues is providing an outstanding customer experience. The operationalization of excellent service tactic may be accomplished through providing products and services at lower prices as compared to competitors and ensuring that customers shop conveniently by having hands on service to assist customers select their merchandise. It may also involve providing access to free services to adjust certain products to match customer expectations and anticipating and providing other services that go together with certain services. Good examples include having a tailor on site to make adjustments on shoppers merchandise in a clothing store and providing free Wi-Fi in the hospitality industry respectively. These free extras are viewed as customer service components that increase customer turnover to low cost products and services. Excellent service helps the company to save on costs and time that may otherwise be incurred to solve problems.

Companies may also use various systems to improve operational efficiency as a tactic that results in significant costs savings. For instance, health care institutions may invest in a system that reduces the cycle time needed to move medicine to various units. The system configures billing that tracks utilization, inventory and associated expenses. This way the institution keeps proper inventory on the costs per patient correctly and drastically reduces medication loss thereby improving operation efficiency by reducing costs for the health institution. Providing quality products and continuous training for employees is a low cost focus strategy tactic that works to increase customer turnover to products and services. The company saves on costs associated with poorly trained staff and malfunctioning products. The low cost focus strategy is necessary in saving on time and monetary costs that allow companies to sell products at considerably lower prices than competitors (Allen, 2006). A company pursuing this strategy has a delicate task in ensuring that its products and services are cheaper than competitors’ while at the same time providing outstanding service, maintain operational efficiency and offering quality products and availing highly trained personnel.

Pursuing a differentiated focus strategy requires certain tactics. The two tactics include managers must ensuring production of specialty products and services, targeting a high price market niche. To produce specialty products, it is essential that a company defines its main specialization such as furniture and offer other accessories that go hand in hand with furniture’s. It presents a competitive advantage of a company as a place that customers visit to discover new and different products every season. It provides a solution for customers looking for retailers offering a wide range of specialized products through a one stop shopping experience (Pretorius, 2008). This way the quality new entrant takes advantage of a new growing market segment.

The three generic strategies avail a pool of options for companies to utilize and attain long lasting competitive advantage. These strategies define a company’s positioning through an examination of where and how the company competes. The how is the type of strategy and where is the market segments and the business and geographic scope. There is increased support for implementing a pure strategy than combining several generic strategies. It is because doing so results in companies being stuck in the middle or lacking a clearly defined generic strategy (Brenes, Montoya, & Ciravegna, 2014). It is therefore advisable that companies in a particular sector avoid combining all the strategies such as offering unique products at low costs because it is highly delicate and it might present difficulties in performance.

Wal-Mart’s low cost generic strategy case study

Wal-Mart has nearly nine thousand retail stores in fifteen countries and over two million employees worldwide. As one of the largest corporation, globally its turnover in 2010 was four hundred and twenty one billion US dollars. It thus has a significant impact on its suppliers and markets worldwide. Wal-Mart is heralded for using a low cost strategy that informs its competitive advantage. The corporation takes pride in providing products at low prices, which saves customers’ money. It extends the low cost strategy to customers when venturing into both local and international markets. The strategy allows Wal-Mart to clinch a large market share and dominance over competitors locally and internationally. The corporation’s market dominance in the US market allows it the advantage of influencing low prices for a broad range of consumer products. Its strategy is backed through sale of high volumes at discounted costs while simultaneously focusing on well-organized supply chain management (Blanchard, Comm, & Mathaisel, 2008).

Wal-Mart’s low cost strategy results in low profit margins but high consumer turnover coupled with low supply costs. The corporation invests in technology systems that significantly minimizes internal operations costs, benefits from large economies of scale achieved through bargaining and large volume purchasing and improves its customer experience to outstanding levels in its store (Blanchard, Comm, & Mathaisel, 2008). For The Corporation to achieve success with its low cost strategy it works more efficiently than its business rivals. This entails maintaining low salaries for its employees and low prices to suppliers. It also saves on costs through an investment on energy efficient stores (Stankeviciute, Grunda, & Bartkus, 2012).

Wal-Mart’s initial years were characterized by challenges in maintaining low prices for its consumers. To maintain its reputation as a low cost retailer, the founder used tactics such as establishing store in areas with low real estate costs and ensuring that warehouses were less than a day’s travel as a strategy to minimize on costs. It also relied on word of mouth marketing rather than expensive media advertising. In the 70s and 80s, the corporation began combining merchandise and groceries stores under one roof as a way of spreading recurring overhead costs (Mottner & Smith, 2009). It enabled the company to increase its profit margins through realized cost savings.

The corporation strives to continually drive down high logistics costs incurred in transporting its supplies. To address the issue, it is currently retrofitting its hybrid-electric trucks to run on waste cooking grease in partnership with Daimler Trucks North. This project will avail more efficient lower cost transport fleet enabling the corporation to better compete. It is also selling its waste cooking grease from its restaurants to bio-fuel producers for pre-processing and this provides additional income (Stankeviciute, Grunda, & Bartkus, 2012). The savings are extended to consumers and works to maintain its cost leadership sustainable competitive advantage in the retail industry.

Wal-Mart also addresses challenges of competition by accruing savings that result from its investment in technology. It uses barcodes to tag its merchandise during manufacture and instantly relays sale information using its information technology. The corporation integrates its supply chain with Retail Link technology that ensures communication with its supply chain partners. Wal-Mart shares this technology with its suppliers and vendors to inform their shipment and routing activities. Internally, it uses Inforem technology to facilitate its automated replenishment which informs its ordering decisions. This way, it promptly offers the right products at low cost to customers (Crain & Abraham, 2009). Another way in which Wal-Mart succeeds in warding off its competitors is through cross docking. It possesses a large trucks fleet that avails products to the distribution channels at faster speeds than its competitors and its customers access required goods at faster rates. It also eliminates middlemen and reliance on hired transport supply chains. This way, it cuts down on business costs such as warehousing.

The fact that it is the largest retailer in the world allows it to benefit from economies of scale during procurement. It purchases goods in high volume and establish long-term relationships with suppliers. Bulk supplies ensure that it attracts higher discounts than its competitors. It also allows the company to negotiate low interest rates on large loans. It also targets its customers with trusted brands that allow it to further befit from economies of scale through reduced need for expensive advertising. It is nearly impossible for competitors to have bargaining power over suppliers and lenders that that matches Wal-Mart’s. This allows the corporation to maintain its leader position in the retail market of price sensitive consumers (Weber & Polo, 2009).

Wal-Mart also cuts down on costs through reducing personalized services because it pursues a pure low cost strategy. These way price sensitive customers can benefit from low priced products. Understaffing at its retailing units is however attractive to customers that are keen on accessing outstanding customer experience resulting in loss of potential customers to business rivals with better customer service. This however does not affect its profitability because it has established a niche in low-income customers that remain loyal customers owing to their preferences for lower prices. It is necessary for the company to remain committed to its low cost strategy as a way on maintaining long lasting profitability positioning in the sector (Werbach, 2009).

Wal-Mart continues to use its cost leadership strategies as avenues to attain competitive advantage over competitors for price sensitive customers. It is clear demonstration that Porter’s recommendation that companies pursue a pure generic strategy to benefit from its associated balance is accurate (Blanchard, Comm, & Mathaisel, 2008). For Wal-Mart to perpetually remain relevant in the retail market, it is imperative that it maintains its focus on low cost rather than combining it with differentiation strategy to also target consumers interested high quality services. Investing in quality services and providing products at low prices is not financially viable. It would be a failed business unit strategy. Companies must therefore carefully examine their generic strategy to ensure that it results in sustained profitability and superior business performance.

References

Akan, O., Allen, R. S., Helms, M. M. and Sprails, S. A., 2006. Critical Tactics for Implementing Porter’s Generic Strategies. Journal of Business Strategy, 27(1), 43-53.

Allen, R. S., 2006. Linking Strategic practices and Organizational Performance to Porter’s Generic Strategies. Business Process ManagementJournal, 12(4), 433-354.

Blanchard, C., Comm, C. and Mathaisel, D., 2008. Adding Value to Service Providers: Benchmarking Wal-Mart. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 15(2), 166-177.

Bordean, O.-N., Borza, A. and Glaser-Segura, D., 2011. A Comparative Approach of the Generic strategies within the Hotel Indiustry Romania vs USA. Management & Marketing , 6(4), 501-514.

Brenes, E. R., Montoya, D. and Ciravegna, L., 2014. Differentiation Strategies in Emerging Markets: The Case of Latin American Agribusiness. Journal of Business Research, 67, 847-855.

Crain, D. and Abraham, S. 2009. Using Value Chain Analysis to Discover Customers’ Needs. Strategy & Leadership, 36(4), 29-39.

Furrer, O., Sudharshan, D., Thomas, H. and Alexandre, M. T., 2008. Resource Configurations, Generic Strategies and Firm Performance: Exploring Parallels Between Resource-based and Competitive Strategy Theories in a New Industry. Journal of Strategy and Management, 1(1), 15-40.

Mottner, S. and Smith, S., 2009. Wal-Mart: Supplier Perfomance and Market Power. Journal of Business Research, 535-541.

Porter, M., 1985. Competitive Advantage. New york: Free Press.

Powers, T. L. and Hahn, W., 2014. Critical Competitive Methods, Generic Strategies, and Firm Performance. The Interantional Journal of Bank Marketing, 22(1), 43-64.

Pretorius, M., 2008. When Porter’s Generic Strategies are not Enough: Complementary strategies for Turnaround Situations. Journal of Business Strategy, 29(6), 19-28.

Stankeviciute, E., Grunda, R. and Bartkus, E. V., 2012. Pursuing a Cost Leadership Strategy and Business Sustainability Objectives: Wal-Mart Case Study. Economics and Managment, 3, 1200-1206.

Tanwar, R., 2013. Porter’s Generic Competitive Strategies. Journal of Business and Management, 15(1), 11-17.

Weber, W. and Polo, E. F., 2009. Evolution of Generic Competitive Strategies and the Importance of Michael E. Porter. Artigo-Marketing, 17(1), 99-117.

Werbach, A., 2009. Strategy for Sustainability: A Business Manifesto. Boston: Harvard Business Press.

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The Malden Mills Case Study Essay Paper

The Malden Mills Case Study

Order Instructions:

The Malden Mills case study just the way you have it.

SAMPLE ANSWER

The Malden Mills Case Study

As a private strategic consultant, the scheduled strategic plan for the company will have to be reviewed as a result of the dramatic misfortune that has befallen it. Owing to this situation, decisions will have to be made on both the strategic and operational fronts and viable plans for the future of the company formulated. In this study, knowledge regarding the strategic planning models, decision processes, and an SWOT analysis of the business and its environment will be applied.
Development of an effective strategic plan for the current unfortunate situation, understanding of strategic thinking processes, and tools such as issue based planning will be used. In the issue-based strategic planning, external and internal assessment to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the current business circumstances need to be determined. The criteria for planning will also involve strategic analysis to identify and prioritize the major issues that arise from this situation and the short and long term goals that need to be made. This criteria will also include the establishment of action plans that will be used to implement these strategies. The areas that will be covered by the action plan will include the needed resources, objectives of the implementation, and the roles of individual stakeholders in the process of implementation. Organic planning can also be used in this case to clarify the organisational cultural values in relation to various stakeholders within the Malden Mills environment (Thompson & Strickland, 2011).

Key stakeholder analysis will also be necessary in the implementation and design of the strategic and operational plan to help move the organisation from the current situation to an ideal one. The stakeholders are people or organisations that are negatively or positively impacted by the operations of the company. Key stakeholders are those with significant amount of influence within the organisation and include the employees who would soon lose their job positions. As a result of the burning of the textile mills, several parties will be affected including the management of the company that includes Mr. Farnsworth, who have to deal with the rebuilding of the company and shareholders who belong to the Farnsworth family. Others include the insurance company that will handle the insurance claim of the fire on the assets of family fabric, and the entire council and community of the town especially the individuals who might have been displaced as a result of the fire. The harmonious relationships among stakeholders will greatly affect the post-crisis responses of this incident in the organisation (Weiss, 1994).

A recommendation for direct action will involve short-term crisis management strategies such as ensuring those injured in the inferno have the most effective health care to avoid any lawsuits that may arise due to negligence. Sending corporate gifts and get-well messages as a simple act of compassion can save the company millions of dollars in legal and compensation fees. The next most immediate action would be to salvage any assets left after the inferno. These would include raw materials, finished goods, and some plant and machinery that might have survived the inferno. The cost of reusing these materials or refurbishing these assets would be far much less than procuring and buying new items. The employees of the company will then be asked politely through direct email to not resume work until investigations about the cause of the fire are finished, and cumulative damage done to the factory accounted for. This notice will provide the management of the company with ample time to set up back-to-work strategy for the employees since the company is deemed as an economic cornerstone for the community. This communication will minimize the expected worry and uncertainty of workers, the community, and other stakeholders in general and give at a minimum some hope and reassurance (Wells, 1997).

The long-term strategy for the future of family fabrics will depend on its long-term considerations. These considerations include the rise of competition in the textile market since the outdoor clothing manufacturers and design houses have expressed an interest in the product and the demand for it is high. The second consideration for the future would be providing a plan to ensure that the universal decline of the textile industry due to technological advances, foreign competition because of the availability of cheap labour, and other hosts of economic factors such as the decline of disposable income from traditional customers of the company, does not affect the company. The third factor to consider for the future of the company would be securing the necessary funds from other financial bodies such as banks and other outside investors for the restoration of the century-old building and all its contents including other machinery and technology. Closure of the company is not an option since its death will result to the death of all the economic activities in the town due to the loss of jobs for the employees who are inhabitants of the town. Increased financing from either debt or equity might make the Farnsworth family lose a significant share of their stake in the company unless they find a way of getting all the finances necessary to rebuild Family Fabrics by themselves (Hill & Jones, 2010).

A plan for viable business options for family fabrics would include painful decisions such as reducing the overall employee numbers working in a factory until all operations resume as usual. Other business options would be to expand the market base for the “Arctic Cloth” into other international markets. This can be done cheaply by considering building a branch of the company in an area with cheaper labour and freer labour loss. The profit margin of the company as a result might increase if the management of the company decides to reduce the retail price of the commodity thus maximizing in the economies of scope and scale. The company also needs to invest in more technologically advanced processes of production and utilize the produced by order basis (Drucker & Maciariello, 2008).

The efforts above will guide the management in the development and growth of the operational plans necessary to achieve a “big picture” as prescribed by the longer-term considerations of the management team of family fabrics if the organisation’s core competencies are used to bring about some competitive advantage and critical goal achievements.

References

Drucker, P. F., & Maciariello, J. A. (2008) Management (Rev. Ed) New York, NY: Collins.

Hill, C. W., & Jones, G. R. (2010) Strategic management cases: an integrated approach (9th Ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western/Cengage Learning.

Thompson, J., & Strickland, I. A. (2011) Crafting and executing strategy: concepts and readings global edition concepts and readings (18th-rev. ed., global Ed.). London: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Weiss, J. W. (1994). Business ethics: a managerial, stakeholder approach. Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth Pub. Co

Wells, S. J. (1997). Choosing the Future the Power of Strategic Thinking Burlington: Elsevier

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Research Design and Dissertation

ASSIGNMENT 1: Research Design and Dissertation

The first assignment is to produce a research report (max. 3000 words) based on an analysis of qualitative data you will each collect by undertaking an interview. Your task is to conduct an interview, record it, transcribe a sample of your recordings, undertake some initial analysis of the content of the conversation and reflect on the process of collecting data this way. It is expected you will support this using insights gained by your wider reading on the subject of qualitative interviewing.

The aims of the assignment are:

to familiarise yourself with the use of a qualitative method (in this case interviewing) for both data production and data analysis
to develop your research interviewing and transcription skills
to promote reflection on the process of doing qualitative research.

The assignment task is to use a semi-structured or an unstructured interview process to discover your interviewee’s views and perspectives on the subject of the proposed dissertation topic, research question, aim and objectives

This will involve using interview approaches to probe the subject and gather and analyse your interviewee’s own responses to this topic (in his or her own words).

The expectation is that you will interview a fellow postgraduate student, possibly someone from your own course (but you can interview a postgraduate student from outside the LSBF if you wish). You will have to use your initiative to find a person who will be willing to be interviewed. It is preferable to make contact with someone you don’t know very well; a useful approach to do this may be to seek someone who is a friend of a friend. Alternatively you may be able to identify an individual who is an expert in the field of research you wish to explore. This brings the benefit of generating useful primary evidence contributing towards your dissertation project.

It will make sense, if you are interviewing a fellow student, to ask them about their proposed dissertation topic since they will be motivated to discuss this. They can then return the favour if you choose to be their interviewee.

Give yourself plenty of time to set up the interview. Having made contact, you will have to explain what the interview is about and arrange a time and date. The interview should take place at a location where the interviewee feels comfortable but also where you are both safe, for example, in a public space or business school building during normal office hours. (University guidance on lone working can be found at https://portal.lincoln.ac.uk/C1/hs/Health Safety Handbook/S, Lone working policy and Guidance v1-5.doc). Set aside between 1 to 2 hours for the interviewing; you may not need this long but don’t underestimate how long it may take to undertake a meaningful interview. The intention is to allow the interviewee to talk freely.

You decide if you want to use a unstructured or semi-structured interview approach. You must explain your choices in the method discussion of your report. If you use a semi-structured approach prepare a schedule of interview topics you think it may be useful to discuss (please include these as an appendix to your report and comment on the practical and theoretical relevance of these in your analysis). If you use unstructured interviewing approaches describe in your report how you started the discussion and used follow-up questions. You should lead your interviewee into the topic gently without putting words into his or her mouth; so you should not introduce too much rigid structure or artificiality into the conversation. The atmosphere should be relaxed allowing your interviewee to talk in detail about events important to him or her. Your role is to keep the interview flowing and on-course and respond to their conversation appropriately with follow-up questions and comments. Ideally you want to capture rich, descriptive details of their experiences and perspectives.

There are three stages to this assignment, each has specific marks allocated to it and must be in evidence in your final report:

1) Data production and Method (approx. 1000 words):

Each student is to conduct their own interview with a relevant participant and should consider (through appropriate reading) how to conduct this successfully.
The report should discuss who you selected (a general description, without identifying the individual); why you selected them and how you set up the interview with them.
Ethical guidelines are emphasised and you should ensure that you follow these (including for example considering issues of informed consent and confidentiality).
The interview must be recorded – this must be kept safe and made available to the tutor if requested. You should be able to use your phone, mp3 player, computer or a recorder to complete this task.
Your report should include an account of the methods used and your methodological approach. Academic references should be used to indicate how your approach was informed by background reading on qualitative interviewing. You should also discuss how and why any themes were chosen to help structure the interview and how the resulting data was analysed.

2) Transcription (approx. 500 words of actual conversation from the interview):

The assignment must include a transcript of part of the interview; which should demonstrate the use of transcription techniques.
Students need to familiarise themselves with the ‘script’ of the resulting interview. They should listen to the tape several times to work out which parts of the conversation are most relevant, interesting and able to demonstrate your transcription skills. This extract from the interview should be around 500 words and must include (as a minimum) the exact words as spoken during part of the interview.
The interview should be conducted in English (even if the interview participants English is not perfect). Your transcript should be of the interview as spoken, and this may include mistakes and unusual sentences. You may however sometimes have to include some explanatory comments in order to make the sense clear to the reader.
In the extremely unlikely event you are unable to interview in English you would need to make a full transcription in the first language and then a full translation. Your reasons for doing this must be justified and discussed in the method section and it should be noted that this is NOT RECOMMENDED – as it takes much longer to do and is much harder to capture the meaning of the conversations.

Reflection on research findings and process (approx.. 1000 words):

Students need to write a short reflection on the interview they conducted.
This should include a summary of the findings – including a summary of key themes emerging from the interviews and the lessons learnt.
You might want to discuss the differences between your original expectations of themes for conversation and those discussed in the interview itself.
You should reflect on the success or otherwise of the interview in addressing the overall original objective of the research.
You may want to relate this discussion to the known strengths and weaknesses of the technique you chose (giving academic references). Remember this should always relate to a reflection on the process of your interview and its outcomes not a general discussion.

The structure of the report should be as follows:

Method Description and Discussion (approx. 1000 words) – 40% of marks
Transcript. Presentation of an extract from the interview, a sample transcript with annotations (approx. 500 words) – 30% of marks
Reflection on the interview findings and approach (approx. 1000 words) – 20% of marks
References (using Harvard conventions) – demonstrating appropriate wider reading and skills in referencing – 10% of marks

The report should be submitted electronically as ONE document; so as to detect any attempted plagiarism. Please remember that academic honesty is required at all times and your work must be entirely your own. Views and quotes from other authors are encouraged where they add to your argument/discussion but the source of these should be clearly given (as a reference) and all quotations/website extracts must be clearly indicated by using quote-marks.

Submission deadline 31 August 2014 (submitted through LMS)

Maximum word count: 3,000 words

Generic Marking Criteria

Overall result

Marking Criteria

Distinction

70%+

70-79%

80-89%

90%+

Excellent work that will:

o display a full understanding of area of research and mastery of a significant body of data

o use full range of sources, used selectively to support argument

o provide a coherent and strong argument

o display originality in analysis and subtlety of interpretation

o be exceptionally well written and presented

o present the possibility of publication.

High quality throughout with an excellent understanding of the subject.

Showing insight and potential for publication with some revisions.

Exceptional insight and of publishable quality.

Good

Pass

60-69%

60-64%

65-69%

The work will:

o display effective use of main materials, going beyond the standard secondary sources

o present coherent and concise argument of complex concepts

o present independent and critical evaluation of a range of theories

o show some evidence of originality

o be written and presented to good academic standards.

Well developed argument and evaluation.

Approaching excellence in some areas.

Pass

50-59%

50-54%

55-59%

The work will:

o display a sound basic knowledge of principals relevant to the area of study

o present a logical structure, though this may not be fully thought through

o display some capacity to critically reflect or analyse

o be unlikely to show evidence of originality

o be presented and written to adequate academic standards.

Generally accurate and sound understanding of area of study.

Approached good standard in several areas.

Fail

<50%

40-49%

30-39%

<30%

Many of the basic elements may be present but the work will be lacking in other areas, such as,

o key information sources and content which will be limited

o unsophisticated use of key sources

o poorly structured and sustained argument displaying limited knowledge

o conceptual understanding is poor.

o defects in presentation

o parts of the question may be missing or only partially answered

Overall knowledge limited and poorly presented.

Very poor knowledge of subject and weak understanding of issues.

Deeply flawed, containing fundamental mistakes.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Research Design and Dissertation

Introduction

The dissertation topic to be considered concerns the influence the country of origin on consumer behaviour mainly because it is a phenomenon which is significantly affecting international business where consumers prefer products from certain countries compared to others. The research report will specifically involve conducting an unstructured interview inn order to make sure that the questions of concern are answered and the answers provided are analysed for the sake of giving out the research findings in form of a statistical findings which are presentable.

According to the selected dissertation topic which is “the influence the country of origin on consumer behaviour”, stating the research problem would specifically involve this issue. For instance, the use of products from outside the home country among consumers worldwide has been increasing despite the production of similar products in their countries which are made locally. This implies that consumer behaviour, and particularly the perceptions and attitudes of local consumers towards products made in varied countries seem to be different. However, it is important to note that the noted variations in perception and attitude among consumers can be attributed to the influence of country of origin on consumer behaviour mainly because it affects the perceived value and perceived quality of the product in market, eventually influencing the loyalty of consumers towards particular product brands.

The purpose of this research is to the influence of country of origin effects on consumer behaviour among consumers as well as their perceived quality and value of certain products manufactured in various countries, and how this relates to consumer loyalty towards the considered product.

The objectives of this research are as follows:

To examine influence of the effects of a product’s country of origin on consumer behaviour among consumers.
To establish how country of origin influences consumer loyalty towards a product.

In addition, the research questions are shown below as follows:

How does country of origin influence consumer behaviour among consumers?
How does the country of origin effects influence consumer loyalty towards a product?

This kind of research has crucial importance mainly because country of origin has in the recent past become an important factor in the determination of consumer behaviour in international across the world. This implies that, the findings of this research would be of great help to manufacturers of various products both locally and internationally because they would of critical significance in helping them to understand the influence of country of origin effects on consumer behaviour. This would help to enable manufacturers and marketers to devise the necessary competitive strategies which would help in terms of survival, customer retention, market share expansion, and building product loyalty among consumers.

Data Production and Method

This research used unstructured interview to collect information from a postgraduate student within the same department who was not my friend, but a friend of my classmate. A student within the same department of business was selected mainly because such an interviewee would be in a better position to understand the issue and/or phenomenon under study thereby making sure that the answers given to the questions asked during the unstructured interview are more appropriate and precise to the intended outcome (Denzin and Lincoln, 2005). The postgraduate student selected to participate in the unstructured interview is in his first year of studies, but has diverse knowledge on various contemporary business topics especially those concerning international business considering that the interviewee has significant experience in international business.

The choice for an unstructured interview to conduct this study was mainly because it is a spontaneous conversation, which does not involve asking of specific questions in a predetermined order since it involves collection of information concerning varied aspects of the issue and/or phenomenon under investigation (Silverman, 2000). The reason why unstructured interview was selected is due to the fact that the research respondents and/or participants and the researcher engage in a formal interview where both schedule time to sit and speak with each other in an interview in order to get answers for all the questions (Patton, 2002). Despite the unstructured interview not having a particular schedule, the interviewer has a clear plan in mind concerning the goal and focus of the interview mainly for the purpose of guiding the discussion. Moreover, a structured interview guide is not available and the interviewer builds rapport with the research respondents and/or participants by getting them to willingly open-up and express their views and opinions in their own way (Gillham, 2005; Saunders, 2006). This is mainly attributable to the fact that questions asked are usually open-ended and express little control over the responses of the informants.

This implies that unstructured interview should be used when significant understanding has been developed about the research topic as well as the research setting. This is mainly because this would allow an open discussion between the interwar/researcher and the interviewees making sure that succinct, explicit and precise answers about the considered questions are obtained from the research respondents. Additionally, during an unstructured interview which often consists of open-ended questions and discussions, details of the interview particularly those concerning the main issues of the research should be recorded either manually using a pen and paper or digitally using recorders (Marschan-Piekarit and Welch, 2005). This is usually very essential in helping the interviewer towards focusing on the interaction with the research respondent or participant and following the discussion.

Furthermore, the unstructured interviews have many benefits which continued to make them useful against other methods of research. Firstly, the unstructured interviews are helpful in developing an understanding of the issue or phenomenon under investigation explicitly (Mason, 2002). Secondly, unstructured interviews are essential in allowing researchers towards focusing on the respondents’ talk on the research topic, and in most cases it gives the researchers an opportunity to test their preliminary understanding regarding the research topic, while still giving them an opportunity for new ways to see and understand the research topic. Finally, the unstructured interviews are in most cases used as crucial preliminary steps in the process of developing more structured interviews (Eriksson and Kovalainen, 2008).

Additionally, ethical issues must also be considered in the research methods mainly to make sure that the research is ethically upright in terms of the main ethical issues which must be considered for the purpose of making sure that there is no violation of ethical issues because the research includes human subjects and/or subjects (Gummesson, 1991). In particular, obtaining informed consent as well as privacy and confidentiality are the most significant ethical issues that were considered during this research. For instance, informed consent must be obtained from all the research respondents and/or participants to make sure that all those taking part in the research do so willingly and without any form of coercion. This indicates that any information gained from the research respondents and/or participants would be relied upon in the analysis of the research findings since no single respondent or participant was forced to take part in the research process (Saunders et al, 2006).

The other ethical issues that were considered in this research include confidentiality and privacy which particularly regards that any information obtained from the research respondents and/or participants should remain private and confidential. This means that any unauthorized person should not be allowed to access any information obtained from the participants of the research unless the necessary authorizations are granted (Burns, 2000). This helps in making sure that the identities of the individuals from where the research information is obtained are not reveal to avoid compromising the validity and reliability of the research findings. The recorded information should then be kept safe and away from any unauthorized individual for the purpose of making sure it can be retrieved at a later date in a good form which would enable it to be used for many times throughout the research period without compromising its quality or content (Bryman and Bell, 2007).

Transcription

This section presents the actual questions asked during the conversation between the interviewer and interviewee in a chronological manner whereby the opening conversation is involved together follow-up questions as well as closing remarks. The first set of questions concerns the process involved in preparing and writing a dissertation meaning that the questions are specific to the process of writing a dissertation. Additionally, considering that the research topic involves a study of the influence of country of origin to consumer behaviour amongst consumers, it is important specific questions concerning the topic will also be asked as shown below for the purpose of making sure that the goal or aim of the research is achieved.

Transcription from the interview

Part A of the interview (General questions on dissertations writing process)
Interview questions	Response
1	The most important issue when selecting a research topic is that you should have interest in it and sufficient knowledge
2	Research questions, aims and objectives formulated through literature review or discussion with the supervisor
3	Research questions, aims and objectives importance is to ensure that the research does not deviate by keeping it in line with intended outcome
4	A dissertation should be structured in five chapters in the following order: introduction, literature review, methodology, analysis and discussion and finally the conclusion and recommendations
5	Literature review expounds on the knowledge on the topic being researched or helps to get new knowledge
6	Research type and/or design adopted by researcher is influenced by research questions and research strategy
7	Type of interview adopted by the researcher is influenced by the level of information obtained from the respondents
8	Semi-structured interview helps to generated data in an orderly manner through a set schedule, but rigid. Unstructured interview is easy to conduct, but the collected data not orderly.
9	By ensuring that the research materials are diverse and varied
10	The process of selecting part of the population to use in research work to make generalisations about the entire population
11	An entire set from where the sample is selected
12	Privacy of the respondents and confidentiality of whatever is discussed as well as seeking consent of the respondents
13	In bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs, and histograms
14	Discussion of the research findings is find their relationships between them and existing theories or form the platform for future research in case of a new area of research
Part B of the interview (Specific research topic questions)
Interview questions	Response
1	Preferences are: price, quality of the product as well as country of origin
2	Yes, I do know considering that influences the purchase of me buying the product
3	Yes, I do prioritise the country of origin because of the quality probability of the product
4	I simply refuse to purchase because I don’t know the quality and probably the satisfaction I may gain when I buy
5	Yes, because technological aspects are very important for example when considering the electronics
6	Yes, I do believe so. For example south Africa is good in wine and therefore when am buying wines and I know is coming from South Africa I know am buying something good, irrespective of the price
7	Surely, I do always want to know the country of origin, because that would determine the quality of the product of course the higher the quality the higher the price
8	I do buy wine from south Africa also France, perfumes from France and when its comes to leather industry belts and shoes from Italy

The above transcription clearly shows that a succinct understanding of the general process of writing a dissertation is very critical. Particularly part A of the interview confirms this. Additionally, part B of the interview which covers specific research topic questions reveals a strong relevance of a product’s country of origin in influencing consumer behaviour.

Reflection on Research Findings and Process

When reflecting on the findings obtained from the interview that was conducted during this research, it is important to note that there are various issues that can be observed particularly on the research findings and the entire research process. For instance, a reflection on the interview that was conducted indicates that interviewing a post graduate student was more appropriate in making sure that the research respondents and/or participants give effective answers towards the asked questions. The interview answers also provided insights into the entire process of writing a dissertation. In addition, interview was also done on the selected research topic showing that the answers given to the asked questions were relatively appropriate meaning that there was a relationship between the country of origin and consumer behaviour of the considered research respondents and/or participants.

Therefore, it important to consider that the interview conducted during thing this research reveals that all the questions asked by the researcher or interviewee were succinctly answered all at once and very few follow-up questions were asked due to explicit answers provided to the questions asked. However, despite the fact that answers to all the questions which were asked are answered, it is necessary to note that the answers provided can be directly used for analysis in order to make sure that conclusions can be made from the research findings as a way of ensuring getting important meaning of the information obtained from the research respondents or participants during the research.

A consideration of the research findings in summary indicates that there is a very strong relationship between the country of origin of a product and consumer behaviour towards it mainly because consumer behaviour is determined by attitudes and perceptions of consumers towards the product. Precisely, the findings obtained from this research shows that many consumers usually consider the country of origin of the respective products as an important factor prior to making purchasing choices.

According to the research findings the process of product evaluation generally evokes some associations which are brand-specific stored within the memory of the consumers which end up contributing to the overall brand image (Williams and Page, 2011). The findings of this research also reveal that this is a very essential aspect of consumer behaviour mainly because it allows for differentiation between products which are manufactured in different countries meaning that the country of origin effects constitute one of the essential aspects of consumer behaviour due to the fact that their ability for allowing consumers in developing generalizations, perceptions and attitudes concerning a product’s country of origin, which is a crucial basis of consumer’s evaluations of products and/or brands (Drozdenko and Jensen, 2009). The research findings imply that consumers’ micro and macro country images have the potential of significantly influencing consumer behaviour which means that country or brand image which are often created based on the associations of country of origin effects with perceived quality of products made in the same country influence the key brand equity dimensions such as brand loyalty and brand associations (Shlomo and Jaffe, 1996). According to Koubaa (2008) the moderation of country of origin image effects on a brand is mostly done by both brand and country reputation. This is a clear indication that there is a direct relationship between consumer loyalty and/or consumer behaviour with a country or product image implying that products from various countries are in most cases evaluated differently on the basis of the image of their country of origin from the perspective of consumer’s attitudes and perceptions (Cai, et al. 2004).

Finally, a key reflection of the research findings and the entire research process shows that there is need to prioritise primary research because it allows collection of original information and/or data. This means that the obtained information would be very essential to determine how the final research will be carried out; hence, the findings obtained from the unstructured interview would form an important basis for a more structured interview and/or study because it provides a framework for conducting a more robust and bigger study which would be carried out for research findings which are more valid and reliable. A combination of these reflections indicate that using a good research design as well as a good research methodology would result to appropriate findings which could be applied in many situations of contemporary business dues to their validity and reliability which ensures that they can be replicated to a variety of situations. Furthermore, consumer behaviour is considered to be highly dependent of the perceptions and attitudes of the consumers towards certain products and services, and country of origin has been determined to be one of the important aspects because research findings reaffirms the same.

Reference List

Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2007), Business Research Methods, 2^nd Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Burns, R. B. (2000), Introduction to Research Methods. London: Sage Publications.

Cai, Y., Cude, B. and Swagler, R. (2004), “Country-of-origin effects on consumers’ willingness to buy foreign products: an experiment in consumer decision making”, Consumer Interests Annual, Vol. 50, pp. 98-105.

Denzin, N. and Lincoln, Y. (2005), The SAGE handbook of Qualitative Research London: Sage.

Drozdenko, R. and Jensen, M. (2009), “Translating country-of-origin effects into price” Journal of Product & Brand Management, Vol. 18 No. 5, pp. 371 – 378.

Eriksson, P. and Kovalainen, A. (2008), Qualitative Methods in Business Research. London: Sage.

Gillham, B. (2005), Research Interviewing: The Range of Technique. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Gummesson, E. (1991), Qualitative Methods in Management Research. London: Sage.

Koubaa, Y. (2008), “Country of origin, brand image perception, and brand image structure”, Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 139-155.

Marschan-Piekarit, R. and Welch, C. (2005), Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods for International Business. London: Edward Elgar.

Mason, J. (2002), Qualitative Researching. London: Sage Publishers.

Patton, M. (2002), Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Saunders, M et al (2006), Research Methods for Business Students. London: Financial Times/Prentice Hall.

Silverman, D. (2001), Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analyzing talk, text and interaction. London: Sage.

Shlomo, L. and Jaffe, E. (1996), “Country of origin effect on international market entry”, European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 32 No. 1/2, pp. 61-72.

Silverman, D. (2000), Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Handbook. London: Sage Publishers.

Thomson, S. B. (2011), “Sample size and grounded theory”, Journal of Administration and Governance, Vol.5 No.1, pp. 45-52.

Williams, K. C. and Page, R. A. (2011), “Marketing to generations”, Journal of Behavioral Studies in Business, Vol. 3 No. 1, pp. 37-53.

Appendix

The questions asked concerning the general process of writing a dissertation as well as how to set research questions, aims and objectives are as follows:

How do you select the research topic?
After selecting the research topic how are research questions, aims and objectives formulated?
What is the importance of research questions, aims and objectives?
How should a dissertation be structured?
How does literature review help in the process of writing a dissertation?
What influences the research type and/or design adopted by the researcher?
What influences the type of interview adopted by the researcher either semi-structured or unstructured?
What are advantages and disadvantages of both types of interview?
How does the researcher make sure that the research findings are valid and reliable?
What is sampling in qualitative research?
What is a population in a qualitative research?
What are the ethical issues considered by the researcher if a researcher involves human subjects in the study?
What are the most common methods of representing data collected in a research?
Why is it necessary to discuss research findings?

The questions asked concerning the specific research topic are as follows:

When purchasing a product, what is your preference?
Do you know the product of origin of all the products which you purchase?
When a lot of equivalent products are available, do you prioritise the product’s country-of-origin prior to purchasing?
When you do not know a product’s country of origin, do you refuse to purchase it?
When purchasing a product, do you believe that its technological aspects are determined by the country of origin?
Do you believe that the quality of a product is determined its country of origin?
When purchasing a product, do you always seek to know its country of origin?
Which are the countries from where you mostly purchase their products?

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