Dragon Age Two | Gameolosophy
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Monday, January 31, 2011
A Scary Proposition: How Egypt Shutdown the Internet to Try and Quell the Uprising
Image via WikipediaHere's a scary proposition - how a country can very easily shutdown the Internet in a time of crisis. Indeed, one of the first things Egyptian authorities did in trying to quell anti-government rallies in Egypt was to shut down the Internet, Fox Business' Shibani Joshi explains how Egypt Shutdown the Internet - Watch below and comment here on the blog:
David Wyld, Professor of Management
Southeastern Louisiana University
Wyld About Business (http://ping.fm/x69Xr)
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Sunday, January 30, 2011
When Facebook Met the Social Network: Mark Zuckerberg Appears on "SNL" With His Cinematic Counterpart
Image via WikipediaWhile awkward, this promises to be one of the classic moments in movie and tech history, as Mark Zuckerberg meets his on-screen counterpart (Jesse Eisenberg) from "The Social Network"for the first time - watch below and comment on the blog:
And read details about how this came about below:
David Wyld, Professor of Management
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Wyld About Business (http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/)
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Triangular Balance And Other Sales Strategies
We are encouraged to purchase things in a number of ways, using a variety of different techniques from the subtle to the downright hard sell. Let’s have a look at some of the most common ways retailers aim to increase sales.
Music
The music you hear when you enter a shop may influence your behaviour and your likelihood to buy. Hypnotic music can induce a trance like state where you aimlessly browse then select items without really thinking clearly.
Music can work wonders at increasing sales. The obvious example is somewhere like HMV where the store plays the latest releases. The music can also extend how long you spend in a shop, especially if you hear something you like and you want to hear the whole song, or ask the vendor who the artist is.
It is not only music shops whose sales can be boosted my music. Playing seasonal themes such as Christmas songs in shopping Centres during November/December puts shoppers in a nostalgic and festive mood, perfect for spending lots of money!
Fashion outlets may benefit from playing the latest tracks to their customers, aiming classical and older pop music at mature shoppers and the latest pop, trance at their younger buyers.
The type of music chosen is very important because the customer doesn’t want to hear death metal unless they go into a Gothic shop! French music has been noted to increase the sale of French wine, whereas German music has been said to up the sales of German wine.
Lyrics can contain subliminal messages which can affect our behaviour and likeliness to buy. They often play songs with a positive, encouraging vibe. A good example is ‘You Can have It All If You Want.’ Music can increase shopper’s patients when queuing and soothe the aggravated.
Having the radio on in a shop is said to decrease sales. A low hum of white noise is good if you don’t want music on as it puts the customers at ease by taking the attention away from them.
Retail outlet layout
A shop’s layout will usually be cleverly thought out to maximise sales. Have you ever noticed how most PC shops have loads of space to walk around? Bad planning you might think, why are they paying for space they aren’t even using? The company likes the customer to be able to walk about and try out the software without feeling cramped.
In many shops most expensive things will be in good view but also the second rate things like quick sell-offs from Valentine’s Day passed will be by the door for those in a hurry. Shops selling impulse buys such as umbrellas and chocolate will keep them on the ends of the aisles or by the door.
Triangular balance is a tactic used to draw attention to the biggest most expensive product, say a perfume. The objects are arranged in a triangle with the choicest product in the middle. The human eye is naturally drawn to the middle of the triangle.
Clothes shops which obsessively fold garments are discouraging sales. Customers will be afraid to rummage through the neat piles and staff will spend too much time tidying as opposed to selling.
Supermarkets keep the things they want you to buy at eye level with the cheapest brands on the bottom shelf. Customers are less likely to buy these in a hurry. Milk is often kept at the back of a store ensuring the customer walks past as many other aisles as possible.
Lighting and displays
Good shop displays are artistic. If there are lot of the same product of the same colour in one place it looks regimented. Shops often mix up identical products which are available in different colours to fool the customer into thinking the one they chose is exclusive.
Good shop displays are artistic. If there are lot of the same product of the same colour in one place it looks regimented. Shops often mix up identical products which are available in different colours to fool the customer into thinking the one they chose is exclusive.
Window dressers favour clusters of between three and five objects because odd numbers are pleasing to the eye. As I have discussed, Triangular Balance is a popular layout. The lighting is important too, as is cleanliness and frequency of change. Seasonal window displays
Appropriate lighting is very important in a shop. One retailer had to do away with the energy saving light bulbs because they were altering the colours of the products.
In supermarkets lighting on meat should be adequate to make it look fresh. Lingerie’s departments often dim the lighting to make customers feel more comfortable about shopping for their smalls.
Appealing to our needs
As well as music, shops create an atmosphere by pumping the smell of fresh bread through the air system. The tactic will hopefully start the shopper’s stomach rumbling and make us feel hungry. Hey presto we head straight for the bread aisle and pick up a loaf. Drink establishments are well known for selling salty snacks to increase our thirst for beer and raising the temperature to induce dehydration.
Pubs, restaurants and bars have no shame about employing young, attractive, scantily dressed staff to appeal to their clientele and encourage them to buy more beer through engaging with the opposite sex.
Women are under so much pressure today to feel and be sexy that it is easy for shops to play on their vulnerability. Many women are easily influenced by images of sexy girls with slogans like ‘look younger’, ‘you’re worth it’ and so on. A woman may feel she has to have that new top in order to fit in and retailers know that.
Loyalty cards, store cards and come- back- soon schemes.
A lot of shops have reward card systems, for example Nectar, Boots Advantage, Tesco Club card etc. They give the customer the incentive to return. Some stores say sign up today for a storecard to get a percentage discount of your purchases. Schemes which are said to only be in operation for the day put consumers under pressure to sign up for discount.
Hungry? Horny? Feeling ugly? Be on your guard when you go shopping or they will swiftly have you part with your cash.
Making Your Job More Tolerable
Making Your Job More Tolerable
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This article reveals how it is possible to make your job more tolerable, no matter how mundane it is.
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This article reveals how it is possible to make your job more tolerable, no matter how mundane it is.
Compassion Is A Strength, Not A Weakness
Compassion Is A Strength, Not A Weakness
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Despite what many say, compassion is a strength and not a weakness. Read here why.
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Despite what many say, compassion is a strength and not a weakness. Read here why.
A Possible Reason For The Current, Cold UK Winters
A Possible Reason For The Current Cold UK Winters
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In recent years, we in the UK have been having some severe winters. Read up a theory for why.
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In recent years, we in the UK have been having some severe winters. Read up a theory for why.
Maintaining Mindfulness In Your Relationships
Maintaining Mindfulness In Your Relationships
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This article looks at how one can maintain a degree of mindfulness of relationships.
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This article looks at how one can maintain a degree of mindfulness of relationships.
What Exactly Is Mindfulness?
What Exactly Is Mindfulness?
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Look into what exactly mindfulness is, in clear, concise, definition.
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Look into what exactly mindfulness is, in clear, concise, definition.
Eastern Religion Now Avaliable On The NHS
Eastern Religion Now Avaliable On The NHS
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This article looks into how the intial eastern religious practise of mindfulness is now becoming avaliable on the NHS.
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This article looks into how the intial eastern religious practise of mindfulness is now becoming avaliable on the NHS.
Me & My Story, Transcending Your Life Story
Me & My Story; Transcending Your Life Story
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Looks into how we can transcend our life circumstances.
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Looks into how we can transcend our life circumstances.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Egypt Crisis: Why Global Inflation and Food Prices May Be Playing a Major Role in Instability Not Just in Egypt, But Around the World
In this interview with Neil Cavuto, Jerry Bowyer, author of “Free Market Capitalist’s Survival Guide,” discusses global inflation, food riots and their connection to the crisis in Egypt. Watch below and comment here on the blog:
David Wyld, Professor of Management
Southeastern Louisiana University
Wyld About Business (http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/)
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New Article Analyzing Reverse Auctions in Government in the Journal of Public Procurement
Image via WikipediaThis is a very good scholarly article on the use of reverse auctions across government, both in the United States and around the world, that has just been published in the Journal of Public Procurement. It is entitled, "ELECTRONIC REVERSE AUCTIONS AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR: FACTORS OF SUCCESS." The article was authored by Moshe E. Shalev and Stee Asbjornsen, who are the Contracts Officer, and an Associate Procurement Officer, respectively, with the United Nations Secretariat Procurement Division in New York City. The very expansive article should be a must read for all involved in public procurement, as it speaks to the power of competition that reverse auctions bring to governmental acquisition. The article's Abstract is reproduced below:
ABSTRACT. Electronic reverse auctions (e-RAs) provide purchasers with an
opportunity for greater savings, transparency and administrative benefits.
This paper reviews the literature, identifying the factors relevant to public
sector e-RA success, and then tests these factors through a statistical
analysis of a large sample of e-RAs, with a view towards providing guidance
to public sector purchasers looking to conduct e-RAs. Our research found no
correlation between e-RA success and the number of bidders or auction
volume, but did find correlation between e-RA success and (1) competition
among suppliers, (2) purchase complexity, and (3) purchase specification.
The number of bidders was found to be correlated with competition among
suppliers, specification and complexity. Auction volume was found to be
correlated with none of the factors. We discuss the possible explanations for
our results and draw conclusions for public sector procurement managers to
consider when deciding whether to conduct an e-RA for a particular
purchase.
Now, the article itself is a bit hard to access (unless you happen to subscribe to the Journal of Public Procurement. It resides on the Scribd website, and you can download it from this URL (although it may cost you unless you wish to post a document or presentation in return):
http://www.scribd.com/doc/39032383/Electronic-Reverse-Auction-and-the-Public-Sector-Factors-of-Success-Moshe-E-Shalev-Stee-Asbjorensen
Seek it out - well worth the trouble!
David Wyld, Professor of Management
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Wyld About Business (http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/)
From the Reverse Auction Research Center: http://reverseauctionresearch.blogspot.com/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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World of Warcraft / Cataclysm / Getting Started With Archaeology
With the coming of Cataclysm there have been many changes, including the introduction of a new profession; Archaeology. It’s a secondary profession like cooking, meaning that you don’t have to give up one of your two main professions to learn it. It’s easy XP, too – so if you’re not doing it yet, you should really get on it.
Click here for step by step directions on getting started with archaeology!Call It "Beef-ish" or "Beef Adjacent": Stephen Colbert Takes on Taco Bell's "Beef" Controversy
Image via WikipediaHere at Wyld About Business (http://wyld-business.blogspot.com), we've been monitoring the news regarding Taco Bell that is rocking the fast food industry - and changing the plans of many in regards to their "fourth meal." See our coverage here:
Where's the Beef?: Taco Bell Sued Over Meat That's Just 35 Percent Beef - FoxNews.com
Now, Stephen Colbert and the Colbert Report have done their comedic take on the matter. Watch below and comment here on the blog:
David Wyld, Professor of Management
Southeastern Louisiana University
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
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David Wyld, Professor of Management
Southeastern Louisiana University
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How to Hook Your Wii Up to Netflix
I just got a Wii for Xmas and I had quite a time trying to figure out how to hook it up to netflix, so I thought I’d put this here for others who are having the same difficulty. Netflix is a really awesome site that allows you to watch pretty much whatever you want whenever you want for a low rate, and Wii is a game console made by Nintendo – the people that gave us Mario! :)
Click here for easy to follow directions on how to hook your Wii up to Netflix!Exciting Times for IMAX Theater Goers...and for the Company Itself: Watch an Interview with IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond
Image via WikipediaExciting things are coming to an IMAX theater near you. In this story from Fox Business, IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond comments in Davos on the growing number of IMAX theaters, the forthcoming movies in IMAX format, as well as takeover rumors surrounding the company. Watch below and comment here on the blog:
David Wyld, Professor of Management
Southeastern Louisiana University
David Wyld, Professor of Management
Southeastern Louisiana University
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Netflix: Changing the Game in How We Consume Video and What It Means for Media Companies
Image via WikipediaHere's a great story from Fox Business in a segment simply titled "What Makes Netflix Stand Out from Competitors?" In this clip, FBN's Shibani Joshi on why Netflix stands out from its competitors which include iTunes and Google TV. Watch below and comment here on the blog:
David Wyld, Professor of Management
Southeastern Louisiana University
Wyld About Business (http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/)
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Thursday, January 27, 2011
6 essential steps to get youtube views!
Youtube is the place people go to watch videos. There is really no way around that fact. It’s the second largest search engine in the world, so you absolutely have to find ways to get those numbers up if you care about the visibility of your online videos. Here are six basic techniques everyone needs to know.
Read more at:
http://webupon.com/video/6-essential-steps-to-increase-views-on-youtube/
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Read more at:
http://webupon.com/video/6-essential-steps-to-increase-views-on-youtube/
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How I got 1,000 real twitter followers in less than 10 days!
The internet is full of sites and services that promise you an increase in twitter followers for free. At times it can be very hard to discern a legitimate way of increasing your followers without being filled with spam and useless followers. That’s where twiends comes in...
Read more at: http://webupon.com/social-networks/how-to-get-over-1000-twitter-followers-fast/#ixzz1CHHtEVeN
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Read more at: http://webupon.com/social-networks/how-to-get-over-1000-twitter-followers-fast/#ixzz1CHHtEVeN
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A Look Inside the Ken Block Empire: Sports, Clothing, and Marketing to the Extreme
Great story from ABC's Nightline on Ken Block - one of the more innovative business leaders - and risk-takers - out there today.�Watch below and comment here on the blog:
And now you know what Gymkhana is (just don't go out and try that yourself)! Know any other corporate leader that can do that in a Ford Fiesta??
David Wyld, Professor of Management
Southeastern Louisiana University
Wyld About Business (http://ping.fm/AEtky)
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