Selfie Obsession - 5337 Words

Section-1 INTRODUCTION Background of the study (Credibility in Wikipedia) A selfie is a type of self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone. Selfies are often associated with social networking, like Instagram. They are often casual, are typically taken either with a camera held at arms length or in a mirror, and typically include either only the photographer or the photographer and as many people as can be in focus. Selfies taken that involve multiple people are known as group selfies or ussies. Robert Cornelius, an American pioneer in photography, produced a daguerreotype of himself in 1839 which is also one of the first photographs of a person. The concept of uploading group†¦show more content†¦Selfies have also taken beyond the earth. A space selfie is a selfie that is taken in space. This include selfies taken by astronauts, machines and by an indirect method to have self-portrait photograph on earth retaken in space. In January 2014, during the Sochi Winter Olympics, a Selfie Olympics meme was popular on Twitter, where users took self-portraits in unusual situations.The spread of the meme took place with the usage of the hashtags, #selfiegame, and #selfieolympics. Research Questions 1. What is Selfie? 2. What are the benefits of selfie to the fourth year students of Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College? 3. What are the disadvantages of selfie obsession? Definition of Terms For the better understanding of the study, the following terms are operationally defined: 1.Selfie A selfie is a self-portrait, typically a photograph, that is posted online. The most common places for selfies are blogs, social networking sites, such as Facebook, and photo-sharing websites, such as Instagram. 2.Obsession An idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a persons mind. Significance of the study This research was conducted to acquire information with regards to the status, Facing the problem of the Good, the Bad and the Unexpected Consequences of Selfie Obsession. The result of this study may give information to the following: * Students- This study will help the students to knowShow MoreRelatedThe Social Aspect Of A Self Image1746 Words   |  7 Pages Introduction Oxford Dictionaries awarded the term ‘Selfie’ as word of the year in 2013 and define this phenomenon as a photograph that has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or web cam and uploaded to a social media† arguing the selfie to be the modern approach to self-portraiture with â€Å"More then 1 Million Selfie’s taken each day†. The global popularity of this ritual of social networking has even had a song dedicated to this trend, symbolising of an era of youth culture. The ‘bandwagon’Read MoreEssay Selfie and Self Image 1114 Words   |  5 Pagestoday is the language that is spoken. Today’s language is filled with slang terms that are derogative, over used, and narcissistic. One of the most over used words of 2013 was the term selfie. The word selfie was named Oxfords Dictionary’s word of the year. According to the oxford dictionary the definition of selfie is â€Å"a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website† (â€Å"Definition†). The definition of this term is farRead MoreHow Does Technology Affect Our Lives?849 Words   |  4 PagesIn November 2013, the word selfie was announced as being the word of the year by the Oxford English Dictionary, which gave the word itself an Australian origin, but now has officially became a warning sign and can cause psychological issues. Currently, most teenagers just can t seem to put t heir phones down and I ve even seen them out to dinner or in a class, playing on their phones and not being in the moment. This can cause all types of mental disorders or addiction. We develop of senseRead MoreThe Relationship between Selfies and Real Life Relationship Quality1004 Words   |  5 Pagespeople began to use self-portraits not only just to capture moments of their lives, but also to refocus the way they viewed themselves. Nowadays, these self-portraits are called selfie. The term selfie was first used on Flickr in 2004, but it took almost a decade to reach the masses. According to Oxford Dictionary (2013), selfie is defined as â€Å"a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a Smartphone or webcam and uploaded to any social media website†. People now live in a timeRead MoreAnalysis Of Jacque Lacan s The Mirror Stage1644 Words   |  7 Pagesspurred me to begin thinking about the way the modern day â€Å"selfie† relates to this â€Å"ideal-I† that Lacan discusses within his Mirror Stage lecture. And even further, the way in which these selfies differ from a self-portrait. The self-portrait and the selfie are two separate, though seemingly coinciding pieces whose efforts are both to express and (potentially embellish) the definition of one’s- â€Å"ideal-I†. So is it not the literal â€Å"selfie† that is not acceptable as a self-portrait in its existenceRead MoreThe And The Long Revolution1841 Words   |  8 Pagespeople never imagined to have it. Nowadays, everyone likes to express themselves and they are following ‘selfie trends’ as a numerous social media has been created. Some people take selfie every day, some people take it three times a week, some people rarely take it, and some people never took it before. It is one of our modern cultures and nobody will disagree with it. It could be said that a selfie culture has been widespread at the beginning of the smar t phone age. However, people take different selfiesRead MoreSelf-Images and Selfies1509 Words   |  6 PagesChosen as Oxford dictionaries as the 2013 word of the year, the term selfie refers to â€Å"a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website. The term has made a definite mark on popular culture, the frequency usage increased over 17,000% in the 2012-2013 year (BBC News). With the rise in popularity there has also been much discussion on the possible effects of the selfie phenomena. Some articles argue that taking a high number of selfiesRead MoreNarcissism Is A Disease That Has Always Plagued This Nation1328 Words   |  6 Pagesself and/or abilities, whereas narcissism is the love or obsession with one’s self. Many millennials today tend to get the 2 mixed and think they go hand in hand, but they don’t. We live in an age of selfies and social media dominance. In case you don’t u nderstand what I mean by that I will spell it out. It simply means that millennials are more entertained by the thought of themselves than anyone else. I mean come on just look at the word selfie. It has millennial written all over it. That is the problemRead MorePope Francis1011 Words   |  5 Pageselected, Vatican employees receive a bonus. Upon his election, the extra money was given to directly to charity instead.             15. He spoke out against the Church’s ‘obsession’ with   abortion, gay marriage and contraception    In a voice of reason, Francis shocked the Catholic world when he stated that  the Church was an unhealthy obsession with abortion, gay marriage, and contraception. He criticized the Church for putting dogma before love,  and for   prioritizing moral doctrines over serving the poorRead MoreTeenagers: Obsessed with Obsession580 Words   |  2 PagesObsessed with Obsession As the child-like desire to be admired becomes a general consensus for modern day teens, the world begins to see the vein nature that is becoming of its future generation. Teenagers today care more for followers and favorites than true family and friends. Allowing their obsession to be obsessed about by others take over their lives, solely to get a temporary fix of attention in the form of favorites by screaming out in a toddler like fashion Look at me daddy, look what

Small Enterprise Association of Australia

Question: Discuss about the Small Enterprise Association of Australia. Answer: Introduction: As per the Halabi, Barrett and Dyt (2010), small scale companies uses accounting software for the purpose of production of the financial statements such as balance sheet, cash flow statement and income statement. It is also found that the accounting information or knowledge is viewed differently by different companies due to which the accounting software cannot be used to their full potential. The accounting software is used by the Australian Tax Office for the purpose of recording and collecting all the financial information. The main reason behind it is that the accounting software facilitates in gaining knowledge regarding different financial transactions. The owners of the firms are required to submit their taxation return which record the information related to income and expenditures made by the firm and calculates its profit or loss in a year (Halabi, Barrett and Dyt, 2010). In the views of Griff (2014), the taxation returns of each entity records the total number of similar type of transactions carried out by the entity such as bank interest received, costs of goods sold, sales, wages paid and so on. For the purpose of taxation, cash accounting is applied. In addition to this, the business operations can be reflected in an appropriate manner by the use of accrual accounting. The qualitative data analysis software package is being used for the purpose of identification of the keywords and categorizing the text into themes (Griff, 2014). According to Breen, Sciulli and Calvert (2003), there are several accounting software which are used by the organizations for recording operational activities rather than for strategic purposes such as MYOB and CAS. Companies are heavily relied on the accountants for the reviewing of the financial statements and carrying out different book keeping services in spite of the implementation of the CAS software in the organization. Nowadays, companies are encouraged to utilize CAS accounting software for the reviewing of the financial statements as it facilitates in reducing the overall cost incurred to review it. After the implementation of the GST in 2000, companies are accepted the usage of computerized accounting software for the reviewing and formation of the financial statements of the company. Besides this, companies require accounting software for the purpose of creation of financial statements in order to take decisions in an effective manner. Such accounting software are easy to use and can be easily used by untrained accountants (Breen, Sciulli and Calvert, 2003). As per Walker and Oliver (2005), nowadays, firms spend considerable amount on the accounting packaged software for the purpose of framing and reviewing accounting information as it facilitates in reducing the time and cost. Some financial services firms adopt commercial packages that suit their needs for which they incur cost in the way of license fees, sponsored development and maintenance (Walker and Oliver, 2005). Curtis (2012) has stated that MYOB is an accounting software considered best for small scale businesses. This software contains different accounting modules such as sales and purchasing modules and inventory modules. It is considered as easy to use business software and can be applied to any type of business. This software facilitates managers to process and tracking bills payable and receivables, sales and purchases. This software is considered as a powerful tool for managing the inventory in an effective and efficient manner. It also facilitates in communicating the financial information to other related parties by the way of e-mails. This software facilitates in the management of cash receipts and expenditure or inventory in an effective manner. This software facilitates in carrying out different functions of small scale businesses such as banking, accounts, purchases , card file, job management and generation of financial reports. MYOB is not only considered as accounting softwar e but also regarded as business and inventory management solution. This software results in gaining real time data and ex;porting of all reports to MS Excel. This software has more than 1000000 users for managing their different business functions throughout the world. This software and its products are developed in Australia since 1990. Besides this, it is alsio used in Malaysia from 1996 (Curtis, 2012). In the views of Deshmukh (2006) MYOB (Mind Your Own Business) is an Australian multinational company that provides payroll, accounting and retail software and web hosting to small and medium businesses. This software is well known and used by majority of the businesses in Australia and New Zealand. The company is listed on Australian Stock Exchange in 1999. The company has also launched new package of online services in the year 2008 which includes e-mail hosting, web hosting and domain registration. The main competitors of MYOB include Intuit and Xero. There is an existence of the challenges faced by users of MYOB which include data security, however, the company has invest heavily in the security of the data (Deshmukh, 2006). As per the Stolowy and Lebas (2006), the computerized accounting software facilitates in improving the speed and accuracy of processing of the accounting information. In addition to this, the information is rolled back from the server in case of occurrence of disasters and hazards. The use of accounting software facilitates in reducing the labor required in the organization as most of the processes is completed automatically such as plotting graphs, charts and calculations. Nowadays, businesses expand their businesses across national boundaries due to several reason such as presence of cheap resources, better tax regulations and trade liberalization which has resulted in an increase in the bearing on the accounting procedures and processes of the company. The increased volume of the accounting information results in the exposure of the information to errors due to the presence of complexity of the accounting information system. The use of accounting information system helps in storin g large amount of financial information due to presence of large storage and processing capability (Stolowy and Lebas, 2006). According to Needles and Powers (2008), the accounting software packages facilitate in provision of the whole accounting system to be run on computer. The main reason behind it is that it facilitates in keeping accurate and up to date accounting and inventory reports. There is a requirement of maintaining complex financial information in an accurate manner as the businesses expand their businesses across the globe by acquiring new customers, new markets and adoption to the changes taking place in the technology to remain competitive in the market. The computerized Accounting System helps in streamlining, simplify and integrate the business processes and provide a clear picture of all the business processes to the users. The use of accounting software is becoming popular among different businesses due to reduction in the computer prices and accounting software. In Australian, majority of the small businesses uses accounting software and packages to record financial transactions (Needl es and Powers, 2008; Kolitz, 2016). Lewis and Trevitt (2003) has suggested that improvement in technology has resulted in the adoption of the computerized accounting systems and results in the replacement of the manual accounting systems. The computerized accounting system facilitates in processing the information which is earlier performed manually. This has helped in gaining accurate, valid and reliable results from the financial information. Besides this, it also facilitates in improving the overall performance and productivity of the organizations. The computerized accounting system has applied same logic of journal entries, ledger, reports and statements in a manual system. It also facilitates in generation of the financial statements in an easy and quick manner for the purpose of its review by the management of the company. This system helps in combining the accounting concepts and principles with the concept of information system for the purpose of recording, analyze and production of the financial statements to its users so that they can make effective decisions in a quick manner (Lewis and Trevitt, 2003). As per Ahmed (2008), the benefits of CAS such as adoption of the user friendly accounting software, quick, huge storage capacity, provision of accurate and reliable results have forced small and medium enterprises to adopt the system in order to record the financial transactions in an effective manner. Besides this, there is also a need for managers to consider different factors before the adoption of the accounting software and packages such as consistent and timely data in different reporting formats. The computerized Accounting system facilitates in reducing the time to record financial transactions. This facilitates in providing accounting information in a simple manner in the accounting software. This also helps in reducing the time spent by the staff in preparation of the accounts (Ahmed, 2008). Besides this, Turner and Weickgenannt (2008) have suggested that it also helps in reducing the audit expenses by keeping up to date and accurate information. It is important for the organizations to store information in the system for indefinite time so that they can view the information in future for the purpose of making comparisons in future. Besides this, it also facilitates in distribution of the information to different stakeholders of the company in an easy manner. The generation of the financial reports of the company helps managers to monitor its financial performance and make quick and accurate decisions with regard to the business (Turner and Weickgenannt, 2008). References Breen, A.P.J., Sciulli, D.N. and Calvert, C. 2003. The role of external accountant in small firms. 16th Annual Conference of Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand, pp. 1-11. Halabi, A.K., Barrett, R. and Dyt, R. 2010. Understanding financial information used to assess small firm performance: An Australian qualitative study. Qualitative Research in Accounting Management 7(2), pp. 163-179. Walker, R.G. and Oliver, G.R. 2005. Accounting for Expenditure on Software Development for Internal Use. Abacus 41(1), pp. 66-91. Griff, M. 2014. Professional Accounting Essays and Assignments. Lulu Press. Curtis, V. 2012. MYOB Software For Dummies. John Wiley Sons. Deshmukh, A. 2006. Digital Accounting: The Effects of the Internet and ERP on Accounting. Idea Group Inc. Turner, L. and Weickgenannt, A.B. 2008. Accounting Information Systems: Controls and Processes. John Wiley Sons. Ahmed, N. 2008. Financial Accounting: A Simplified Approach. Atlantic Publishers Dist. Lewis, R. and Trevitt, R. 2003. Vocational Business Financial Accounting. Nelson Thornes. Needles, B.E. and Powers, M. 2008. Financial Accounting. Cengage Learning. Stolowy, H. and Lebas, M. 2006. Financial Accounting and Reporting: A Global Perspective. Cengage Learning EMEA. Kolitz, D. 2016. Financial Accounting: A Concepts-Based Introduction. Routledge.

Athenahealth Inc. Analysis

Athenahealth controls health system management software market through its products that target physicians. The company has enjoyed considerable success due to its strong marketing strategies. For six consecutive quarters, the company has posted positive earnings.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Athenahealth Inc. Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This demonstrates the strengths and viability of the marketing approaches adopted by Athenahealth. The company’s hold on the market and its influence is attributed to a number of strategies. The continued investment in client infrastructure has increased the scales of operations within the company. This has enabled Athenahealth to develop products with strong infrastructural backing in the market.  The company has also continuously leveraged its payer rules, a strategy that has contributed to increasing in annual profits. The strength and reputation of t he database have enabled the company to automate its software after sales. This improves product compatibility and customer satisfaction. Through this, the company has developed a strong after-sale incentive aimed at improving the loyalty of the customers. Athenahealth has also developed a commission-based revenue model which is aimed at reducing start-up cost for businesses. This approach has reduced the overall cost of Athenahealth products as compared to market competition. The low infrastructure cost of Athenahealth products has also enhanced its market performance. Athenahealth products have been consistently ranked as the best by the KLAS enterprises. This has improved its reputation in the market and increased its competitiveness. Research and development The development of cutting-edge technology for healthcare sector remains the key mission of Athenahealth. To achieve this goal, the company has invested heavily in its research and development. To fulfill the dynamic needs o f the clients, the company has initiated research to test its ICD-10 product. This product will enable the company to acquire critical information on client’s billing processes. Surveys can also be conducted using the ICD-10 to determine the performance of the EMR product.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Athenahealth has also initiated a number of RD processes to improve the efficiency of its previous products. As a result, the company has engaged their clients to document some of the challenges associated with the pioneer software. Thorough research and development led to the introduction of AthenaClinicals. This product has enhanced the experience of the end users due to its simplicity. The product is considered to be more physician-centric due to its enhanced features. Physicians using AthenaClinicals can access drug information with ease. Operations Athenahealth i s engaged in healthcare software designing, production and marketing. Through the AthenaNet propriety, the company develops products aimed at streamlining the operations of the healthcare sector. Service operation is also a major operational division within Athenahealth. Through this division, the company builds and maintains software and software databases for various health facilities in the country. Under this role, the company has coordinated with healthcare facilities and insurance companies to introduce new products. Such products are specified for a given market. The company’s revenue arises from three main activities and products. Revenue cycle management is the first product that was developed by the company. It is marketed under AthenaCollector trade name and is currently used by different healthcare facilities. AthenaClinicals and AthenaCommunicator are the latest software developed by the company. These are engaged in clinical and patient cycle management respecti vely (Hermanson, 47). Human resources Athenahealth has developed a strong working culture that enables the employees to grow and discover their potential. The company is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on gender or race. Internal promotions and transfers are done based on merit and experience of the employees.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Athenahealth Inc. Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To meet the needs of the market, employees at Athenahealth are constantly trained and exposed to new ways of product development. To address the emerging issues in the organization, the company engages in periodical employee engagement surveys (Lois and Aneil, 198). Culture/ethics Culture is the most valuable asset at Athenahealth according to the chief executive officer. By developing a culture that rewards high achievers and supports underperformers, the company has enhanced employee cooperation. All ‘Athenistas’, as they are famously called, are entitled to appraisal and stock awards. This enhances the professional development of the employees. Weaknesses Marketing According to Cosinuke Rob, the Vice President of Athenahealth, the well-intended regulations introduced by the government affect the marketing strategies of the company. The government has introduced subsidies for technology such as the products developed by Athenahealth. Due to such constraint, healthcare innovation and software development has remained slow (Duncan, 53). Research and development The financial and human cost of research and development is high at Athenahealth. To meet the cost of developing a new product, the company must increase the cost of its products. The regulatory subsidies introduced by the government to make the products accessible to healthcare facilities affects the RD gains made by the company (Hamilton, 281). Operations The healthcare software market presen ts a number of challenges to companies such as Athenahealth. While other software companies serve a wide market with varied tastes and preferences, the healthcare market has a unique specification. The design of products for this market is also influenced by various government policies such as subsidies which affect innovation and product development (Duncan, 53). Finance Despite posting impressive sales, the market capitalization of Athenahealth has remained below one billion. Recent financial reports of the company placed the market capitalization at $800 million. The share value of the company at the stock exchange has also remained low. In 2009, the company reached its high price value of 23.96 (Kuratko, 42). Core competencies Athenahealth has a number of core competencies which has led to its impressive performance. First, the organization is aligned to the needs of the customers and the changes in the market.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A portion of Athenahealth revenue comes from the fees charged by its customers. This is a commission-based model that was adopted to reduce the installation cost incurred by customers (Marbury, 34).  Apart from developing a commissioned based sale approach, Athenahealth is renowned for its high-quality products. The company designs its products based on the challenges facing the market. As a result, the company has consistently received positive reviews from the market. The company has been recognized for supporting the healthcare sector by the KLAS enterprises. This is a healthcare reform research firm aimed at improving the quality of healthcare services (Adler-Milstein, 347).  The human resource model in the company has also improved its market performance and competitiveness. Employees at Athenahealth are constantly trained and subjected to seminars as a way of enhancing their skills. Motivation of employees is at the center of the company’s culture. As a result, empl oyees in the company are dedicated and committed to developing high-quality products (Duncan, 53). The healthcare system is reliant on the policies of other industries such as insurance and education. Athenahealth has remained cognizant to this by maintaining a close relationship with the different industries. For example, most of the products of the company are developed in collaboration with health insurance companies. Through this collaborative approach, the products developed by Athenahealth have been accepted in the market (Udell, 30). Competitive advantage Athenahealth is a pioneer in healthcare management software. This has granted the company significant control of the market as compared to competitors. Though the market lack barriers to new entrants, the performance of Athenahealth has not been affected. Athenahealth has strong competitive advantage due to its great innovativeness and uniqueness. AthenaClinical and AthenaCollector provide market unique products. Most of the se products are developed in consultation with stakeholders in the healthcare industry. This has improved the market response towards the products developed by Athenahealth (Jones and Frank, 312). Key weaknesses Despite the impressive performance of the company in the market, Athenahealth faces a number of challenges. First, the company’s business model exposes it to market risk. Contractual involvement model forces the company to form long-term relationships with the companies that acquire its products. This model subjects the company to policy and regulatory restrictions. The company is also engaged in long distance service provision (Gold, 357).  By leasing and operating the data hosting facilities from northern parts of the country, the company is exposed to interruptions. The long distance delays caused by internet disconnection affect the company’s clients. Backup cost for the services provided by the company also push the price of the products up. To remain on top of the market, Athenahealth must develop new strategic measures (Udell, 30). Strategic analysis Functional strategies To remain on top of the market, Athenahealth must increase its production efficiency. This can be achieved through increasing research and development activities. The development of new products must not affect the profitability of the company. Currently, the company focuses on three main products. Increasing the number of brands marketed will not affect the efficiency of the manufacturing process. Corporate level strategy Athenahealth has failed to adopt a viable corporate level strategy, instead focusing on the domestic market. Despite the potential of its products, Athenahealth has failed to enter new markets and diversify its products. It has only three software products targeting markets within the range of its servers. The company should shift its corporate level strategy and enter new global markets (Udell, 30). Central problem identification According to Jonathan Bush, the chairman of Athenahealth, quality remains the focus and culture of the company. The products developed by the company have so far met the expectation of the clients. However, challenges associated with internet connectivity and server instability affect the quality of the services offered. Athenahealth should concentrate in decentralizing its offices to other parts of the country. Central problems A number of central problems exist that affect the success of the company. First, the share value of the company has remained static despite changes in the market. Despite control of the market, Athenahealth has failed to cover all healthcare facilities in the country. Strategic recommendations Healthcare information technologies are an emerging market that presents massive opportunities to Athenahealth. However, the company must adopt a number of new strategies which can enhance its market performance. The company should diversify its offices and develop new servers to increase its coverage. This will enhance its presence in the country. The company should also change its client engagement model to reduce the risks associated with post sales services. Works cited Adler-Milstein, Julia and Robert Huckman. â€Å"The Impact Of Electronic Health Record Use On Physician Productivity.† American Journal of Managed Care 19.1 (2013): 345-352. Print. Duncan, Loretta. â€Å"Managing Your Practice. AMS Partners With Athenahealth, Inc.† The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society 103.3 (2006): 52-53. Print. Gold, Marsha. â€Å"Evolving Vendor Market for HITECH-Certified Ambulatory EHR Products.† American Journal of Managed Care 19.1 (2013): 353-361. Print. Hamilton, Byron. Electronic Health Records. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009. Print. Hermanson, Dana. â€Å"How Effective Are Organizations’ Internal Controls? Insights into Specific Internal Control Elements.† Current Issues In Auditing 6.1 (2012): 31-50. Print. Jones, Stephan and Frank Groom. Information and Communication Technologies in Healthcare. Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 2012. Print. Kuratko, Donald. â€Å"Diagnosing a Firm’s Internal Environment for Corporate Entrepreneurship.† Business Horizons 57.1 (2014): 37-47. Print. Lois Boynton and Aneil, Mishra. â€Å"Driving Employee Engagement: The Expanded Role Of Internal Communications. â€Å"Journal of Business Communication 51.2 (2014): 183-202. Print. Marbury, Donna. â€Å"Post-Implementation: Making the EHR System Work for You.† Medical Economics 5:2 (2014): 34.Print. Udell, Melody. â€Å"Ten Minutes with Rob Cosinuke.† Marketing Health Services 34.3 (2014): 28-31. Print. This essay on Athenahealth Inc. Analysis was written and submitted by user Daisy Doyle to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Secure Online Shopping System Model on Customer Behavior

Secure Online Shopping System Model on Customer Behavior Introduction Research Background Safety and security over the cyberspace has become such an important issue in determining consumer behavior. Thus the introduction of a Secure Online Shopping System (SOSS) is vital towards survival of an online business.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Secure Online Shopping System Model on Customer Behavior specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Secure online shopping system is a platform where consumers of the product are able to make orders on particular product and make payments using their credit cards. The SOSS platform will ensure the safety and security of those cards. Research carried out by different organizations shows that the level of trust of internet shopping of many Chinese has increased making them willing to shop online as long as their security is ensured (Ira 2002). Since the development of electronic commerce, practitioners of E-commerce have strived to gain insight in to consumer behavior in cyberspace. SOSS target to woe global consumers of beauty products to make their purchases online. Economical and social responsible purchasing behaviors of consumers have become significant determinants of consumer behavior therefore SOSS will ensure that consumers’ social and economic welfare is well thought-out. According to Ira (2002), online consumers continued to use the internet amidst the economic recession experienced in Europe. According Kotler (1997), the highest number of internet users in China are those aged between 25 to 44 years. It further states that online purchases amongst these internet users are done by those in their late teens and early twenties. As a result, the SOSS platform will be used as that mainly target the individuals in the age bracket that use internet shopping frequently. It is thus important to establish how SOSS will influence behavior of customers in the Chinese Market.Advertising Looking for essay on busi ness economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Statement of the Problem Each year, vast numbers of new products in different groups are launched globally. Factors such as growing advertising costs and increasing competition have made the successful implementation of a new product more difficult in recent years. The concept of E-commerce in relation to the topic of online consumer behavior has been examined by different researchers in a variety of contexts. Despite the immense progress that researchers from different business disciplines that have made on this vast and new concept, none of these studies have focused on the security dimension of online shopping. Thus, introduction security aspect of online shopping services will be analyzed to establish its influence on behavior of consumers. To achieve this broad objective of increasing online customer base for the products offered in Chinese market, we analyze online consu mer behavior in a systematic manner using various consumer behavior theories and models. Consumer behavior theories have been applied to study online consumer behavior; however, gaps still exist between the online and offline consumer behavior that warrants further studies. Consumers are generally influenced by two factors: internal influences and external influences. Internal influences are personal feelings and thought that includes; self-concept, motivation, attitudes, emotions and perceptions. These factors generally influence perception, purchasing patterns, and attitude customers develop towards a product or a service offered by the business. Besides, these factors are directly linked to internal and external interacting social aspects that control the pattern of thought and expressed feelings. Resonating on the facets of internal and external influences, this paper develops a comprehensive matrix for purchasing patterns exhibited by customers within the Chinese market in orde r to understand how SOSS influences the behavior of consumers in e-commerce.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Secure Online Shopping System Model on Customer Behavior specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Purpose of Study To succeed in the e-business era therefore, companies need create adept initiatives and maintain long term sustainable relationship with loyal. SOSS is proficient platform that will help e-businesses remain relevant in this digital period (Ira 2002). Then purpose of this study is to explicitly review emotions and motivations as the emerging forces within consumers that activate certain behaviors. Emotions are described as temporary state that show present changes in motivations whereas motivation are persistence need that stimulate long term goals in consumers. These emotions control direct and indirect behavior inclination that arouse the instinct to purchase or refuse to purchase. Though a temporary st ate of mind, emotions challenge the market preference and direct judgment to buy. Therefore, the research is specific on how SOSS will impact on consumer behavior by arousing their motivation to buy products online. The aim is to find respondents who are the potential, if not actual customers of our online products who fall within the category of youths and young adults described in the introduction. One reason that informed the decision was the fact that such respondents are categorized as the most internet shoppers in China. Limitations of Study The study aims to make sure that the respondents chosen are aware of the brands investigated. Thus, a certain degree of familiarity with internet shopping and the security risks will be a prerequisite among the interviewees, in order to carry out meaningful discussions. As a result, consumers who do not show any familiarity of the brand will not include as respondents despite having knowledge of online shopping. Besides, being an empirical study, the researcher will depend on responses by these respondents that might not give accurate data.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, biased or selfish responses will have negative effects on the final outcome and this may render some of the findings inaccurate. In addition, the researcher may experience the constraint of time delays in sending the responses. Review of the Literature Koufaris (2002) asserts that the previous studies have been relatively fragmented with contradictory results. A large body of knowledge has been developed in consumer behavior analysis by influential authors such as Engel and Nicosia among others. A large part of this literature concerns differentiable products, thus, may not be explicitly applicable in a service such as online shopping. It is therefore necessary to understand the intrinsic differences between offline and online consumer behaviors. Attitude and Perception on Online Trade Attitude is the general evaluation that consumers engage in before deciding to purchase a particular product or service. Attitudes are direct personal experiences that are influenced by con sumers’ personality, advertisement, family and friends. Perceptions are unique ways through which consumers internalize and interpret information about a product. Consumer engagement is essential towards winning and maintaining a client especially in a competitive market setting where the best offer carries the day. The offer could be in the form of price, quality, and quantity. When information on attitude is verifiable, it is easy for a company to execute a well researched plan within allocated resources. The processed information is used by consumers in making â€Å"the buying decision,† as such, SOSS provides consumers with the platform to share information on the internet. There has been substantial research on consumer behavior, examining the decision process, and influences upon it, in terms of storage and brand characteristics and consumer behaviors (Thomson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland 2008). Central to the theories of consumer behavior is the conviction that different consumers go through markedly complex decision making process that is influenced at different stages by a number of possible variables. The buying process normally begins with the need for a particular product or good. The need that is created prompts the consumers search for available information concerning the good or service that can satisfy that need. Having considered the available information, consumers then evaluate alternatives before making a purchase (Kotler, 1997, p.17). SSOS will not only avail the information on the product, but also ensure that customers security of their information making shopping accurate and safe. (Source: Kotler 1997) External Influences of Online Buying Behavior Several external influences affect online consumer behavior. These influences include individual culture and sub-culture, group associations, social cultural and household structure. Under SOSS we classify external influences as negative externalities that determine consumer b ehavior. Consumer behavior studies have shown that consumers’ attitude, opinions, belief, and values shape consumer buying decisions. Products that consumers view to be violating their cultural belief often attract fewer customers (Thomson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland 2008). In fact, cultural beliefs influence and dictate how consumers meet their needs. Often, customer tend to associate satisfaction and value of a good on cultural believe or inclination in line with the preset societal mindset. Culture controls dressings, morals, and even association. As long as a service or a good is associated with positive result, the sales for such a good are likely to skyrocket. On the other hand, the reverse often leads to damning or uncomfortable response from potential customers who may appear reluctant to play along (Ira 2002). Therefore, acceptance of a good or service is a reflection of its responsiveness to culture and a target group’s social affiliation. The household str ucture basically represents the household composition in terms of age, occupants and their incomes (Thomson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland 2008). On the other hand, groups in the context of consumer behavior represent individuals who share a set of common values, norms and beliefs. The group and the household to which a consumer belongs to has a significant influences on consumer behavior that is influencing the decision making process. Mass media services are mainly concerned with generation of modern cultures. Cultural values normally influence whatever values that are generated by mass media. Cultural values normally dictate what consumers would purchase; in fact, people buy certain signs when they are driven by the implication conveyed. Moreover, semiotics plays a significant role in the ads because it inspects signs and implications that are conveyed and thus alerts the users about the relevance of a product. E-Commerce Models The Models of Intention, Adoption, and Continuance a re essential in investigating the concepts of intention, adoption, and continuance on the process of online consumer purchasers. (Source: Kotler 1997) This model is an integration of two models of consumer behaviors: Kotler’s expectation-confirmation model and Ira’s attitudinal theoretical model (Thomson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland 2008). The attitudinal theoretical model is used in examining the variables informing consumer purchasing intention and adoption. According to this model, â€Å"behavior is principally determined by intent. Other factors like, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and attitudes are also shown to be related to an appropriate set of significant normative, behavioral, and control values about that behavior† (Thomson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland 2008, p. 89). However, this model does not explain consumer behavior in relation to repurchase. Ira’s expectation-confirmation model, on the other hand, focuses on past purcha se behavior of consumers. This model is used in explaining consumer satisfaction with a service or good through their repeat purchases. Thus, â€Å"consumer satisfaction is the key focus of this model and expressed via the gap that exist between the perceived performances† (Thomson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland 2008, p. 78). Kotler (1997) found that personal innovativeness of individual consumers is key personality characteristic that give an explanation of consumer online behavior. Baskerville (2004) contends that consumers’ trust on the internet is a significant determinant of online shopping. E-commerce is non discriminative on the size of business since even retail chains are in a position to trade online. Moreover, this model of business operation functions exclusively online (Thomson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland 2008). In addition, â€Å"web tracking technology permits sites that practicing E-commerce to monitor customer satisfaction and preference† (Ira 2002, p. 56). These aspects allow such companies re-model to customize service delivery and maintain quality. At technological advancement improves, E-commerce is likely to widen further. Consequently, it is cheap and easy to operate and open online stores â€Å"without a brick –and-mortar presence† (Thomson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland 2008). In addition, E-commerce offers entrepreneurial opportunities to persons in all business fields. The recorded sales data estimate progress at 4% annually across the globe (Ira 2002). Ira (2002) states that â€Å"It wasn’t until 1994 that e-commerce (as we know it today) really began to accelerate with the introduction of security protocols and high speed internet connections such as DSL, allowing for much faster connection speed and faster online transaction capability†(Ira 2002, p. 46). However, full adaptation of E-commerce begun in 2000 in America and Europe by pioneer companies such as Amazon and eBay which beca me prominent in E-commerce for many brands of products (Baskerville 2004). Model and Hypotheses Conceptual Framework The aims and objectives of this research paper are: To gauge and quantify the reasons for the behavioral influence of SOSS in online trade within China To identify the underlying factors that influence online purchasing behavior within China To identify the most profitable online business model in the stratified market of China To establish the most appropriate technique for introducing and maintaining sustainability of e-business within the borders of China Research Questions What are the profitable e-business models today? How do they compare to those that failed? How to transfer consignment business model to e-commerce especially in a specialized niche market Will people accept consignment business model in China? What difficulties are facing? Hypotheses Below are the null and alternative hypothesis based on the research problem. H1o. There is no link in e-busi ness efficiency and purchasing behavior in China. H1a. There is a link in e-business efficiency and purchasing behavior in China, H2o. There is no link between e-business model and success of an online business. H2a. There is a link between e-business model and success of an online business. H3o. There is no link between online brand awareness and the ease of online sales. H3a. There is a link between online brand awareness and the ease of online. Research Methodology Research Design Both descriptive and qualitative research methods will be used in this inquiry. Qualitative research method is a design which typically investigates behavior when it naturally occurs in a non contrived situation. On the other hand, descriptive survey designs will be used in preliminary and exploratory studies to allow researcher to gather information, summarize, present and interpret for the purpose of clarification. Descriptive investigative research is anticipated to produce statistical information ab out facets of SOSS that concern business that operate online Investigation of the problem will be conducted by means of both literature synopsis and empirical investigation. Subjects of Study and Sample Size The population targeted by this study includes 3 randomly picked participants within the Chinese market. To generate the sample size for this study population, the research will adopt the formulae created in 1972. Sampling Formula n=N/ (1+N (e2)) Where: n = sample size N= Target population e= Degree of freedom n=3/ (1+3*0.052) n=3/1.025 n= 1.025 From this population, random sampling will be applied and questionnaires with close ended questions given to each participant. Data Collection method In the collection of data procedure, the research will adopt a drop and pick module for the sample population. Each respondent will be given a time frame of a week to respond to questions in the questionnaire. Where necessary, further clarification will be accorded to participants. Statisti cal Techniques Used Data analysis will begin from the onset of the interviews until the process of interviews is completed. After all the data are collected, the analysis of the transcripts will be reduced through a procedure known as coding. At this stage the researcher will conduct data reduction, presentation and interpretation. The researcher will carefully but accurately transcribe the responses from participants recorded telephone calls as well as audio recordings. Transcripts from the interview questionnaire will be read and key points noted. Similarities and differences will be identified and key challenges presented by the managers, teachers and educators noted too. After the analysis of data details, symbolic qualitative and high technological ways were employed to arrive at conclusions. The content analysis was used due to its ability to review a wide range of non-construction data. The actual scenario was then analyzed through mathematical, statistical, and computational modus operandi to derive quantifiable results. Basically, the process relied heavily on respondent information from the twenty four participating organizations (Ira 2002). Open ended online questionnaires were the main data collection tools since the process relied on voluntary response. This type of purposive sampling is done through the outlines of criteria which the participants have successfully fulfilled. Open-ended questions were designed to allow the participants to fully express their experience without being too confined within the boundaries of a question. The semi-structured interview was used as it allowed the greatest possible advantages in creating an understanding of the experiences of the participants. The structured set of questions acts as an outline allowing for the participant to inject personal perspective and diverse lines of inquiry that may not have occurred to the interviewer. To make the responses inclusive despite the few numbers of respondents interviewe d, the participants were selected from four different regions within China. The respondents differed in age but fell within the age bracket described as internet shoppers (aged between 25 to 44 years). However, it is worthy to note that due to the limited number of respondents, the interviewees could have been more representative. Nonetheless, the aspects of sex, age, and occupation were taken into account considering the target customers described in the introduction (See Transcripts in Appendix I). The entire interview questions and answers given by respondents are attached in the transcripts as an appendix I.I. Findings and Analysis Before engaging in a business activity, it is vital to access its merits and demerits, risks involved security of the transaction, and regulative organs that directly provide protection from unpredictable and unethical practices by competitors. The participants opine that the main disadvantage of E-commerce is the fears and doubts by potential custome rs who don’t how it works. In this case, the potential customers are afraid of purchasing products online because of doubt on reliability, practicality, and risks involved especially when delivery is done to a wrong party. Some of these customers may be curious on appearance and reality and may develop a negative attitude after an assumption of possible fraud. Besides, online stores do not give an option for wear, touch, trial of the product before purchasing. Therefore, the sale of products such as furniture might be challenging. Moreover, invasion of malware and malicious codes in online stores might turn a simple business transaction into ‘Hellgate’ transmitting virus to PC of potential clients (Baskerville 2004). In addition online trading limits the social aspect of shopping in which parties involve interacting physically with one another. Due to surge in the use of E-commerce, several security reasons have been identified by the participants, especially in safety of information exchanged. The occurrence of some security threats has compromised the principles of authentication, privacy, and non-repudiation which is fundamental in protecting security breaches such as Denial of Service. The most common threats in E-commerce include ICM Flood, Teardrop Attack, Plashing, Distributed Denial-of-Service Attacks, and Brute Force Attacks. These practices aim at compromising integrity of E-commerce. Recommendations In the face of globalization and the development of e-commerce competing companies apply strategic techniques to in their products and services to avoid being obsolete. The companies compete through product differentiation through focusing on the service-dormant paradigm with investments in new technology, people, and policies. These investments are imperative for organizations as because customer’s attitudes and motivation significantly influences the consumer behaviors. The earliest marketing principle of marketing was the mo del introduced by McCarthy in 1960 was the 4Ps marketing mix, defined by Product, Place, Price, and Promotion. This marketing model was further modified by Bettman in 1979 to include the service industry introducing three additional variables: People, Physical evidence and Process (Baskerville 2004). Due the unique characteristics of the service industry: intangibility, inseparability, and heterogeneity, these products can be offered to the market for an acquisition, consumption, attention, and use. The product can include the services, places, persons, organizations, physical objects and ideas. From this definition the new service: SOSS that we want to introduce in the operations of online shop in China will fall under a service. The reality of e-commerce in the market guarantees that the service will be very important in ensuring that new and existing customers are given the opportunity to shop cheaply and conveniently for the beauty product with an assurance of privacy and confid entiality. The Price is the amount charged for a product or service offered by a particular business organization (Kotler 1997). The service that SOSS creates is relatively inexpensive since customers will not be charged for using online shopping services, rather they are charging for the product and deliver costs. Apart from these direct costs the customers will have to incur internet service charges by their providers. SOSS therefore reduces the product cost and time incurred by offline shoppers for our products by maximizing on economies of scale since these products are likely to sell in large scale. Process refers to the mechanisms, procedures and flow of activities through which a service is delivered to customers. Koufaris (2002) notes that the process of delivery is an important variable that creates a difference to the benefits the consumers in the service industry reap. In a normal offline buying scenario, customers are likely to queue for the service or product. This is q uite time consuming as the customers have to be present physically. SOSS will eliminate this process by timely delivery thus eliminating the requirement of the physical presence of customers at the shop. SOSS customers will be able to receive the products they have ordered via the online portal. This will ensure that the products are delivered to specific customers at the right time. Customers will be required to provide information about their physical address to facilitate the process of transportation and delivery. With the information in their database SOSS takes into consideration the Place aspect of 7Ps marketing principles. The environment in which a service is assembled and where the customer and the service provider interact is what is referred as â€Å"Physical Evidence† in 7Ps marketing principles (Koufaris 2002). Managerial Implications As a matter of fact, visualization is dependent on internet networking and the ability of the targeted clients to access the same . Reflectively, the success of online trading and marketing depend on the type of business, the nature of products, and model of website in use. In the contemporary society, it is in order to state that online trade made possible through the invention of websites is the only future way of doing sustainable and customer friendly business. Thus, it is important for small, medium, and large business to embrace technology in order to remain competitive in the hostile global business environment. Every aspect of life is actively influenced by the revolutionary technological orientation and customers would gladly go for convenient purchasing tools. These services include all the tangible representation of the service being offered, such as, business cards, brochures, reports and Signage. For example, the design, furnishing as well as the neat arrangement of products on the shelves that will be shown on the website will influence customer perception on the quality of our products. Since ou r online customer are not physically present at the shop, the neat and attractive display and descriptions of products on the SOSS website will give our online shoppers cues that will help them understand the nature of the products they are ordering. Introduction of the Wi-Fi, iTunes, Blackberry applications, and Amazon search engines have made an online trade simple and reliable. For instance, the Wi-Fi and blackberry application permits potential client and seller to video conference and strike a deal irrespective of the distance between these parties. Besides, potential clients are now in a position to bargain, view, and make modifications to their product before making payment. In addition, these gadgets are portable and have widened access to products online without necessarily being connected to the traditional wire internet which was slow. Attitudes are direct personal experiences that are influenced by consumers’ personality, advertisement, family and friends. Percept ions are unique ways through which consumers internalize and interpret information about a product. Consumer engagement is essential towards winning and maintaining a client especially in a competitive market setting where the best offer carries the day. The offer could be in the form of price, quality, and quantity. When information on perception is verifiable, it is easy for a company to execute a well researched plan within allocated resources. The processed information is used by consumers in making ‘the buying decision’. Thus, our business will endeavor to incorporate SOSS within these engines to ensure convenience on the side of consumers and constantly mobile trade. Reflectively, these aspects will influence the decision science and successful management of our business. Conclusion From the examination of our findings, we can wrap up that the extent, to which consumers associate to Secure Online Shopping System (SOSS), is dependent on the degree of the perceived safety of the system and ease of use. Consequently if a high-level of perceived safety and ease of use is achieved, consumers tend to refer more notably to the system. On the other hand, the use of online shopping seems to be dreaded by online consumers when the degree of perceived safety is not achieved or relatively low. Furthermore, the safest and convenient the online consumers perceive an online shopping system in their mind, the more likely it is for them to use it when making online purchases. From the above research, markets are provided with a rich knowledge of consumer behavior as dependent on the degree of perceived positive and negative beliefs on a brand. Therefore, through improved advertising, balanced prices, and quality, markets will be in a position to monitor emotions and motivations which serve as the emerging forces within consumers that activate certain behaviors. These emotions control direct and indirect behavior inclination that arouse the instinct to purcha se or refuse to purchase. Though a temporary state of mind and emotions challenges the market preference and direct judgment to buy or reject a brand. These articles facilitate the process of examining the decision process, and influences upon it; in terms of storage and brand characteristics and consumer behaviors. Finally, this research has been conducted in a very meticulous setting with predetermined respondents’ characteristics. Therefore, we are aware of the possibility that the results could have turned out differently if respondents were picked randomly from across the social divide. References Baskerville, R. (2004). International e-business marketing. Alabama: Cengage Learning EMEA. Ira, K. (2002). E-Marketing: What Went Wrong and How to Do It Right. Los Angeles: KA Press. Kotler, P. (1997). Marketing management: Analysis, planning, implementation and control. Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs. Koufaris, M. (2002). Applying the technology acceptance model and flow the ory to Online consumer behavior, Information System Research, 13 (2): 205-223. Thomson, A., Peteraf, M., Gamble, J., Strickland, J. (2008). Crafting Executing Strategy: Concepts and Readings with Connect. Alabama: McGraw-Hill Companies.

Philosophical, Medical and the Legal Aspects of Abortion Research Paper

Philosophical, Medical and the Legal Aspects of Abortion - Research Paper Example The definition of abortion as provided by US National Library Medicine is that â€Å"An abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy. It uses medicine or surgery to remove the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus† (Anderson, 2003). Another definition of abortion is â€Å"Abortion is referred to as the process of terminating pregnancy at a stage before the fetus has attained the stage of viability† (Kapilasharmi, 2007). It is important to consider the philosophical interpretations of abortion along with the medical definitions. In a philosophical angle, it is the denial of the right to be born. The social acceptability of abortion has been argued upon with reference to its sociological and moral implications. These arguments are based on the moral philosophy questioning man’s right over another individual’s life. The general claim against abortion is that it is not very different from brutal murder. Interestingly, while in a murder, the victim receives the sentiments of the people whereas in abortion, the entire social mechanisms conspire for the process resultantly the murdered and the sentiments associated with it portrayed as a mere medical process. As per medical definitions, the fetus is a just a chunk of tissues, but for the ethically thinking society, the fetus is an important part of tomorrows world. The religious argument also supports this view as it believes that it’s only God who has right take a life (Anderson, 2003). The medical consequences and principles of abortion are also worth careful review.

ENG TOPIC IN LITERATURE DB 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

ENG TOPIC IN LITERATURE DB 3 - Essay Example Mother was among the group of ladies, talking to her friend the only other coloured lady, wife of the junior clerk in the company where my father worked. She was young, and married only a couple of years ago. In the absence of her friend, during earlier occassions, I had seen mother sit on the periphery of the group, participating attentively in the general conversation, but not uttering a word. She preferred not to draw attention to herself, and was also afraid to speak in case her words were misunderstood. At home also, mother was a quiet lady, doing her chores, and running her home business of preserves and pickles, in a calm and mild manner. She also cared for my aging grand-mother as best as she could, though grandma took it all for granted. Grandmother expected her daughter-in-law: my mother to do the needful and much more also, like she herself had looked after my grandfather’s mother in her old age. Grandfather had helped her with the domestic work and lightened her du ties, as he was grateful that his mother was being accommodated in their home. But grandmother chose not to remember this fact. Mother ws keen to bring me up to be a fine, young woman whom she could be proud of. In that direction, she would teach me various skills in housekeeping, help me to be regular with my school work, and she expected me to behave well under all circumstances. I had been close to my mother as her only child, and being a girl had needed her presence in all aspects of my life. During my childhood days, I rushed home from school to greet her, and again in the evening after playing with my friends. Our feelings were mutual, and we shared a warm bond between us. I could sense sometimes in mother a requirement for understanding and friendship from my father, who generally maintained his distance from both my mother and myself,

Outline Spelling and Structure Check Essay Example for Free

Outline Spelling and Structure Check Essay I. Introduction. 1. African American women are faced with the conflict between reality and their happiness. The reality is that African American women are facing unfair treatment, unjust social structure, and racism in a society that consists of white people as the majority. They will be able to achieve happiness and acceptance when they are treated just as the white people are treated, when respect to the African American race is recognized, and when they are provided more opportunities and not discriminated just because of their color. 2. Elise Jonson McDougald wrote the essay entitled â€Å"The Task of Negro Womanhood† for all African America women. 3. In the novel Passing by Nella Larsen, two characters, Irene and Clare, demonstrated the problems of African American women outlined in McDougal’s essay. 4. Looking at the two characters, we analyze what â€Å"passing† truly means. We also look at why the women pass off as a white person, how they are doing this, and what results do they get. Only after can we find the solution for the two womens happiness in the McDougald essay. 1. Clare desires for the outside beauty. She gives importance to material things. She deceives her husband when she passes off as a white person when the truth is, she belongs to the African American race. She gets what she has dreamed of all of her life. However, she is not happy because of her lies and not knowing where to place herself in society. 2. She felt lonely, as she could not relate her problem to her husband. She then meets her old friend, Irene, whom she started to compare herself with. As a result, she realizes that material things are not essential in life and that family and identity are the more important things that she has to think about. Ultimately, her lying leads to her death. 2. For Irene, family is more important. She has the right moral values. When she met Clare, she also started to compared herself with the other woman. She felt inferior to Clare and worried living as   a true African American woman. She forced her husband to be a doctor and regret not â€Å"passing.† As a consequence, she lost her husband’s trust when she sat back and let Clare die. 3. The two women fail to live a happy life. McDougald gave each other solutions to their misery. 4. Conclusion.  McDougald emphasizes the beauty and importance of African American women’s identity. What does the color â€Å"black† for African American mean? Black color is the African American’s racial stem. They have to understand first about their race and their history, and then we can change problems that they deal with from the society. In the novel, both women