Starbucks Adds “Mobile Ordering” to the Menu

Due to recent falling sales in the U.S. Market, Starbucks has decided to revamp its marketing strategy. The firm decided in order to increase sales it should now add wine, beer and more food options to its menu¹, Starbucks has also decided to add “mobile ordering” as an option. The decision for mobile ordering came in the wake of the nation’s constantly increasing tendency to shop online, rather than enter actual stores on a daily basis. Starbucks is hopeful that this hybrid of mobile and face-to-face shopping will entice online shoppers to purchase Starbucks items, since buying from the firm will now be more convenient than ever before.¹ 

In order to successfully market a product line or idea in another country, companies often have to tailor items to fit the other country’s needs. Starbucks has been very successful in changing its product mix and the atmosphere of its cafes worldwide in order to accommodate each individual target market. It is interesting that the company seems to currently be facing the most challenge in its home market, and has had to add a considerable number of new items to its product line in order to gain returns in the U.S. Market. Starbucks plans to fully implement this idea into many of its U.S. cafes by next year. Once Starbucks is able to gain a better control in the U.S. market, the firm has plans to revamp its marketing strategy in China as well.¹

Source:

http://www.newsweek.com/starbucks-looks-beer-wine-online-ordering-boost-growth-289158

The Immerging World of Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality seems impossible to comprehend; it is the essence of convincing someone through visual effects that something is there that really is not there. NASA struggled to define the term but decided Virtual Reality is essentially “the effect of concrete existence without actually having concrete existence” or in other words “the use of computer technology to create the effect of an interactive three-dimensional world in which the objects have a sense of spatial presence” [4].

The advancement of virtual reality in the last several years is staggering. Virtual Reality went from crudely made systems that were either unconvincing or nauseating, to life-like experiences where the consumer truly feels as if they have entered a new time and space [1]. Today’s Virtual Reality users can stand on the edge of the Grand Canyon, or explore new places. They can study molecules or galaxies, while never leaving the comfort of their own home [1].  Two of the leading virtual reality devices of today, are the Oculus Rift and Google Cardboard. Oculus Rift was the first highly successful Virtual Reality system that was able to convince people they were in an entirely different time and place. While wearing the Oculus rift headset, people could look at items from all sides and watch animals and people move about in a virtual world.

The Oculus Rift is currently one of the most advanced Virtual Reality headsets. Users can attach the system to a PC and choose from a variety of adventures. Once they put the set on, they are taken through the virtual realm. The highlights of the Oculus Rift are that users can look at objects from all sides. The system has also become advanced to the point that users no longer experience motion sickness or a feeling of disorientation during use. The headset has been successful, but is also expensive, the Oculus Rift “[sells] for about $350 each and provide a high-fidelity, immersive 3D experience complete with head tracking, so you can spin around and see a scene from any vantage point as if you were really there” [3].

While wearing the Oculus Rift, the device must be attached to a PC, meaning that you cannot move very far while wearing the headset. However, Google has created a cheap imitation product called “Google Cardboard” that is completely wireless and sells for about $30 on the internet. [3] The system works in conjunction with the Android Google Cardboard App. Google has also fashioned a system where you can actually build your own headset, so long as you use their Android Google Cardboard App. The headset does not have the quality or the amount of features that the Oculus Rift has, but it allows you to get a feel for what virtual reality is like. The Google headset allows you to view scenes or watch YouTube videos on a screen that appears the size of a movie theater screen [3], while in reality you are looking at a screen that is only a few inches wide.

Both of these virtual reality systems are quite fascinating, but both also have their falling points as well. The headsets are both a bit bulky, and the Oculus Rift can only be used while attached to a PC. In addition, Google Cardboard uses an advanced App which not all Android phones can handle. However, both systems are works in progress, and are quite intriguing pieces of equipment which have taken the world of virtual reality to the next level.

[1] http://www.wired.com/2014/05/oculus-rift-4/

[2] http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/aug/02/are-you-ready-for-virtual-reality-revolution-google-cardboard

[3] http://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-cardboard-puts-virtual-reality-in-reach-of-everyone/

[4] http://www.nas.nasa.gov/Software/VWT/vr.html

Knowledge Management Systems

Businesses everywhere are integrating knowledge management systems into their core practices. Knowledge Management is essentially when a company collects all of the Knowledge that it can from the company to hold in a place that any employee can have access to it, it is “the process of capturing, distributing, and effectively using knowledge” [1] This is helpful with new employees or whenever one employee needs to do something new or find a better way of doing something. The company is essentially pooling and organizing its knowledge as much as it possibly can.

Knowledge Management Systems or KMS, include three main types of knowledge: explicit, implicit and tacit. KMworld.com explains the three types of knowledge in depth, “Explicit: information or knowledge that is set out in tangible form. Implicit: information or knowledge that is not set out in tangible form but could be made explicit. Tacit: information or knowledge that one would have extreme difficulty operationally setting out in tangible form” [1] It is highly beneficial to a company to incorporate this type of system. These three types of knowledge incorporate virtually all there is to know about a company. Some of the information is difficult to clearly state, but the company can greatly benefit by pooling all of this information together where it can be logged, and retrieved as people need it. Techrepublic.com stated that the main advantage of using a KMS is that “everyone in an organization has access to corporate knowledge” [2]. No one person in an organization could possibly know everything there is to know about the organization or the best ways to do each task, by pooling the knowledge together into a system where it can be stored, retrieved and shared at will, the company can greatly increase its productivity level [2].

Forbes.com stated that knowledge management is highly beneficial to companies everywhere. According to Forbes, KMS “…Facilitates decision-making capabilities…Builds learning organizations by making learning routine…[and] Stimulates cultural change and innovation” [4]. A huge amount of knowledge and information circulates our companies and society. If we can reel in the information so that it is contained in a way that anyone can access it, we will be able to be more informed about specific items as we need to know about them. We can search the information and find what we need, instead of having to figure out the task on our own.

The reality of KMS is that not having one can greatly hurt your organization. Not having a system like this can handicap your company into not being as knowledgeable or as innovative as other companies. Forbes points out that, “Fortune 500 companies lose roughly “$31.5 billion a year by failing to share knowledge” [4]. That is a staggering statistic, and not one that you should risk becoming a part of. Instituting a KMS system can help put your company back on top, regardless of the industry you are competing in.

[1] http://www.kmworld.com/Articles/Editorial/What-Is-.../What-is-KM-Knowledge-Management-Explained-82405.aspx

[2] http://www.techrepublic.com/article/knowledge-management-process-can-increase-productivity-and-profits/

[3] http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Knowledge_management_system.html

[4] http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2012/08/20/why-knowledge-management-is-important-to-the-success-of-your-company/

Understanding The Importance of Decision Support Systems

A decision support system is a network of computers, people and programs set in place to “[support] business and organizational decision-making activities [1]” InformationBuilders.com describes the Decision Support System (DSS) as a software system set in place to work together with decision makers to help them glean useful information from “raw data, documents, personal knowledge, and/or business models “[1]. Essentially, the DSS is a support system where people utilize computer software and databases to help them translate meaningless data into important information that can enable them to make an informed decision. Decision Support Systems are in place to help people deal with specific problems, and are crucial any time an organization must make an important decision. These systems can be particularly helpful in a case of national threat.

In the eye of the Ebola outbreak in Africa, and the recent news coverage stating the disease may be headed to the US, my mind is drawn to the possibility of a DSS in a national emergency. The USA, does in fact have a DSS in place for cases of bioterrorism [3]. A system of software, databases and specialists are in place for the “diagnosis, management, prevention, surveillance, and communication by clinicians and public health officials in the event of a bioterrorist attack” [3]. The system contains information to help us identify the elements and find a way to put a stop to their spread. As a nation, we have systems to help us quell any national dangers at the start, not only is this comforting to us as citizens, but it helps us to see how important these Decision Support Systems are on a massive scale. Decision Support Systems are in place for our national government to help us understand how to avoid potential threats to our nation. In light of this, a recent article by national geographic news, explained why the Ebola virus is not likely to spread in the US because of our advanced technological systems which will help us contain the disease [4]. 

Decision support systems help us to identify crucial information from raw facts, enabling us to determine the best course of action to solve the issue. Because the DSS is so important to organizations and society, it is important that organizations are always evaluating and updating the systems so that they can improve and be able to adequately handle the next issue that comes along [5]. Feedback is crucial to determine what areas of the system need improvement, including updating management, software or database systems, in order to ensure that we make informed decisions in urgent situations.

[1] http://www.informationbuilders.com/decision-support-systems-dss

[2] http://www.bit.vt.edu/academics/dss_index.html

[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11887/

[4] http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140729-ebola-america-disease-epidemic-africa-medicine-science/

[5] http://www.igi-global.com/journal/international-journal-decision-support-system/1120

Zoho Spreadsheet: Using Absolute and Relative Formulas

I made a Zoho Spreadsheet using absolute and relative formulas. In order to do this I signed into my Zoho account and clicked on “docs” then “create” and then chose “spreadsheets” from the dropdown menu on the left-hand side of the screen. I chose to work with a spreadsheet I had made earlier, but I now added formulas into the spreadsheet. I right-clicked on the top of the cost column and chose “insertàcolumn after,” I named this column “future cost”, I then added a column after the profit column and called it “future profit.” The next thing I did was add new column called “inflation” and added an arbitrary inflation amount of 1.04. I added formulas in so the future cost and future profit would be automatically calculated as I changed the amount of inflation. To do this I clicked on the box directly under “future profit”, future profit is revenue minus future cost, so I typed “=d2-c2” into the box, and hit “enter”. Once the value appeared, I held my cursor on the lower right corner of the box until it aligned and dragged the corner down to highlight the rest of the spaces I wanted to calculate. The formula copied all the way down and summed in the total row at the bottom.

The next formula I made was an absolute formula. I clicked on the box beneath “future cost.” Because future cost is cost multiplied by the inflation rate, and the inflation rate stays the same for all of the items, we can use an absolute formula. I typed “=b2*$h$10” into the cell and hit enter, once the value appeared I placed my cursor on the lower right corner of the box and dragged it down the column I needed formulas in. This allowed the cost value to change as it went down the column, but it kept the value of the inflation rate the same. If I change the inflation rate and hit enter, the values for these two columns will now automatically change as well.

The spreadsheet I made can be found at the link below or embedded at the bottom of this page.

https://docs.zoho.com/sheet/published.do?rid=n9y9pabad8a7fe9034f7f894659197297bf51 

E-business and More Efficient Marketing

Electronic business (e-business) is “any process that a business organization conducts over a computer-mediated network” [1]. In this modern day, technology has become such an integrated part of our society that many businesses have decided to hold transactions via the internet. People can buy, sell and advertise on the internet. One factor of e-business that makes people more likely to adopt it is that it is convenient. People can buy or sell at any time, day or night. They never have to worry about a store not being open, or that they will not be able to find a product they need. By simply searching the item on the internet they can find it on any site, and can quickly purchase the item or even research similar items. [2] This is not only convenient for the consumer, but for the company as well. Since people use the internet so often, it is much easier for companies to advertise over the internet than any other way. Smallbusiness.chron.com states, “[an item can] be found with search engines without the use of pricey advertising campaigns” [1]. One of the most beneficial items of electronic business for companies is the ease of marketing via the internet.

Making a company online, or at least making some parts of a company internet based, can lead to “[great] monetary savings (because of fewer employees and low overhead) and the ability to reach consumers across the globe” [1]. The website Dob.nt.gov.au states that “eBusiness is more than having a website for your business. Using eBusiness tools can make your administrative and operational activities more efficient” [3]. When a company has an online market, its marketing campaign can be easier, more efficient and use significantly less money and resources. Marketing campaigns can be expensive and hard to figure out, especially for new companies. If the company sells its products via the internet, its items can show up in searches, or can be placed in ads that show up as people shop for similar items. The company can add to its marketing by keeping up with social media and focusing on their site being easy for consumers to understand. One way companies can easily increase their marketing strategy is through email [4]. Companies could also start promotions such as giving a small discount to consumers if they refer five friends to the organization [4]. This would give consumers an incentive to spread word of the company to others, and would help the company increase its consumer base. 

8 Useful Web Applications

1) Google documents, www.docs.google.com, is document creator and editor software that can be used as an alternative to desktop software. This application enables you to edit content along with other users at the same time. This software is very helpful for group projects, it is also invaluable because it automatically saves your work as you go along, and allows you to access your work from any device.

2) Autocad 360 web app, https://client.autocad360.com/login.html, is a drawing application. It allows you to create, view, edit and share images online. This is particularly useful for drafting layouts for buildings etc.

3) Word online, https://office.live.com/start/Word.aspx?omkt=en-US, can be used as an alternative to Microsoft Word desktop software. It can be used from any device at any time and does not have to be purchased. You can create, edit and view documents through this online software.

4) Excel online, https://office.live.com/start/Excel.aspx?omkt=en-US, is an alternative to Microsoft Excel desktop software. You can use this online software to create, edit and view spreadsheets.

5) Pixlr image editor, http://pixlr.com/editor/, this application offers many tools to edit images online. It is free and easy to use.

6) Photoshop express editor (photo editor), http://www.photoshop.com/tools?wf=editor, is an alternative to Photoshop Desktop Software which is expensive. It is free and offers advanced image editing tools.

7) Gis data explorer, http://www.arcgis.com/explorer/, allows you to combine and share maps. It is very useful for travelers or anyone interested in geography.

8) NGS monument locator, http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/NGSDataExplorer/, is advanced location software that allows you to see detailed information about each location, including flood reports and warnings. 

[Detailed database of the applications along with links can be found at the bottom of this page].