Microbiology Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Microbiology Exam - Essay Example Some viruses (animal viruses and bacteriophages) have the capsid encased in an envelope. In addition they are non-membraneous and cannot yield energy. They are also devoid of metabolic enzymes and ribosomes that form the sites for protein biosynthesis.Moreover, they need host cells to replicate. Viruses are transmitted via salivary drops, respiratory fluids, sexual contact, fecal-oral especially in case of contaminated food, animal vectors and via blood. Viroids- Comprise of single-stranded and circular RNA which is noncoding and infect plants. As compared to viruses their genome is much smaller, are protein non-coding, and unlike viruses some possess ribozyme activity. They initiate infection in plants via chloroplast or nuclear replication and they are conveyed in cells via plasmodesmata. Prions- Infectious agents that solely comprise of a protein whose form is misfolded. This is a distinguishing feature as they lack nucleic acids i.e. RNA/DNA. These potent agents means of propagat ion is via inducing folded proteins in healthy organisms to change (misfold) and assume the form of the prion; these have the ability to cause disease. The resultant stable structure causes cell death and tissue damage (Tortora, Funke & Case, 2010). 2. How can viruses lead to cancer? Be sure to use specific examples (e.g. virus name and the cancer it causes) to illustrate your points. Viral transformation mediated via viral genes results to uncontrolled cell growth with contact inhibition loss, tumor formation as well as chromosomal aberrations. In addition viral oncogenes that transform normal cells into malignant cells are transmitted by viruses. Viruses also inactivate the tumor suppressor proteins. The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the causative agent for cervical cancer and it integrates in the host’s genome and suppresses the expression E2 viral gene which represses the expression of viral oncoproteins E7 and E6. E6 has a high binding affinity for p53(tumor suppressor gene) and triggers its degradation and E7 binds to retinoblastoma(Rb). Rb and p53 are tumor suppressor proteins. This results to apoptosis inhibition and dysregulation of cell growth. E6 possesses the ability to trigger telomerase activity as well as immortalizing cells. E7 also triggers abnormal centriole biosynthesis as well as aneuploidy during the initial oncogenic process. Hence, E7 and E6 are synergistic in transforming normal cells to a state of malignancy. However, there is a genetic predisposition to the progression of cervical cancer. Moreover, acute immunosuppression heightens the propensity of cervical dysplasia and subsequent cancer progression (Damania, 2006). 3. You are growing Bacillus subtilis in nine 16,000-liter fermenters to produce enzymes for industrial use. The Bacillus cultures had been growing for 2 days when the cells in one of the fermenters lysed. Explain what happened in this fermenter. This is likely to be a case of bacteriophage contamination. Bacterio phages are a class of viruses that infect bacteria. Upon infecting bacterial cultures, they cause serious problems and this entails complete loss of bioproducts; in this respect enzymes and their subsequent proliferation in the plant (to other fermentors). This results to culture lysis and unless it is contained, the problem is bound to reoccur even after stringent sterilization of equipment. Decontamination is much difficult in such a large scale fermentor. It is has been proven that phage propagation in such a bioreactor can easily spread

Men as Contemporary Shopping Spectacles in London Essay

Men as Contemporary Shopping Spectacles in London - Essay Example London's Covent Garden market surfaces as a prime example of a shopping spectacle for men incorporating all pleasures of consumption from packaging, presentation and buying. American Classics is a store located in the area which caters only to men and their accessories in the form of international American type clothing. The layout of the store is designed to inform and incite men into consumption and also as spectacles to be gazed at. Men are emerging everywhere as hungry predators for all things aesthetic. They are even making a go for cosmetics and beauty products like never before. They even make their own choices rather than depend on their partners to do the obvious. They seem to be better informed than most women these days. Men are gradually becoming aware of their bodies and their looks which is what gives proof for today's metro sexual male; shaving creams, colognes, soaps, clothes, shoes, hair and skin products being the order of the day. Gadgets and gizmos follow close by . These products depended on varied ideas to be marketed which gave consumption and masculinity a massive push towards an upheaval in the British society. It soon led to consumer identities being arranged and expanded at a spiraling recourse towards the male species. Figure 1.Men's Perfumes are Quite the Rage http://www.strawberrynet.com/images/products/00763331005.jpgwww.strawberrynet.com The long held assumption that consumption is a feminine venture has been proved wrong by these men centric malls and retail stores. Author Christopher Breward posits that male fashion in Britain gave a creative lend and space for masculine innovation during the late- Victorian era, in his book, The Hidden Consumer: Masculinities, Fashion and City Life. Hence, this process put men as consumers at the forefront of modernization at the beginning of the twentieth century itself. This also invalidates the idea that Englishmen of the late Victorian times agreed with the concept of a "Great Masculine Renunciation" (Breward 1) of style and fashion as many have suggested. Most material evidence of increasing male fashion consciousness are found in stores, malls, novels, films, photographs, magazines, trade directories etc. Breward's book also provides evidence that male fashion ability was conspicuous from the Victorian times itself, with these very proofs he provides in the form photographs and diaries. Clothing and fashion accessories were available to men even then but since the dominant wisdom was patriarchal, the opposite has been proved. By the help of those photographs and even songs, he posits to examine how many London and Manchester working class gangs utilized fashion to pose different from the rest of the gangs

Average Age of First-time Homeowners Essay Example for Free

Average Age of First-time Homeowners Essay The U.S. homeownership rate fell to the lowest level in 15 years in the first quarter of 2012, as borrowers lost homes to foreclosure and tighter inventory and credit kept buyers off the market. (Gittelsohn, 2012). The Census Bureau reported a rate dropped to 65.4 percent from 66 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. According to the Census Bureau in June 2004 there was a record of 69.2 rates for homeownership. In 1960 the average age of a first-time homeowner was 24-25, according to David Berson in the journal Business Economics (Edwards, 2011). Now, the ages at which people purchase homes are higher. The average age for homeowners was 34, according to the most recent American Housing Survey data collected in 2009 (Edwards, 2011). There has been a trend toward renting among the younger generation. A study by the John Burns Real Estate Consulting firm predicts the homeownership rate for people between 25 to 34-years-olds will continue decreasing though 2015 (Walsh, 2012). According to this study the number of first-time home buyers has dropped 20 percent since 2009. There is a variety of reasons why young people are not buying homes anymore. People aged 25 to 34 is averaging 8.2 percent unemployment rate (Walsh, 2012). This generation is also getting higher-than-ever student loan debt and low wages. Many young people, who have a decent job, are trying to pay down debt instead of getting more. Federal student loans have bloated 360 percent since the beginning of the recession, with the average student debt held by someone who graduate in 2010 at $25, 250 (Walsh, 2012). Homes prices are still relative high to pay. The interest for mortgages are as low as 3.87 percent (reported in February 2012), the lowest levels in the last four decades, but due to the countless loans default in 2000s it made the banks stricter and increased the requirements for mortgages when compared to previous years. (Edwards, 2011) Also, young people don’t see buying a home as investment anymore, they are afraid that their home won’t be worth what they paid for in the future. A lot of people used to use terms such as â€Å"starter home†, to buy their first home, own it for a few years, resell it and make a profit out of it, then to move into their â€Å"dream home†. Due to the economy crash and the employment rate so high on younger ages, younger people no longer see purchasing a home as a good investment. They are afraid that they might lose their job and have to relocate or not be able to afford their home anymore. As time keeps moving on, young people are more afraid in buying, they are afraid that their property will lose its value and unable to get any type of money back if they decide to sell. According to the research done by Grace Bucchianeri, Homeowners are not happier because of financial stress. Other reasons such as the average age of marriage may influence a decision of purchasing a home. The average age of marriage is currently 26.1, according to the U. S Bureau of Census. This is a huge jump compare to 1960 which the average marriage age was 20.3. The young generation seems to be more focus in other things that making a family and settle down. The U.S. apartment vacancy rate fell to 4.9 percent in the first quarter of 2012. In 2011 the rate was 9.7 percent for vacancy rate. There has been a dramatic increase on rentals according to the Census Bureau. With this big growth in apartment rentals, the multifamily housing development in June 2012 was up 63 percent from a year earlier. The industry is expected to hit over 1 million new apartments by 2015 (Walsh, 2012). Young people opt in to do short leases because they want and like the flexibility to pick up if a job arises or in the worst case scenario move back home if their job is eliminated. Some people believe that buying a house is a waste of time and money. People think that renting a period of 30 years you might save the money you are putting down for the house and all the money for the closing cost, maintenance and so on. It could save you up to $90,000 in a 30 years lap if you only rent a property (Stoffel, 2012). For some people there is stuff that money can’t buy such as stability or emotional benefits. At the end it depends on the person and the type of life they decide to have. Some people hate commitments other people have a dream of having a house and owning a piece of territory. In a recent study done by Brian J. McCabe from New York University, shows that people that own their home are more likely to vote compare to renters. Homeowners feel stronger ties to their communities. They are willing to participate more in organizations that could benefit their community. It shows that the homeownership is mediated by both stability and income. It is possible that citizens most likely to become involved in civic affairs are also those most likely to become homeowners. According to some researchers, the market will turn around—eventually. The young people will start getting older and will settle down. They will start getting married and forming a family and would like to be part of a community. When the house buying market starts increasing the back requirements will start loosen up. Banks will be more flexible when making loans. Works Cited Bucchianeri, G. W. (2011). The American Dream of The American Dilusion? The Private and External Benefits of Homeownership , 1-38. Edwards, E. (2011, October 11). The Universe. Retrieved August 2, 2012, from http://universe.byu.edu Gittelsohn, J. (2012, April 30). Bloomberg. Retrieved June 2, 2012, from Bloomberg News: http://www.bloomberg.com McCabe, B. J. (2011). Are Homeowners Better Citizens? 1-47. Stoffel, B. (2012, March 8). DailyFinance. Retrieved June 2, 2012, from http://dailyfinance.com Walsh, M. (2012, July 16). Business Week. Retrieved July 2, 2012, from http://businessweek.com

An Online Utility Bill Payment System

An Online Utility Bill Payment System Abstract With the growing number of people who are been increasing pressured for time, online utility bill payment has become a graceful solution for the consumers with busy life styles. Through online payment of utility bills, consumers are able to save time, hassle and therefore make their lives much easier. Although online utility bill payment has become one of the fastest growing trends in the world particularly in the US, in the Sri Lanka however, the progress of households adopting to online utility bill payments is rather slothful. Thus, the primary objective of this study is to analyse the factors influencing the consumers intention to adopt an utility bill payment system in Sri Lanka alongside with the secondary objectives of identifying the awareness level on online bill payments systems, examining the most preferred utility bill payment options and models, and the degree of acceptance of online utility bill payment systems by the consumers and finally to analyse the future prospect with regards to online utility bill payments. Hence a survey was conducted among 50 physicians from four major hospitals in the Colombo city. According to the result obtained from this research, it was revealed that although in general all the respondents were somewhat aware about online utility bill payment systems, the younger respondents acquired a better knowledge about online utility bill payments than respondents from older age categories. Furthermore, all the respondents positively reacted and stated that it is important for all the utility companies to mark their online presence thus allow customers to conduct online transactions as it would be more convenience. Moreover, factors categorised under perceived risks and perceived benefits were found to have a considerable force on the consumers intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. Other factors such as services and features offered by companies, individuals computer knowledge and skill, and usage of credit and debit cards were also identified and are di scussed in this research. Key Words: Online utility bill Payment system; Credit card usage; e-commerce; adoption; User intention. Chapter 1 Introduction Today the improvement of e-commerce has led to the derivation of various internet based activities. For e.g. companies are able to conduct their business activities at all hours, reaching customers in all parts of the world thus expand their customer base without geographically being limited. Whereas in customers perspective, e-commerce provides a platform on which they can easily carry out the necessary transactions at their convenience. Hence even the companies which provide utility services are boldly revolutionizing their industry thus adopting internet for e-commerce purposes (Buccigross, 2000). This allows customers to make their utility bill payments directly through utility companies websites or through a third party website such as banks, financial institutions and aggregators. Online utility bill payment is when the customer makes his or her payment transactions online for the utility services obtained from a particular company. By paying utility bills via online, consumers have the benefits of avoiding crowds, queuing, parking problems, and cutting their travelling costs and time (Ramayah et al, 2005). Hence consumers could simply get their utility bills paid with just a click of their mouse. In Sri Lanka, the payment system of utility bills is rather different to the systems established in other countries. The utility bills usually arrive by post thus the consumers must visit the payment office in order to settle the payments. As mentioned earlier, this process is usually accompanied by queuing, parking problems, and limited payment options. For example, the CEB NWS DB only accepts payments made by cash or cheques at their payment counters. These issues can be considered as a hassle for people whose jobs are of hectic and stressful nature. Many utility companies in Sri Lanka have identified this problem thus have implemented various types of payment systems in order to provide their consumers with a wider choice when it comes to their payments (refer appendix A). Online utility bill payment is one of the elite choices of payment systems that have been implemented in the contemporary world. Problem Statement What are the factors shaping and influencing an individuals intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system? Problem Justification There is a lack of understanding as to what is really happening in the local context with regards to the adoption of new technological services related to the internet. Hence there are hardly any researches that have been carried out in order to understand the consumers view point with regards to online utility bill payment systems that have been implemented. Therefore the knowledge about consumers behaviour related to this area of study is vital for utility companies and other vendors operating in similar businesses in order to estimate the potential market available hence utilize the internet as a tool of opportunity for those companies to grow and expand their market. The study will also be essential for government utility companies (e.g. CEB) since they have not yet implemented the service of allowing the customers to pay their utility bills directly through the companies websites. The information originated from this research will enable both the government and private utility companies to identify the significance of the factors influencing the consumers intention to adopt online utility bill payment systems thus develop strategies to further enhance their business activities. Objectives of the Study To determine awareness level about online utility bill payment systems by consumers. To analyse the factors influencing the consumers intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. To find out the most accepted online utility bill payment options and the preferred bill payment modes by consumers. To analyse the degree of acceptance of an online utility bill payment system by consumers. To examine the impending future prospect of online utility bill payment systems in Sri Lanka. Significance of the Study This study will mainly facilitate the utility companies and other vendors in Sri Lanka to identify the factors influencing the consumers intention to adopt online utility bill payment systems, in this case physicians who are residing in Colombo, a highly skilled and a valued population in the country. Therefore by understanding such factors, companies will be able to eliminate the uncertainty levels and have a clear view about the potential market for online utility bill payment in Sri Lanka. This study will further help the utility companies develop enhanced strategies regarding the payment options that are being made available to their clients. Awareness about online utility bill payment will allow consumers to acclimatize to these new technologies thus exploit the advantages of the internet. The information and data that have been collected in this study will aid the future researchers conducting researches related to consumers intention to adopt online bill payment systems in general. Scope of the Study This study was carried out to empirically investigate the factors affecting the consumers intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. However, the survey sample of the study consisted only of physicians working in four (4) private hospitals situated within the Colombo city limits. Furthermore, the physicians were from various backgrounds thus to achieve results that are more realistic and to better signify the people that pay utility bills, the sample have to be more diversified in terms of age and geographical location (He Mykytyn, 2007), preferably homeowners who are responsible for their respective household bill payments. Chapter 2 Literature Review Online Utility Bill Payment Online utility bill payment is when the consumer makes his/her payments for the utility service(s) obtained with the use of the internet. The types of utility services are illustrated in the table below. Today, the consumers trend in making utility bill payments is increasing particularly in the developed nations Brant (2008). In the Sri Lankan context however, although the country illustrates a steady growth in terms of internet usage especially from the users in the urban areas (Sathrasinghe, 2004), this has not been escorted by a similar growth in the number of consumers making online utility bill payments. In fact according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (2008), the overall transactions made by consumers over the internet illustrated a declining trend. Online Utility Bill Payment Models Options There are various payment models and payment options available to the customers when it comes to paying online utility bills unlike in the traditional (or offline) method of bill payment where the customer is limited to pay by either in cash, cheque, or electronic payment at a given payment centre. There are two types of online utility bill payment models, namely direct model and indirect model. The following table describe further details on these two models. Indirect Model (Third Party) Consumers pay any biller through a third party website such as a bank or portal, or by using software that interacts with the payers bank (Flynn Bowes, 2005) Automatic Bill Settlement by American Express (American Express, 2010) HSBC Easy Bill Settlement for Utility Bills (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, 2010) With the evolution of payment options from barter to commodity-based, to currency and coin, to card-based and, more recently, to electronic network-based systems (Mantel, 2000), modern consumers have a wider choice when it comes to paying their utility bills via online. The table 3 below illustrates various online payment options available for consumers. Table 3 Online Payment Options Online Payment Options Definition Examples (Sri Lanka) Virtual Credit cards A disposable payment card that can be used to make purchases or payments over the internet (Economy Watch, 2010). Sampath Web card (Sampath Bank, 2010) E-cheques An electronic representation of a paper cheque (Acosta, 2008). e-cheques by Union Bank (New Sri Lanka, 2009) Smart cheques by Standard charted (Standard Chartered Bank, 2008) E-Wallets A software that has been installed on the consumers desktop which automatically fills payment forms (Acosta, 2008). Sampath e-wallet (Sampath Bank, 2010) Credit Cards (VISA, MasterCard American Express) The money for purchases or payments is credited directly to the consumers bank account, allowing consumer to pay later. HSBC credit cards (Premier, Platinum, Gold, Classic) (Hong-Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, 2010) Debit Cards The money for purchases or payments is deducted directly from the consumers checking account. HSBC VISA Debit card (Hong-Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, 2010) Sampath Bank Debit card (Sampath Bank, 2010) Online bank accounts Allows users to manage their bill payments through online banking Personal banking by HSBC (Hong-Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, 2010) Payeasy by Sampath Bank (Sampath Bank, 2010) Combank Online by Commercial Bank (Commercial Bank, 2010) Literate Review on Dependent Variable Given the fact that online bill payment is one of the fastest growing consumer activities on the internet that has being accepted by the business world today (McCormick, 2005), a few published empirical studies have specifically addressed the underlying factors that could materially affect customers adoption of an online utility bill payment system (He Mykytyn, 2007). Cheung et al (2003) have stated that theories such as the TRA, the TPB and the TAM are the most dominant theories that are been used to test studies related to the online consumer behaviour. Hence out of the three theories, TAM is considered as a suitable theory to analyse the factors influencing the physicians intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system (Taylor and Todd, 1995 cited Karami, 2006). (Please refer Appendix B for further details on the theories). Literature Review on Independent Variables In order to address the problem in this study, the following independent variables were selected as suggested by many previous studies. Perceived Characteristics Perceived risk Previous findings on the impact of perceived risk on consumer behaviour have suggested that the consumers consider adopting online payment methods more risky than tradition offline methods (Palvou 2003 and Koufaris et al 2002 cited He Mykytyn, 2007). In the Sri Lankan context, the risk of online utility bill payment is relative moderate. This is complemented by the fact that there are many banking services providing secure methods for the online financial transactions. However, according to the central banks statistics (2008), the total volume of transactions decreased by 5.7%. This indicates that there is a tendency that Sri Lankan consumers are concerned about the perceived risk associated with online payments in terms of security, trust and privacy. Perceived benefits the intention of online utility bill payment can be explained by the two components of TAM; PU and PEOU. Hence according to these components, when physicians consider online utility bill payments is more useful in terms of time saving, convenience and service reliability, and it is easy to use, they should be more likely to pay their utility bills online. Previous findings by (He Mykytyn, 2007 and Ramayah et al, 2006) revealed that perceived benefits are the significant drivers of consumers intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. These findings were also consistent with previous studies on TAM (Chan Lu, 2004 cited Ramayah et al, 2006). Consumer Characteristics Consumer characteristics variables include gender, age, and nature of occupation, credit/debit card usage, attitude towards innovative payment methods, and individuals personal computer knowledge and skills. Gender Most of the previous researches on online bill payment, it is found that males are more willing to pay their bills through online than females. However, in a study by Masters (2006) it was found that the gender difference between males and females rate of internet usage among physicians are diminishing. In the Sri Lankan context, the computer literacy between males and females are 22% and 18.7% respectively (Department of Census Statistics, 2009). This indicates that the gender differences in how each perceives internet technology are blurring. Age Most studies indicates that the tendency of younger consumers intention of online bill payment is much higher than that of old consumers. This maybe mainly due to the familiarity of the internet based activities at an early stage. The circumstances in Sri Lanka are also similar; this may be mainly due to the high percentage of computer literacy in young people than older people (Department of Census Statistics, 2009). However, in the case of online utility bill payment, a study by Mantel (2000) showed that older people are more likely to pay utility bills via online than young people. General physicians/ Specialists Although most previous researches did not find a significant positive relationship between the user intention in online bill payment and education level, in study by Masters (2006) an interesting relationship between the nature of the work and internet usage was revealed. The study showed that there is a greater tendency for specialists to use the internet more than general physicians (Masters, 2006). Credit/Debit Cards Usage A study by Hayashi Klee (2003) stated that consumers who intent to use new technology have a more tendency in utilizing electronic payment methods than those who do not. Though the credit cards usage in Sri Lanka has indicated a declining trend since the recessionary months of 2008 the debit card usages have shown a considerable increase. Thus this could be assumed as a factor influencing the intention to pay utility bills via online. Attitude Attitude refers to the ones evaluation of consequences on performing a particular behaviour (Karami, 2006). Thus attitude has long been shown to influence behavioural intentions (Ajzen and Fishbein 1980 cited Pavlou and Fygenson, 2006). Computer Skills In most cases this stands as a key barrier for adoption of online transactions. Computer skills are mainly a persons ability to understand the set-up of online payments and the ability to use such online payment systems. Most of previous studies indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between individuals computer skills and intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. (Please refer appendix C for the summarised table on literature review). Chapter 3 Methodology Secondary Data Analysis Population Sample The population selected for this study comprised of registered physicians in Sri Lanka. In order to obtain the sample, multistage sampling method was used. As illustrated in the figure below, initially cluster sampling method was used to divide the population into sub categories based on geographical area and then on obtaining a list of physicians employed in private hospitals in Colombo city, stratified sampling method was used to further divide the sample into homogeneous groups based on nature of occupation, hence a simple random sample was drawn from the two combined categories. (Please refer appendix D for further details). Secondary Data Analysis The Future of Online Utility Bill Payment Systems Although the idea of online utility bill payment is quite unfamiliar to most Sri Lankan households, online utility bill payments is one of the popular method of paying utility bills, mostly in developed countries such as the US. Hence according to a survey by the NLCCDG in 2005, 75% of the US cities had already implemented a separate webs5%ite for their citizens in order to make utility bill payment (IT Facts, 2005). According to Forrester Research, it is estimated that some47 million US households will pay utility bills online at the end of year 2010, which is a 75% increase from 2004 (illustrated in the figure below). Furthermore, the survey reported that among the consumers who are below the age of 30, the interest in online utility bill payment will grow by 219% and 32% of increase among baby boomers (BCR Access, 2006). Although there are no direct surveys that has been carried out in the Sri Lankan context with regards to online utility bill payments, according to the internet world stats website, the internet users have increased significantly during the past few years hence the percentage of penetration have increased by approximately 3% in year 2010 compared to 1.8% increase in year 2009 (internet world stats, 2010). The figure below illustrates the trend in internet users in Sri Lanka (source: internet world stats, 2010). Although the adoption of new technologies by the Sri Lankans is comparatively sluggish when compared to other Asian countries in the region, the government of Sri Lanka has taken numerous steps in order to enhance the e-commerce base activities. Hence one of the most significant episodes in the authorized regulation of e-commerce in Sri Lanka was the endorsement of the Electronic Transactions Act in 2006. This act was implemented in order to assist the commercial and financial activities by removing barriers to electronic transactions (Kariyawasam, 2008). Consequently since then many companies providing various services, especially utility services, have implemented systems that allows consumers to conduct their transactions via online. Chapter 4 Data Analysis The primary data for this study were collected through a survey based field study which consisted of thirteen questions (please refer appendix E for the questionnaire). The survey was administered to the physicians working at four major private hospitals in Colombo, namely Lanka Hospitals, Oasis Hospital, Asiri Surgical Hospital and Nawaloka Hospital. Fifty (50) questionnaires were randomly distributed among the physicians employed at all four hospitals and the responses were collected two days after the initial distribution of the survey. In total, forty four (44 i.e. 88%) physicians responded. Total of 29 items were used in this empirical study, including customer characteristics, perceived risk, perceived benefits, and merchants website and service features. To calculate the internal consistency of these items, a reliability analysis was performed by computing Cronbachs Alpha for each item. Hence all items are within the range of 0.746 (illustrated in the figure below) which is within the commonly accepted range, i.e., ÃŽÂ ± à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥ 0.69 (He Mykytyn, 2007). According to the findings about the awareness level on online utility bill payment systems in Sri Lanka, the results indicated that in general all the respondents were moderately aware. However, when categorized according to the age, those of who were over 46 years old were only slightly aware about online utility bill payment systems, and male respondents demonstrated more knowledge on online utility bill payment systems than female respondents. 1= Never, 2= Almost never, 3= Sometimes, 4= Almost every time, 5= Every timePreferred Bill Payment Options The respondents mostly preferred to use credit and/or debit cards for their online transactions. The debit card usage frequency was higher than the credit card usage for online utility bill payments, although in general a higher number of respondents acquired a credit card. The indirect bill payment method was the most preferred among the respondents, i.e. most consumers preferred to pay their utility bills (excluding the telephone bills) through a third party website such as a bank or portal, or by using software that interacts with the payers bank (Flynn Bowes, 2005). Despite of any age differences, the consumers attitude towards online utility bill payment systems were positive. Hence most respondents thought that it is important that all companies must implement online bill payment systems as opposed to offline payment methods. Regression Analysis A regression analysis was performed using the individuals intention (UI) as the dependent variable and perceived risk (PR), perceived benefits (PB), merchants website service and features (MWSF) and computer skill (CK) as the independent variables. The Equation for this model is as follows Individuals Intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system (UI) = ÃŽÂ ²0 + ÃŽÂ ²1Perceived Risk (PR) +ÃŽÂ ²2 Perceived Benefits (PB) + ÃŽÂ ²3 Merchants Website Service Features (MWSF) + ÃŽÂ ²4 Individuals Computer Skill (CK) i.e. UIn = ÃŽÂ ²0 + ÃŽÂ ²1PRn +ÃŽÂ ²2PBn + ÃŽÂ ²3 MWSFn + ÃŽÂ ²4CKn Where ÃŽÂ ²01234 = Regression coefficients n = 1, 2, 3à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 44 Table Regression Analysis Result Dependent Variable: Individuals Intention to Adopt an Online Utility Bill Payment Option Figure Framework on Factors Affecting the Individuals Intention to Adopt an Online Utility Bill Payment System .316 .418 -.281 .238 Individuals Intention to Adopt an Online Utility Bill Payment System Individuals Computer Skill Merchants Website Service Features Perceived Benefits Perceived Risks Therefore from the findings above, it is evident that perceived risks, perceived benefits and individuals computer skill variables indicate a positive relationship with the intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system variable. The merchants website service features variable, however, indicates a negative relationship, this explains that more than the services offered by certain merchants regarding online utility bill payments, respondents were more concerned about factors such as security, trust, privacy, time, and other beneficiaries when it comes to adopting an online utility bill payment system. Chapter 5 Conclusion Recommendation The main objective of this study was to empirically investigate the factors affecting the individuals intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system in Sri Lanka. The primary investigation on the topic identified that there are several factors influencing the adoption of online utility bill payment systems by consumers in the country. Since the country is still in its infancy of adopting online payment methods as oppose to offline payment methods, the study was conducted among physicians, a highly qualified and professional set consumers who are more likely to be in touch with new technologies. Thus the findings of this study are from a survey that consisted of 44 physicians employed at four major private hospitals in the Colombo city. The results indicated that although in general all the respondents were reasonably aware about the online utility bill payment systems that were available for them, the younger who were below the age of 30 were extremely aware about online utility bill payment systems compared to the rest of age groups. Additionally it was also found that male respondents were more aware about online payments than female respondents. The general usage of credit/debit cards and online bank accounts for the payments of utility bills was found to be relatively less. This can be also related to the finding from the secondary research which analysed that the usage of credit and debit cards has declined in Sri Lanka due to various reasons such as the economic turmoil and high interest charges applied by subsequent banks which issue the credit/ debit cards. Thus, the use of online bank accounts for the settlement of online utility bill payments showed a higher rate over credit and debit card usages. Moreover, although most respondents stated that they preferred to pay their telephone bills directly from the consequent merchants website, for other payments such water and electricity, most respondents preferred to adopt payment systems that were implemented by third party vendors such as banks. Concerning the consumers attitude towards online utility bill payment systems, majority of the respondents stated that it is important for utility service companies to mark their presences on the internet thus implement online payment systems. Interestingly, apart from the younger age group below 30, respondents between the ages 41-45 also indicated a high positive attitude towards the importance of online utility bill payment systems. Hence the survey revealed that most respondents were concerned about the credit cards frauds, security levels, and privacy when it came to making online payments. Thus these factors which fell under the variable perceived risks indicated a positive relationship with the individuals intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. Furthermore, it was found that respondents enthusiasm to make online utility bill payments also depended on perceived benefits, which included factors such as ease of use of the system, speed, avoidance of late payments and queues, and time. This also supported as positive with the individuals intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. Moreover, individuals computer skill which was measured using the information based on the years of computer experience and internet experience which the respondents possessed supported positive (although weak) relationship with the adoption of an online utility bill payment system. Nevertheless, the impact of merchants website service and features were not considered as an important or influential factor by the respondents to adopt an online utility bill payment system. This may be due to the lack of design and service features that are made available to the customers by the existing utility companies. In conclusion, this investigation was carried out as an extension of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) which was initially developed by Davis in 1989 (cited in Ramayah et al., 2005); with additional variables that were assumed to affect the individuals intention to adopt online utility bill payment systems, which is a branch of e-commerce associated with online consumer behaviour. Hence according to the findings in this investigation, it could be assumed that the youthful consumers who have received a higher level of education are more aware about online bill payment systems thus are more notably agreeable to adopt online bill payment systems as a convenience way of settling utility bills. It can also be assumed that the method of online utility bill payment is not being widely accepted in Sri Lanka due to the lack in consumers confidence on security of payments, privacy issues, and their trust on particular merchants. Therefore companies must take necessary actions required to improve to consumers confidence about online bill payments and further emphasis and educate the consumers on particular benefits that will be offered to them through the utilisation of online bill payment systems.

Night Essay -- essays research papers

In reading, Night by Elie Wiesel and A Man's Search For Meaning by , many stories of the torturous life in the concentration camps during the second world war. In each book, the reader gets a different point of view from each book because in Night, you get to read about a teenager's view and in the book, A Man's Search For Meaning, you get to read about a middle aged man's view. In the book, Night, Elie, his family and his community go through a system of indoctrination which in each step it makes you seem less and less of a human. The first step is that the Hungarian police made all the Jewish people wear yellow stars, so they could be picked out easily. The next step is that all the Jewish people had to get rid of all their valuable belongings. The next step in the system is moving all the Jewish people to the ghettos either in the large one or the small one. Elie and his family was moved to the large one. The next step is that Elie and his family had to move to the small ghetto where they were getting ready to leave or be sent some where else. The next step of the system is everyday they take a certain amount of Jewish people into the center of the town square and then they let them sit there for a while. The next step was that they had to walk to the synagogue and then they had to walk to train after being in the synagogue for a day. Once they reach the train, the Hungarian police put eighty people in a thirty person train car. The next step is the long trip on the train, where people start going crazy, people not getting fed well and no room to sit. Life in the camp, the next step is when the train arrives at Auschwitz and then SS men ordered everyone out and makes them leave their personal stuff behind. The next step they separated the men from the women and children, this was a point where families were separated and most of the families never saw each other again. Elie never saw his mother and his sisters again. He could have stay with his mother but he told the SS men that he was eighteen years old and that was better because the most people they killed were children. The older people got to live longer because they thought that they will all die because of the way they were treating them bad, by not feeding and making them work longer hours. The next step was to separate the handicapped from the normal. After that the young and old are separ... ...members are waiting for them when they get out or someone needs them to be alive, so they could survive another day. Frankl talks about how everyone has something inside them that they want to live for, but if they cannot see that then someone will have tell them about it. Frankl believes that we should all see our something that makes us want to live because life is very valuable and you cannot just let it go like that. In the reading of both these books, I have learned many things about the human race. I learned how cruel it can be and how fragile it can be. I believe that if I was in a position of either being a prisoner, a SS man or a Kapo, I really do not know how I would act. If I was a SS man, I probably would have listen my conscience and done everything in my power to get out of that position. If I was a prisoner, I would probably do everything in my power to live and survive the camps. If I was a Kapo, I would not treated my follow men bad so that I will not face any harm. Even though I think I would have done these things if I was in those positions, I probably would have done something else because I can never really understand the situation and the experience of it.

An Analysis of William Gibsons Idoru Essay -- Gibson Idoru Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   William Gibson's Idoru is a novel thick with implications and extrapolations related to the oncoming and (present) age of electronic para-reality. Stylistically, it is far from perfect, but in theme it has a firm grasp on the concept of the simulacra as it mimics, masks and replaces reality.    Gibson's characters are rarely paintings of great depth. While I would strongly disagree with the assertion that they are archetypes cut out from a mold, I would still note that they are not particularly rich or personal. This probably derives from the author's style of writing which is the radical end of the spectrum of "showing, not telling," so that we are shown the characters' pasts, physical status, and present situations, and as readers we are to intuit the logical psychological conditions associated with those factors. Gibson has rich situations, not rich characters.    That's why I find it so strange that the New York Times Book Review wrote, "Chia is one of [Gibson's] most winning creations." I fail to understand the logic. It's as though, by making her young and in a strange situation, we're to develop an instant affinity for her. Now obviously, Gibson himself is not the one to decree that his characters are strong or weak. So it is not a flaw on the part of his writing when a reader attributes an archetype to one of his characters, but I would tend to think that, by design or simple lack of skill, Gibson writes his characters a little flat. (Which, in the context of a discussion of simulacra, makes it all the more amusingly ironic that book reviewers would attribute what they would call a "hidden" level to the quality of the writing not otherwise apparent.)    Another stylistic tool Gibson employed wa... ...and eventually defines reality? It was a simply computer, just like Idoru was simply a novel. Yet the seashells in the make of that case serve to create a fantasy as readily and importantly as the words on paper serve to create a reality (and, paradoxically, the reality in which those seashells existed.) Simply because each is not real does not disrupt the validity of their creations, for if that were true, then the seashells would never have existed in the first place, even in our minds.    Gibson understands this closely, and Idoru does an excellent job of illustrating it. While not technically perfect, it is effective, and creates an image which is useful for us to learn from.    Works Cited and Consulted:    Gibson, William. Neuromancer. (Ace Books: New York 1984)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   _____, Idoru. (Berkeley Books: New York 1996)   

Organizational Buying Behaviour Essay

These are marketing intermediaries such as wholesalers and retailers who buy finished goods for resale at a profit. ? Government markets This comprises of national and local governments, seeking to provide the public with education, water, energy, national defense, road systems and health care. ? Institutional markets o Organizations that seek to achieve charitable, educational, community or other non-business goals make up institutional markets. o They include churches, hospitals, museums, libraries, universities and charitable organizations. 2. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONAL AND PERSONAL BUYING. These can be compared on the unique characteristics of organizational buying. a) Business markets have fewer buyers than consumer markets. b) In business markets, there are a few large buyers c) There is close supplier-customer relationship in business market due to o Smaller customer base o Contracts go to suppliers who co-operate with the buyers on technical specifications and delivery requirements o Suppliers are expected to attend special seminars organized by buyers so as to be familiar with the buyers’ quality specifications. d) Geographically concentrated buyers ) Derived demand The demand for business goods is ultimately delivered from the demand for consumer goods f) Inelastic demand The total demands for industrial goods are not much affected by the changes in the environment. g) Fluctuating demand Demand for organizational goods tend to be more volatile than the demand for consumer products. o This is especially true for the demand of new plant and equipment o A giv en percentage increase in consumer demand can lead to a larger percentage increase in the demand for plant and equipment necessary for additional output. h) Professional purchasing Business goods are purchased by trained purchasing agents, who must follow the organizations, o Purchasing policies o Constraints o Requirements. i) Several buying influences o More people typically influence business buying decisions than in consumer buying decisions. o Buying committees consisting of technical experts and even senior managers are common in the purchase of major goods. j) Direct purchasing Business buyers often buy from manufacturers rather through intermediaries, especially those items that are technically complex and/or expensive. k) Reciprocity Business buyers normally buy from suppliers who buy from them. ) Leasing. o Many industrial buyers lease their equipment instead of buying it. o Advantages – Conserves capital – Gets sellers latest products – Receives better services – Gains some tax advantages. 3. BUYING SITUATIONS OR TYPES OF BUYING DECISIONS. Three types of buying situations have been identified; a) Straight Rebuy ? The purchasing department orders on a routine basis e. g. office suppliers. ? The buyer chooses from the suppliers on its approved list, giving weight to past satisfaction with the various suppliers. b) Modified Rebuy The buyer wants to modify the: – Product specification, Prices, – Delivery requirements and – Other terms This usually involves additional discussions and more participants on both the buyer and the seller’s side. c) New task Rebuy ? A product is being bought for the first time. ? The greater the cost and/or risks, the lager will be the number of decision participants and the greater their information gathering. The time take to make a decision also increases. ? This situation offers the marketer the greatest opportunity and challenge. ? The marketer tries to reach as many key buying influencers as possible and provides helpful information and assistance. Because of the complicated nature of selling, many companies are usi ng missionary sales force consisting of their best sales people. 4. BUYING ROLES/PARTICIPANTS IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL BUYING. I. e. the decision making unit (DMU) or buying centre. a) What is the buying center? It is composed of all those individuals and groups who participate in the purchase-decision process. It includes members of the organizations who play any of the following roles in the purchase-decision process. b) Buying roles i) Initiators – Those who suggest that an item be purchased – They may be users or other organizations. i) Users – Those who will use the product. – In most cases, they initiate the buying, write proposals and help define product specifications/requirements. iii) Influencers – Are persons who influence the buying decisions – They help define product specifications and provide information for evaluating alternatives. – Technical personnel are important as influencers. iv) Deciders Are the persons who have t he power to decide on product requirements and/or suppliers. v) Approvers Are the persons who must authorize the proposed actions of deciders or buyers. vi) Buyers Are persons with formal authority for selecting the supplier and arranging terms of purchase. vii) Gate-keepers Are persons who have the power to prevent information from reaching members of the buying center e. g. – Purchasing agents – Receptionists and – Telephone operators. They may prevent sales persons from talking to users or deciders. 5. BUYING DECISION PROCESS Eight stages in the buying decision process have been identified by marketers. These are described as:- i) Problem recognition The buying decision process starts when someone in the company recognizes a problem or need. This may arise from, ? Internal stimuli e. g. o The company decides to develop a new product and needs new equipment o There may be a machine break-down which may require replacement or new parts o Purchased material may turn out to be unsatisfactory and the company needs another supplier. ? External stimuli e. g. o New ideas from trade shows. ii) General need description ? Buyer determines the general characteristics and quality of the needed item. ? He may not be aware of different product characteristics ? The marketer should help the company to define its needs. iii) Product specifications At this stage, item’s technical specifications are developed. The decision makers may use of product value analysis. They may ask such questions as; o Does the use of the item contribute value? o Is its cost proportionate to its usefulness? o Can it be found elsewhere? iv) Supplier search Sources of suppliers may include ? Trade directories ? Business directories ? Word of mouth ? Experience. v) Proposal solicitation In this stage, the buyer invites qualified suppliers to submit proposals. vi) Supplier selection In selecting suppliers, decision makers, may use of vendor analysis. The following attributes, may be used; Delivery capability; Quality ; Price;Repair service;Technical capability;Performance history;Reputation;Financial position. vii) Order routine specification Buyer now writes final order with the chosen suppliers, listing – Technical specification – Quantity needed – Expected time of delivery – Return policies, e. t. c. viii) Performance review Buyer reviews performance of a particular supplier(s) The buyer can contact end users and ask for their evaluation and then rate suppliers on several criteria. The review may lead the buyer to; Continue, – Modify or – Drop the supplier. 6. FACTORS INFLUENCING ORGANIZATIONAL BUYING DECISIONS. a) Environmental factors E. g. – Level of primary demand – Cost of money – Technology – Political/legal forces – Competitive developments – Organizational factors: Objectives, Policies, Procedures – Organization structure, e. t. c. b) Interpersonal factors Participants in their buying center have different statuses, authority, persuasiveness, e. t. c. c) Individual factors Each individual in the buying centre has; Personal motivators; Perceptions; Education; Personality, e. t. c.