Environmental Issues in the Car Industry

Environmental Issues in the motor gondola applicationWhat be the environmental issues go about the hereafter of the European political machine exertion?AbstractThis radical looks at the issues facing the European railroad machine effort with run crossways to environmental issues. This is d hotshot by t unitary at past and present seduce material that revolves a bike the subject matter under condition themes. hypothetical perspectives indoors the European problem environment much(prenominal) as pestle, models of securities industry structure, profit maximisation, sources of finance, market segmentation, branding st dictategy, European argument enterprise and its set up on the environment ar every(prenominal) explained in similitude to their relevance of environmental issues. These theoretical themes ar used because they both act as a catalyst to the subject matter of the problems caused by elevator railroad cars which be non fuel efficient or less pollutant within Europe.In addition, a recently published paper on the directive for labelling on cars with regard to carbonic acid gas emissions, consciousness of consumers, and fuel efficiency types in the European joint is used as empirical usher to support virtuosos descri existences as there was a paucity of time to carry out one. Finally a critical review of matches and miss-matches is used to comp atomic number 18 and production line similarities between the theoretical perspectives identified to prove the last mentioned mentioned and the empirical evidence gathered for this paper, so as to forge a way forward for the European Car Industry.Chapter 1 A Brief narrative of The Car IndustryIntroductionThe European Car Industry is one that has come of age. From its early beginnings oer 100 twelvemonths ago, it is beginning to show signs of essay in straight offs modern society. This has come about collect to the new challenges that the persistence is facing in the ne w millennium. Issues such as picnic pollution, congestion, profession jams etc., are all factors that hold in got made the car industry rethink its goals, objectives, its selling, and the consequences that are non foreseen. As a whole the car industry lay downs nearly 60 million cars and trucks every year, and employs millions of mickle around the world. Average profit margins deport a bun in the oven correctd from 20 present or more in its hey old age of the1920s to around 10 present in the 1960s and less than 5 present in this present day, infect nearly volume car makers such as Fiat, Ford, and Vauxhall, conduct actually been losing money.It hatful be stated that over century ago the car industry feasibly invented modern industrial capitalism. In the Economist (2004) the car started life in Ger more and early articulatement of the industry began in France (hence the word automobile, a French word) in the 1900s, still it was in the States that the car industry came of age with the Henry Ford T-Model of crowd production which started in Chicago round about the same period(1900s).In the 1920s Alfred Sloans ideas of running cosmopolitan Motors provided the model for the gr release corporations that grew up to dominate the second half of the 20th century. habitual Motors soon swept past Ford as Alfred Sloan revolutionized the young car industry, and Ford never regained the dominance it enjoyed in its infancy days of weed production. The car industry can be said to be ahead of its time in many respects. For example, in planned obsolescence, which is the frequent agitates in design and mood that tempted customers to switch to a newer model every year or so. In the 1970s when the oil price quadrupled, the industry found itself under attack from environmentalists churn up by its products gas consuming and exhuming nature, ( assembly line pollution, etc.).It was in addition the kickoff industry to come under government scrutiny, from safety concerns to environmental issues to antitrust worries in the days when General Motors had 60 present of its domestic market and could exclude out competitors with a few hygienic-chosen price cuts. However, when small sparingal and reliable Nipponese Cars started to eat into Detroits market share, the American government impose restraints on those imports. Soon afterwards, theca industry in Europe came under the same similar pressures and followed suit. out-of-pocket to the sporadic recognition and existence as a chromatography column of industrial capitalism, the car industry besides found itself at the mercy of trade weddings in the 1920s and 1930s. Its workers increasingly pushed for trade unionisation in which a times the car factories in the Detroit area, the British Midlands, in Frankfurt, Germany, and the huge plants around Paris were the of import battleground of the Class war. Although today trade union membership is still as high as ever, the power they wielded in the 1920s to 1970s has cut immensely. Today, the motor car is the epitome of mass production, mass merchandise and mass consumption, with some of the strongest brands in the world.For proficient about households in rich countries, it is the second- biggishgest purchase after a house or flat, which makes the industry a pillar of modern industrial capitalism as earlier mentioned. Few early(a)wise consumer goods industries depend so to a great extent on second hand market for their products. Now, rationality how the European Car Industry operates and the many pressures that it faces is essential to an regarding of the predicament the UK car buyers currently faces. roughly 70 present of new cars sold in the UK are imported, with the great studyity of these imports coming from the rest of Europe. The UK market is intrinsically tied into the pattern of car making and distribution across Europe.Thus the deportment of the UK motor industry towards both its retailing and service partners and towards consumers is part of the wider behaviour of the European Car Industry. The industry can be said to be advance one. In virtually every country of North West Europe, the density of car ownership has just about reached its practical maximum. at that place are some opportunities for harvest-tide left in Southern and Central Europe, but they testament be mostly used up in the next few years.Following on, the consequences of mass production, and a relax introduction of cars that run on synthetic or alternative fuels has led to a rapid increase in environmental pollution, carbon dioxide emissions, traffic jams, congestion, and human related diseases such as lung cancer, all of which are respectable environmental issues, which the European Car Industry have found itself slow to adapt, change, amend and go through to the bet endpointent of the wider society. This has led to directives and committees from the European Union to be setup to tackle the issued menti oned preceding(prenominal) and the latter. With this in mind a review of breathing material that has been published in the press and journals entrust now be critically meditated.Chapter 2 active Literature ReviewedThe need to galvanise and understand the unforeseen circumstances of mass car production and environmental issues in the European Union has been stressed by researchers for more than three decades. According to the Europa (2005), the EU is the largest self-propelling production region (34%) in the world and the industry comprises 7.5% of the manufacturing sector in the union. Direct employment by the automotive industry stands at about twain million employees, while the total employment effect (direct and verificatory) is estimated to be about ten million. It besides adds that since the year 2001, the motor fomite production has decreased in the European Union, from 17.2 million units in 2001 to 16.9 million units in 2002. The decline abided into2003, with 70,00 0 motor vehicles less creation produced, compared to2002.This decline is due to the worsening of the macro-economic situation where consumer take away has been decreasing. Lagunas (2005)correlates with this by stating that motor vehicles have become the prime means of personalized and commercial mobility in todays world. Growing prosperity has led to a spectacular rise in car use, phenomenon being repeated in the new member states which joined the Union in 2004. In China and other booming countries with looser anti-pollution rules than the EU, trends show major increases in undercover bearation.This success has generated serious concerns about the environmental effects of vehicle use, in particular traffic congestion, demeanor pollution, traffic-related diseases, and noise. In addition Lagunas (2005) states that these concerns have led the EU to formulate the objective of decoupling economic growth from transport growth. The EU has come up with legislation and initiatives to run the change towards cleaner cars while promoting sustainable transport modes and model shift. It goes on to state that the interest in cleaner, less polluting vehicles and fuel has grown rapidly in recent years.Emissions from gasoline and diesel engines have been significantly reduced in the last decade, driven in the first of all place by European legislation and will continue to be reduced. In elaboration Lagunas(2005) states that in the EU, almost 40 present of the transport sectors CO2 emissions are produced by the use of private cars in cities, CO2 emissions are damaging the environment and contributing to climate change both petrol and diesel engines have their good and bedsides as regards emissions engines works with diesel fuel emit lessCO2 than the ones working with petrol on the other hand diesel engines are releasing more cancer causing p terms in the striving.Air pollution caused by car emissions has health impacts problems implicate aggravation of respiratory a nd cardio-vascular diseases, asthma, and decreased lung functions. Gartner (2005) as well as argues that the effectiveness of the directive made by the EU relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel parsimony and CO2 emissions has been successful and gained momentum in some European countries but non all. Reasons being consumers neediness awareness of fuel economy and environmental impacts of fuels as well as available information similarlyls, in which one of the possibly ways to tackle this as stated by Gartner(2005) was to increase consumers awareness by standard equipment of new cars with fuel consumption indicators or cruise control.In addition Gartner (2005) argues that fuel economy and environmental impact are in general no major factor in vehicle purchase decisions and fuel consumption is mostly simply important because of the speak to, but not to environmental issues. ACNielsen (2005) agrees with this by saying when it comes to what influences consume rs choice of car brand, manufacturers of sumptuosity vehicles may be surprised to learn that foresee and prestige do not appear to be a top priority, in which engine coat and environmentally friendly cars are regarded as the least(prenominal) important features to the Europeans when it comes to buying a car. Interest however is growing slowing with a greater awareness of climate change and CO2 emission issues. Gartner (2005) also states that general awareness of label, poster/display and guide on CO2 emissions and fuel efficiency on cars is quite small and most of the information tools are not regarded as very informative or effective, although it can be said that this varies from one EU country to other.For example, in Austria, the label is regarded as the most informative and efficient element, compared to teak where the label was not assessed as effective in tip. In an article by the BBC (2002) it was argued that there are five major groups of car manufacturers in the wor ld, they are General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler Benz, Toyota, and Volkswagen. Of these only Toyota relies on one global brand name. whole the others have a web of subsidiaries spanning the world. We moldiness understand that the real reason why the car manufacturing firms are in business is to make money and respect their prestige as a world material body car manufacturer.To do this means they (car manufacturers) will have to constantly roll-out new models, with better gadgets, with writ of execution and style. That is why, as Madsen (2002) argues, Volkswagen launched its luxury car, the Phaeton to compete against the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini brands. This initiative was and is deemed as a risky push by the Group. However, the Chairman of the group Rd. Bernd Pischetsrieder argues that success would not be calculated by sales volumes that the key was to enhance the Volkswagen brand. It was also argued by critics from within and outside the firm that the launch of the Phaeton, delayed the launch of the Audi, which is a car from within the group.However, he was quick to mute the negative by stating that possibly, the dealers learn to be a bit quicker and not to find the competitor in-house but out-house, and this will help the business adding it is the engineers and marketers of the Audi brand that have the serious challenge of making sure that the brand does well. With this type of attitude within car firms it shows that environmental issues are the least likely concern within the European Car Industry. In the UK, white paper by DETR (2002) stated that many towns and cities suffer from traffic jams and foul streets and as a result, are less agreeable places in which to live and do business. Reducing the negative impacts of traffic on the quality of peoples lives is a key element of improving the urban environment, as set out in the governments recent urban white paper. Adding that emissions of air pollutants arising from road traffic are set to decline over the period to 2010 as a result of improvements in vehicle technology and fuel quality, but are forecast to begin rising again beyond 2010 due to increased traffic growth. Indirectly, an increase in car sales that are not fuel efficient means more air pollution, increased traffic jams, and lung cancer. However, in Europe the car market has become largely a market for replacement vehicles within a largely placid market rather than one driven by a growing buyer base, Consumer association (2000).In addition, the market is crowded with over 40 marques and 250 models on offer and major product innovation is rare and rapidly imitated. Notwithstanding, product branding activity is violent and advertising spends are large and directed at creating a sense of differentiation. In another article by the BBC (2002) it was argued that in the UK, car prices were still too high and one of the major reasons for this was the block exemption, which allows network of national or regional dealers selected by car manufacturers, to flourish. However, this (block exempt) has now been abolished byte European parliament. In another article by the BBC (2002), it was argued that the number of car manufacturing companies had close up down due to the fall in export demand owing to the euros weakness against the pound this is in relation to the fact that 70% of cars driven on Roads are European Imports. In the Economist (2004), it was argued that out of the worlds top 17 car companies, only half were earning more than the cost of their capital.The value creators in Europe were Porsche, the Mercedes bit of DaimlerChrysler, BMW, and Peugeot. In Asia, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia made the cut. But Americas big three GM, Ford, and Chrysler, were all in the value goal group, along with Renault, Fiat, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and. In the same article GMs boss argues that the Nipponese government is providing indirect aid to the countrys car companies by holding down the yen, thereby lowering their costs of producing export models and parts for the American prevarication plants and also in Europe. American and European manufacturers maintain that the Japanese do this solely to boost their exports but it can be stated that the real reason for the Japanese government of implementing such a policy may have been to head off deflation and revive the domestic Japanese economy.In another article by Europa (2005) Verheugen, the vice-president of the European Commission responsible for Enterprise and Industry argues that a efficacious framework will need to be created via CARS 21 High level group, in which the overall objective is to make recommendations for the short, medium and long-run everyday policy and regulatory framework for the car industry that enhances its global competitiveness as well as employment, while sustaining further progress in safety and environmental performance at a price affordable to the customer. Corby (2005) also argues t hat the environmental performance of cars has been improved dramatically over the past decade. freshly cars have become more fuel efficient and they emit less toxic emissions than cars in the 1970s, adding that environmental innovation is essential for the sustainability and competitiveness of the European car industry. The previous mentioned shows that great changes are being made in the European Car Industry with regard to environmental issues. In a press cede by the Auto Industry (2003), it was argued that new car modal(a) CO2 emissions fell to 174.2 g/CO2per km in 2002, 8.2 present down on the 1997 service line and 1.9 present below the 2001 average. The rise of the superman in the UK over recent years has helped to lower average CO2 emissions through the wider appeal of smaller cars. In the same article, it was stated that Diesel fuelled cars have been a significant influence on the reduction in average CO2 emissions. Diesel models took a evince 23.5 present share of the UK market in 2002, with demand up 38 present.In another published article by Lagunas (2005), it was suggested that the average new car in the EU 15 was releasing almost 12% less CO2 in 2003 than it did in 1995, however pressure was growing, especially from Berlin, to push automakers to make further cuts. In the same article, the German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU), a government body, diabolic the European commission for allowing car makers to exceed adjust values for particulate matter (pm) and CO2.It criticizes the industrys voluntary target to reduce emissions to 120 g/km by 2012 as being too modest, saying a target of 100g/km is achievable by that date. It therefore, proposes an innovation forcing strategy to push carmakers embarking on the global competitive race for improved environmental performance of vehicles. Balzac (1998) adds to the furore that because the Yen is one of the leading international currencies, solving the problem (devaluation of Yen) requires i nternational answers.In the same article, as the Car industry is considered one of the key industries in Japan and Europe, a devaluation of the Yen directly asks the European Car Industry. As mentioned in the latter sections a devaluation of the Yen enables Japanese car manufacturers to sell their cars at much lower affordable prices to potential customers in Europe, and North America, in which the European Car Industry would suffer the most due to a high value of the currencies within the European Union member states.With all this in mind, the conclusion of this paper proceeds as followsChapter 3 Theoretical Perspectives on the European Business Environmentand MarketingChapter 4 Empirical Evidence.Chapter 5 Critical summary of Theoretical perspectives and empirical evidenceChapter 6 unofficial and Conclusion.Chapter 3 Theoretical Perspectives On The European Business Environment and MarketingIn order to have a clear understanding of the concept of the business environment withi n Europe and the marketing of the car industry, we will first need to identify the convey of the terminologies. European business is a generic term which describes Avery wide variety of agricultural, industrial and service activities undertaken by a large number of different organisations across the continent of Europe. Examples of European business might include Privatised telecommunications companies such as Deutsche Telekom a French recording company establish in a reborn barn in Normandy, France a farm in Eastern England, highly mechanised and engaged in agribusiness a transnational organisation such as the German car producer Volkswagen, with factories in Germany (VW and Audi), Spain (Seat), the Czech Republic (Skoda) and the UK (Bentley) etc. European business may be run by one person or it may be a small private company.Alternatively it may be a large organisation employing thousands of people, with assets worth hundreds of millions of euros and based in many different Euro pean countries. The European business environment refers to the conditions within which European businesses operate. Typically it involves a number of different interacting forces which shape the environment, and consequently how a business formulates its long-term strategy, its tactics and its cursory operations within this environment. These factors may include political, economic, fond, cultural, religious and linguistic forces.Now, marketing is the social and managerial sue by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others Kilter et al. (2005). For example, important foothold such as needs, wants, and demands products and services value, satisfaction and quality exchange, proceeding and relationship and markets are all core marketing concepts which are linked, with each concept building on the one before it. Each part of the marketing definition defines what marketing is and how it is practised.Wit h this in mind we can now move on to discuss about the theoretical concepts used in the understanding of the business environment and marketing of the European car industry. There are several important conceptual frameworks that are used for understanding the environmental impacts of the European car industry.The ones used in this paper are ruminator Models of Market Structure Profit Maximisation Sources of Finance Market segmentation Branding strategy The European Business and the environment3.1 PESTLEThis means, Political factors influencing a business environment Economic factors Sociological influences Technological influences Legal factors and Environmental/ethical issues. This framework issued to analyse the European business environment.3.1.1 PoliticalThe political beliefs of governments and the policies they implement to pursue them have a major impact on the European business environment. This is both in their own right and also through other policies, such as econo mic ones hence the re-emergence of political economy in recent years. Additionally, other political philosophies may also have an impact on EU society and hence on the business environment. In the extreme case the economic policies act by the former(prenominal) Soviet bloc, with its emphasis on central planning, clearly had massive impact on the ownership, organisational structure, operations and lack of profitability of government-owned European businesses run in this area. Similarly, the UK Thatcher governments of the1980s created a business environment of entrepreneurship which was largely shaped by the political beliefs of Margaret Thatcher and her close advisors, which subsequently influenced other countries in Europe3.1.2 EconomicThe economic policies pursued by EU governments clearly have significant influence on the environment within which European businesses operate. Since the signing of the pact of Maastricht was completed in 1993 EU up-to-dateness (SEC), formerly c alled the European currency unit (ecru) but now known as the euro, as part of the moves to Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). The load by EU governments to meet the Maastricht intersection point criteria, as a precondition for acceptance to the first wave of membership of the single European currency, has compel them to demonstrate fiscal restraint to meet the criteria relating to compute deficit (not to exceed 3 present of the countrys gross domestic product or GDP) and national debt (not to exceed 60 present of GDP).The design of the playnce criteria, as their name suggest, is to converge potential members economies to broadly similar levels in impairment of the rate of inflation, the level of long-run interest rates, and the stability of their exchange rates and, as noted, government debt. In addition the ability of countries to converge to a common persuasion in their business cycles, in practice to converge their business cycles with that of Germanys as the leading Econo my. In practice the problems of non-convergence were demonstrated in the early nineties when Germany raised its interest rates to counter inflationary pressures. These had resulted from borrowing to fund major expenditure in Eastern Germany to redevelop the infrastructure and productive efficiency after the collapse of the communist regime of the former East Germany.3.1.3 SociologicalThis is examined in three broad areas culture, language and righteousness.Culture The fact that the British have a totally private sense of distance. This is most visibly seen in the shared pretence that Britain is a lonely island in the middle of an empty jet sea. Culture has been described as the way we do things round here. In this sense it may be viewed as the inherent values, attitudes, social conventions and mores of a nation. In most cases these are transmitted from one generation to another, usually through the family. Increasingly, however, culture is modified by education, the media and pe er influences as the pace of change accelerates in modern society. Cultural differences contribute to the mixture of the people who live in Europe and hence are an enriching experience.Cultural differences can also create barriers, however, which in turn have significant implications for European Businesses since, if they are to succeed another than their domestic market, these differences must be taken into account. Examples of cultural differences are the business organisation, in Germany businesses are rigid in their approach and expect everything to be done through proper bureaucratic channels with full technical detail provided.In contrast, British firms involved in collaborative ventures, or who have opened subsidiary companies in Germany, are more casual and relaxed enabling them to be more flexible when sudden response is ask to market change. This difference in operational philosophy can cause problems. Class is also a major factor in determining social attitudes in the b usiness environment, particularly in the UK but also in other parts of Europe.In contrast, in less class-divisive societies such as Denmark, Sweden, and Norway attitudes may be quite different, people such as senior managers secretaries are regarded as important people in the organisation, whereas in the previously mentioned countries this would not be so tithe same extent. Business attitudes to voice communication dates are also important.European businesses operating in Germany soon find that when they promise a delivery date for a new product consumers expect it in the shops on that day, not several weeks afterward Firms who slack on this simple rule find themselves bombarded with telephone calls-mails, and letters. In contrast, in Spain and Greece attitudes are much more causal in this respect the personal appearance and behaviour, the French place much emphasis on establishing personal contact in business dealings and expect the people they deal with to have style.The Spanish believe in the importance of being smartly but conservatively dressed and demonstrating worldly knowledge, for example of good cuisine and wine these are important issues when dining out, attending trade delegation receptions and so on, where business contacts are made. Scandinavians in contrast are much more casual in their dress Cultural instruction programmes, these differences have implications for the training policies adopted by companies some European businesses are now adopting recruitment policies where new employees are anticipate not only to have fluency in more than one language, but also to demonstrate some cross-cultural knowledge.Language In the EU there are currently 13 EU official languages and another 35 territorial minority languages, which include Basque, Breton, Catalan, Cornish, Frisian, Galician, Letzeburgesh, Irish Gaelic, Occitan, Slovene, and Welsh. Language above all else defines group of people as distinct from all others in Europe, since it also impl ies culture, inherited knowledge and beliefs and hurt of reference and thought specific to that group alone. In that sense there is therefore an overlap with the above. unalike languages and dialects as a whole all create market differences.Religion In the traditional Catholic countries of Europe, particularly Eire, Italy, Poland and Spain, the impact of formal organised religion on society and hence business is very important. Past controls on the sale of contraceptives in Eire are one such example. In Poland the Catholic church service has a vital role to play in the political scene with all parties having a commitment to Christian values in their policies. As a whole, businesses in Europe must bearing that increasingly the EU is becoming a society of many faiths. Certainly the large number of Jews resident in Europe has always been obvious. Now however many Muslims have entered EU countries and their religious and moral susceptibilities must also be heeded as much as another r eligion.3.1.4 TechnologicalClearly technology has had a major impact on the European business environment, particularly information technology. The impact of its use will be so pervasive as to be hard to imagine life without it. This ranges from autopilots on aeroplanes to computer-controlled traffic management systems in our cities from computer-controlled robots on factory assembly lines to screen trading in stock and foreign exchange markets from the growth of consumer purchases via the internet to the use of electronic mail rather than conventional letters or faxes.In this sense Bill Gates of Microsoft has argued that the internet will in effect act as a market-maker, bringing together buyers and sellers with minimum friction, and not just for goods and services but also in the Labour market. In 1994 the EU setup a first policy framework for the EU information society. These proposed initiatives to dictate the information society it sought to bring together all those involved in creating networks, applying information technology and establishing the basic services and it sought to raise public awareness about information technology. Most of these have now been implemented or are in the process of being implemented. This has had significant implications for European businesses by shaping the environment within which they operate.3.1.5 LegalInevitably legal systems can differ significantly from European country to country both in terms of their content and how they are interpreted. At the one extreme in Russia, transformation has required work, in the 1990s, to develop a legal system to come to terms with the concepts of private property (particularly ownership of land) and the legal existence of private and public limited companies with the ability to fill and dismiss labour, enter into contracts, buy, own and sell assets and so forth. At the other extreme, in the EU, Union legislation applies to all member countries and is establishing elements of a com mon legal framework for all, even though individual countries still, of course, have their own natural laws. This is based on key treaties, such as, the Treaty of Rom 1957, the Single European Act1987, the Maastricht Treaty 1993, and so forth.All these treaties will directly affect European Businesses. The main influences of countrys legal system on a business are through their impact on the businesss marketing mix and the laws affecting competition. For the most legal systems are based on civil law that is detailed rules and regulations which are strictly interpreted. In the UK, in contrast, the legal system is based on common law which is determined by past former and is more flexible in its interpretation. In terms of marketing a product EU countries tend to be more regulated because theEnvironmental Issues in the Car IndustryEnvironmental Issues in the Car IndustryWhat are the environmental issues facing the future of the European car industry?AbstractThis paper looks at the is sues facing the European car industry with regard to environmental issues. This is done by looking at past and present published material that revolves around the subject matter under specified themes. Theoretical perspectives within the European business environment such as pestle, models of market structure, profit maximisation, sources of finance, market segmentation, branding strategy, European business and its effects on the environment are all explained in relation to their relevance of environmental issues. These theoretical themes are used because they all act as a catalyst to the subject matter of the problems caused by cars which are not fuel efficient or less pollutant within Europe.In addition, a recently published paper on the directive for labelling on cars with regard to CO2 emissions, awareness of consumers, and fuel efficiency types in the European Union is used as empirical evidence to support ones findings as there was a shortage of time to carry out one. Finally a critical review of matches and miss-matches is used to compare and contrast similarities between the theoretical perspectives identified to prove the latter mentioned and the empirical evidence gathered for this paper, so as to forge a way forward for the European Car Industry.Chapter 1 A Brief History of The Car IndustryIntroductionThe European Car Industry is one that has come of age. From its early beginnings over 100 years ago, it is beginning to show signs of struggling in todays modern society. This has come about due to the new challenges that the industry is facing in the new millennium. Issues such as air pollution, congestion, traffic jams etc., are all factors that have made the car industry rethink its goals, objectives, its marketing, and the consequences that are not foreseen. As a whole the car industry makes nearly 60 million cars and trucks every year, and employs millions of people around the world. Average profit margins have declined from 20 present or more in its hey days of the1920s to around 10 present in the 1960s and less than 5 present in this present day, infect some volume car makers such as Fiat, Ford, and Vauxhall, have actually been losing money.It can be stated that over century ago the car industry feasibly invented modern industrial capitalism. In the Economist (2004) the car started life in Germany and early development of the industry began in France (hence the word automobile, a French word) in the 1900s, but it was in America that the car industry came of age with the Henry Ford T-Model of mass production which started in Chicago round about the same period(1900s).In the 1920s Alfred Sloans ideas of running General Motors provided the model for the great corporations that grew up to dominate the second half of the 20th century. General Motors soon swept past Ford as Alfred Sloan revolutionized the young car industry, and Ford never regained the dominance it enjoyed in its infancy days of mass production. The car industry can be said to be ahead of its time in many respects. For example, in planned obsolescence, which is the frequent changes in design and style that tempted customers to switch to a newer model every year or so. In the 1970s when the oil price quadrupled, the industry found itself under attack from environmentalists outraged by its products gas consuming and exhuming nature, (air pollution, etc.).It was also the first industry to come under government scrutiny, from safety concerns to environmental issues to antitrust worries in the days when General Motors had 60 present of its domestic market and could shut out competitors with a few well-chosen price cuts. However, when small economical and reliable Japanese Cars started to eat into Detroits market share, the American government imposed restraints on those imports. Soon afterwards, theca industry in Europe came under the same similar pressures and followed suit.Due to the sporadic recognition and existence as a pillar of industria l capitalism, the car industry also found itself at the mercy of trade unions in the 1920s and 1930s. Its workers increasingly pushed for trade unionisation in which a times the car factories in the Detroit area, the British Midlands, in Frankfurt, Germany, and the huge plants around Paris were the main battleground of the Class war. Although today trade union membership is still as high as ever, the power they wielded in the 1920s to 1970s has diminished immensely. Today, the motor car is the epitome of mass production, mass marketing and mass consumption, with some of the strongest brands in the world.For most households in rich countries, it is the second-biggest purchase after a house or flat, which makes the industry a pillar of modern industrial capitalism as earlier mentioned. Few other consumer goods industries depend so heavily on second hand market for their products. Now, understanding how the European Car Industry operates and the many pressures that it faces is essentia l to an understanding of the predicament the UK car buyers currently faces. Around 70 present of new cars sold in the UK are imported, with the great majority of these imports coming from the rest of Europe. The UK market is intrinsically tied into the pattern of car making and distribution across Europe.Thus the behaviour of the UK motor industry towards both its retailing and service partners and towards consumers is part of the wider behaviour of the European Car Industry. The industry can be said to be mature one. In virtually every country of North West Europe, the density of car ownership has almost reached its practical maximum. There are some opportunities for growth left in Southern and Central Europe, but they will be largely used up in the next few years.Following on, the consequences of mass production, and a slow introduction of cars that run on synthetic or alternative fuels has led to a rapid increase in environmental pollution, CO2 emissions, traffic jams, congestion , and human related diseases such as lung cancer, all of which are serious environmental issues, which the European Car Industry have found itself slow to adapt, change, amend and implement to the betterment of the wider society. This has led to directives and committees from the European Union to be setup to tackle the issued mentioned above and the latter. With this in mind a review of existing material that has been published in the press and journals will now be critically analysed.Chapter 2 Existing Literature ReviewedThe need to galvanise and understand the unforeseen circumstances of mass car production and environmental issues in the European Union has been stressed by researchers for more than three decades. According to the Europa (2005), the EU is the largest automotive production region (34%) in the world and the industry comprises 7.5% of the manufacturing sector in the union. Direct employment by the automotive industry stands at about two million employees, while the total employment effect (direct and indirect) is estimated to be about ten million. It also adds that since the year 2001, the motor vehicle production has decreased in the European Union, from 17.2 million units in 2001 to 16.9 million units in 2002. The decline continued into2003, with 70,000 motor vehicles less being produced, compared to2002.This decline is due to the worsening of the macro-economic situation where consumer demand has been decreasing. Lagunas (2005)correlates with this by stating that motor vehicles have become the prime means of personal and commercial mobility in todays world. Growing prosperity has led to a spectacular rise in car use, phenomenon being repeated in the new member states which joined the Union in 2004. In China and other booming countries with looser anti-pollution rules than the EU, trends show major increases in private transportation.This success has generated serious concerns about the environmental effects of vehicle use, in particular tra ffic congestion, air pollution, traffic-related diseases, and noise. In addition Lagunas (2005) states that these concerns have led the EU to formulate the objective of decoupling economic growth from transport growth. The EU has come up with legislation and initiatives to drive the change towards cleaner cars while promoting sustainable transport modes and model shift. It goes on to state that the interest in cleaner, less polluting vehicles and fuel has grown rapidly in recent years.Emissions from petrol and diesel engines have been significantly reduced in the last decade, driven mainly by European legislation and will continue to be reduced. In elaboration Lagunas(2005) states that in the EU, almost 40 present of the transport sectors CO2 emissions are produced by the use of private cars in cities, CO2 emissions are damaging the environment and contributing to climate change both petrol and diesel engines have their good and bedsides as regards emissions engines working with die sel fuel emit lessCO2 than the ones working with petrol on the other hand diesel engines are releasing more cancer causing particles in the air.Air pollution caused by car emissions has health impacts problems include aggravation of respiratory and cardio-vascular diseases, asthma, and decreased lung functions. Gartner (2005) also argues that the effectiveness of the directive made by the EU relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions has been successful and gained momentum in some European countries but not all. Reasons being consumers lack awareness of fuel economy and environmental impacts of fuels as well as available information tools, in which one of the possibly ways to tackle this as stated by Gartner(2005) was to increase consumers awareness by standard equipment of new cars with fuel consumption indicators or cruise control.In addition Gartner (2005) argues that fuel economy and environmental impact are in general no major factor in vehicle purchase decisions and fuel consumption is mostly only important because of the cost, but not to environmental issues. ACNielsen (2005) agrees with this by saying when it comes to what influences consumers choice of car brand, manufacturers of luxury vehicles may be surprised to learn that image and prestige do not appear to be a top priority, in which engine size and environmentally friendly cars are regarded as the least important features to the Europeans when it comes to buying a car. Interest however is growing slowing with a greater awareness of climate change and CO2 emission issues. Gartner (2005) also states that general awareness of label, poster/display and guide on CO2 emissions and fuel efficiency on cars is quite small and most of the information tools are not regarded as very informative or effective, although it can be said that this varies from one EU country to another.For example, in Austria, the label is regarded as the most informative and efficient e lement, compared to teak where the label was not assessed as effective in detail. In an article by the BBC (2002) it was argued that there are five major groups of car manufacturers in the world, they are General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler Benz, Toyota, and Volkswagen. Of these only Toyota relies on one global brand name. All the others have a web of subsidiaries spanning the world. We must understand that the real reason why the car manufacturing firms are in business is to make money and maintain their prestige as a world class car manufacturer.To do this means they (car manufacturers) will have to constantly roll-out new models, with better gadgets, with performance and style. That is why, as Madsen (2002) argues, Volkswagen launched its luxury car, the Phaeton to compete against the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini brands. This initiative was and is deemed as a risky push by the Group. However, the Chairman of the group Rd. Bernd Pischetsrieder argues that success woul d not be measured by sales volumes that the key was to enhance the Volkswagen brand. It was also argued by critics from within and outside the firm that the launch of the Phaeton, delayed the launch of the Audi, which is a car from within the group.However, he was quick to mute the negative by stating that possibly, the dealers learn to be a bit quicker and not to find the competitor in-house but out-house, and this will help the business adding it is the engineers and marketers of the Audi brand that have the serious challenge of making sure that the brand does well. With this type of attitude within car firms it shows that environmental issues are the least likely concern within the European Car Industry. In the UK, white paper by DETR (2002) stated that many towns and cities suffer from traffic jams and polluted streets and as a result, are less attractive places in which to live and do business. Reducing the negative impacts of traffic on the quality of peoples lives is a key el ement of improving the urban environment, as set out in the governments recent urban white paper. Adding that emissions of air pollutants arising from road traffic are set to decline over the period to 2010 as a result of improvements in vehicle technology and fuel quality, but are forecast to begin rising again beyond 2010 due to increased traffic growth. Indirectly, an increase in car sales that are not fuel efficient means more air pollution, increased traffic jams, and lung cancer. However, in Europe the car market has become largely a market for replacement vehicles within a largely static market rather than one driven by a growing buyer base, Consumer association (2000).In addition, the market is crowded with over 40 marques and 250 models on offer and major product innovation is rare and rapidly imitated. Notwithstanding, product branding activity is intense and advertising spends are large and directed at creating a sense of differentiation. In another article by the BBC (20 02) it was argued that in the UK, car prices were still too high and one of the major reasons for this was the block exemption, which allows network of national or regional dealers selected by car manufacturers, to flourish. However, this (block exempt) has now been abolished byte European parliament. In another article by the BBC (2002), it was argued that the number of car manufacturing companies had shut down due to the fall in export demand owing to the euros weakness against the pound this is in relation to the fact that 70% of cars driven on Roads are European Imports. In the Economist (2004), it was argued that out of the worlds top 17 car companies, only half were earning more than the cost of their capital.The value creators in Europe were Porsche, the Mercedes bit of DaimlerChrysler, BMW, and Peugeot. In Asia, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia made the cut. But Americas big three GM, Ford, and Chrysler, were all in the value destruction group, along with Renault, Fia t, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and. In the same article GMs boss argues that the Japanese government is providing indirect aid to the countrys car companies by holding down the yen, thereby lowering their costs of producing export models and parts for the American assembly plants and also in Europe. American and European manufacturers maintain that the Japanese do this solely to boost their exports but it can be stated that the real reason for the Japanese government of implementing such a policy may have been to head off deflation and revive the domestic Japanese economy.In another article by Europa (2005) Verheugen, the vice-president of the European Commission responsible for Enterprise and Industry argues that a legal framework will need to be created via CARS 21 High level group, in which the overall objective is to make recommendations for the short, medium and long-term public policy and regulatory framework for the car industry that enhances its global competitiveness as well as empl oyment, while sustaining further progress in safety and environmental performance at a price affordable to the customer. Corby (2005) also argues that the environmental performance of cars has been improved dramatically over the past decade.New cars have become more fuel efficient and they emit less toxic emissions than cars in the 1970s, adding that environmental innovation is essential for the sustainability and competitiveness of the European car industry. The previous mentioned shows that great changes are being made in the European Car Industry with regard to environmental issues. In a press release by the Auto Industry (2003), it was argued that new car average CO2 emissions fell to 174.2 g/CO2per km in 2002, 8.2 present down on the 1997 baseline and 1.9 present below the 2001 average. The rise of the superman in the UK over recent years has helped to lower average CO2 emissions through the wider appeal of smaller cars. In the same article, it was stated that Diesel fuelled ca rs have been a significant influence on the reduction in average CO2 emissions. Diesel models took a record 23.5 present share of the UK market in 2002, with demand up 38 present.In another published article by Lagunas (2005), it was suggested that the average new car in the EU 15 was releasing almost 12% less CO2 in 2003 than it did in 1995, however pressure was growing, especially from Berlin, to push automakers to make further cuts. In the same article, the German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU), a government body, blamed the European commission for allowing car makers to exceed limit values for particulate matter (pm) and CO2.It criticizes the industrys voluntary target to reduce emissions to 120 g/km by 2012 as being too modest, saying a target of 100g/km is achievable by that date. It therefore, proposes an innovation forcing strategy to push carmakers embarking on the global competitive race for improved environmental performance of vehicles. Balzac (1998) adds to the furore that because the Yen is one of the leading international currencies, solving the problem (devaluation of Yen) requires international answers.In the same article, as the Car industry is considered one of the key industries in Japan and Europe, a devaluation of the Yen directly affects the European Car Industry. As mentioned in the latter sections a devaluation of the Yen enables Japanese car manufacturers to sell their cars at much lower affordable prices to potential customers in Europe, and North America, in which the European Car Industry would suffer the most due to a high value of the currencies within the European Union member states.With all this in mind, the remainder of this paper proceeds as followsChapter 3 Theoretical Perspectives on the European Business Environmentand MarketingChapter 4 Empirical Evidence.Chapter 5 Critical analysis of Theoretical perspectives and empirical evidenceChapter 6 Summary and Conclusion.Chapter 3 Theoretical Perspectives On The Eur opean Business Environment and MarketingIn order to have a clear understanding of the concept of the business environment within Europe and the marketing of the car industry, we will first need to identify the meaning of the terminologies. European business is a generic term which describes Avery wide variety of agricultural, industrial and service activities undertaken by a large number of different organisations across the continent of Europe. Examples of European business might include Privatised telecommunications companies such as Deutsche Telekom a French recording company based in a converted barn in Normandy, France a farm in Eastern England, highly mechanised and engaged in agribusiness a transnational organisation such as the German car producer Volkswagen, with factories in Germany (VW and Audi), Spain (Seat), the Czech Republic (Skoda) and the UK (Bentley) etc. European business may be run by one person or it may be a small private company.Alternatively it may be a large organisation employing thousands of people, with assets worth hundreds of millions of euros and based in many different European countries. The European business environment refers to the conditions within which European businesses operate. Typically it involves a number of different interacting forces which shape the environment, and thus how a business formulates its long-term strategy, its tactics and its daily operations within this environment. These factors may include political, economic, social, cultural, religious and linguistic forces.Now, marketing is the social and managerial process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others Kilter et al. (2005). For example, important terms such as needs, wants, and demands products and services value, satisfaction and quality exchange, transactions and relationship and markets are all core marketing concepts which are linked, with each concept building on the one before it. Each part of the marketing definition defines what marketing is and how it is practised.With this in mind we can now move on to discuss about the theoretical concepts used in the understanding of the business environment and marketing of the European car industry. There are several important conceptual frameworks that are used for understanding the environmental impacts of the European car industry.The ones used in this paper are PESTLE Models of Market Structure Profit Maximisation Sources of Finance Market segmentation Branding strategy The European Business and the environment3.1 PESTLEThis means, Political factors influencing a business environment Economic factors Sociological influences Technological influences Legal factors and Environmental/ethical issues. This framework issued to analyse the European business environment.3.1.1 PoliticalThe political beliefs of governments and the policies they implement to pursue them have a major impact on the European business environment. This is both in their own right and also through other policies, such as economic ones hence the re-emergence of political economy in recent years. Additionally, other political philosophies may also have an impact on EU society and hence on the business environment. In the extreme case the economic policies pursued by the former Soviet bloc, with its emphasis on central planning, clearly had massive impact on the ownership, organisational structure, operations and lack of profitability of government-owned European businesses operating in this area. Similarly, the UK Thatcher governments of the1980s created a business environment of entrepreneurship which was largely shaped by the political beliefs of Margaret Thatcher and her close advisors, which subsequently influenced other countries in Europe3.1.2 EconomicThe economic policies pursued by EU governments clearly have significant influence on the environment within which European businesses operate. Since the signing of the Treaty of Maastricht was completed in 1993 EU currency (SEC), formerly called the European currency unit (ecru) but now known as the euro, as part of the moves to Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). The commitment by EU governments to meet the Maastricht convergence criteria, as a precondition for acceptance to the first wave of membership of the single European currency, has obliged them to demonstrate fiscal restraint to meet the criteria relating to budget deficit (not to exceed 3 present of the countrys gross domestic product or GDP) and national debt (not to exceed 60 present of GDP).The purpose of the convergence criteria, as their name suggest, is to converge potential members economies to broadly similar levels in terms of the rate of inflation, the level of long-run interest rates, and the stability of their exchange rates and, as noted, government debt. In addition the ability of countries to converge to a common position in their business cycles, in practice to converge their business cycles with that of Germanys as the leading Economy. In practice the problems of non-convergence were demonstrated in the early 1990s when Germany raised its interest rates to counter inflationary pressures. These had resulted from borrowing to fund major expenditure in Eastern Germany to redevelop the infrastructure and productive capacity after the collapse of the communist regime of the former East Germany.3.1.3 SociologicalThis is examined in three broad areas culture, language and religion.Culture The fact that the British have a totally private sense of distance. This is most visibly seen in the shared pretence that Britain is a lonely island in the middle of an empty green sea. Culture has been described as the way we do things round here. In this sense it may be viewed as the inherent values, attitudes, social conventions and mores of a nation. In most cases these are transmitted from one generation to another, usually through the famil y. Increasingly, however, culture is modified by education, the media and peer influences as the pace of change accelerates in modern society. Cultural differences contribute to the diversity of the people who live in Europe and hence are an enriching experience.Cultural differences can also create barriers, however, which in turn have significant implications for European Businesses since, if they are to succeed another than their domestic market, these differences must be taken into account. Examples of cultural differences are the business organisation, in Germany businesses are rigid in their approach and expect everything to be done through proper bureaucratic channels with full technical detail provided.In contrast, British firms involved in collaborative ventures, or who have opened subsidiary companies in Germany, are more casual and relaxed enabling them to be more flexible when sudden response is needed to market change. This difference in operational philosophy can cause problems. Class is also a major factor in determining social attitudes in the business environment, particularly in the UK but also in other parts of Europe.In contrast, in less class-divisive societies such as Denmark, Sweden, and Norway attitudes may be quite different, people such as senior managers secretaries are regarded as important people in the organisation, whereas in the previously mentioned countries this would not be so tithe same extent. Business attitudes to delivery dates are also important.European businesses operating in Germany soon find that when they promise a delivery date for a new product consumers expect it in the shops on that day, not several weeks later Firms who slack on this simple rule find themselves bombarded with telephone calls-mails, and letters. In contrast, in Spain and Greece attitudes are much more causal in this respect the personal appearance and behaviour, the French place much emphasis on establishing personal contact in business dealings and expect the people they deal with to have style.The Spanish believe in the importance of being smartly but conservatively dressed and demonstrating worldly knowledge, for example of good cuisine and wine these are important issues when dining out, attending trade delegation receptions and so on, where business contacts are made. Scandinavians in contrast are much more casual in their dress Cultural training programmes, these differences have implications for the training policies adopted by companies some European businesses are now adopting recruitment policies where new employees are expected not only to have fluency in more than one language, but also to demonstrate some cross-cultural knowledge.Language In the EU there are currently 13 EU official languages and another 35 territorial minority languages, which include Basque, Breton, Catalan, Cornish, Frisian, Galician, Letzeburgesh, Irish Gaelic, Occitan, Slovene, and Welsh. Language above all else defines group of people as distinct from all others in Europe, since it also implies culture, inherited knowledge and beliefs and terms of reference and thought specific to that group alone. In that sense there is therefore an overlap with the above. Different languages and dialects as a whole all create market differences.Religion In the traditional Catholic countries of Europe, particularly Eire, Italy, Poland and Spain, the impact of formal organised religion on society and hence business is very important. Past controls on the sale of contraceptives in Eire are one such example. In Poland the Catholic Church has a vital role to play in the political scene with all parties having a commitment to Christian values in their policies. As a whole, businesses in Europe must bearing that increasingly the EU is becoming a society of many faiths. Certainly the large number of Jews resident in Europe has always been obvious. Now however many Muslims have entered EU countries and their religious and moral susceptibil ities must also be heeded as much as another religion.3.1.4 TechnologicalClearly technology has had a major impact on the European business environment, particularly information technology. The impact of its use will be so pervasive as to be hard to imagine life without it. This ranges from autopilots on aeroplanes to computer-controlled traffic management systems in our cities from computer-controlled robots on factory assembly lines to screen trading in stock and foreign exchange markets from the growth of consumer purchases via the internet to the use of e-mail rather than conventional letters or faxes.In this sense Bill Gates of Microsoft has argued that the internet will in effect act as a market-maker, bringing together buyers and sellers with minimum friction, and not just for goods and services but also in the Labour market. In 1994 the EU setup a first policy framework for the EU information society. These proposed initiatives to regulate the information society it sought t o bring together all those involved in creating networks, applying information technology and establishing the basic services and it sought to raise public awareness about information technology. Most of these have now been implemented or are in the process of being implemented. This has had significant implications for European businesses by shaping the environment within which they operate.3.1.5 LegalInevitably legal systems can differ significantly from European country to country both in terms of their content and how they are interpreted. At the one extreme in Russia, transformation has required work, in the 1990s, to develop a legal system to come to terms with the concepts of private property (particularly ownership of land) and the legal existence of private and public limited companies with the ability to hire and dismiss labour, enter into contracts, buy, own and sell assets and so forth. At the other extreme, in the EU, Union legislation applies to all member countries an d is establishing elements of a common legal framework for all, even though individual countries still, of course, have their own laws. This is based on key treaties, such as, the Treaty of Rom 1957, the Single European Act1987, the Maastricht Treaty 1993, and so forth.All these treaties will directly affect European Businesses. The main influences of countrys legal system on a business are through their impact on the businesss marketing mix and the laws affecting competition. For the most legal systems are based on civil law that is detailed rules and regulations which are strictly interpreted. In the UK, in contrast, the legal system is based on common law which is determined by past precedent and is more flexible in its interpretation. In terms of marketing a product EU countries tend to be more regulated because the

Online Shopping Environments In Developing Countries

Online Shopping Environments In Developing CountriesChapter 1 Introduction and contextThe emergence of online shop as an alternative to the traditionalistic shopping fashion model has become a global phenomenon. correspond to Karake-Shalhoub Qasimi (2006 4), consumers in both the developed and developing countries provoke moved with speed and glee to take up this fortune to enhance the shopping experience and benefit from the ensuing benefits. In spite of the growing turn of internet users and frequency of internet use among the current users, at that place exist variations on the global scale, with close to of these variations closely related to the intrinsic features of the local environment. In a study by Alam, et al. (2008), over 600 million individuals have used this model with the e-commerce market having surpasses $228bn as at 2007, with the projections for placing the figure at $320bn. The increase usage of online shopping is clearly written in the features of the mod el, with the advantages cutting crosswise shoppers of all ages and demographics. In most(prenominal) cases socio-economic, heathenish, political and infrastructural aspects of the environment contributes to the trajectory taken by the spread of online shopping by consumers within a specific geographical location. Studies by Zwass (1999) Wolcott, et. al. (2001) and Travica (2002) cited in Efendioglu, Yip Murray (n.d), indicated that infrastructural differences were the main sources of disparity between the consumption of online shopping serve across difference environments. Other studies (Mcknight et al, 1998 and Lee Turban, 2001) have indicated that the cultural and socio-economic factors that have significant influence on online shopping with far reaching impact on the uptake of online shopping by the consumers in the developing countries. In this study, we take an insightful look for into the online shopping environment in the developing countries. Environmental factors ha ve a significant influence on the attitudes and behaviors of consumers, and the main focus on of the probe leave behind be environment in china and how its influence on the online shopping aspects of the Chinese population. Through a quantitative and qualitative analysis, the research volition depict the acceptance and diffusion of online shopping in China. Research aims and objectivesThe research objective was the exploration of the facets of the environment in china, with a critical investigation of their influence on online shopping. Just like in any other developing country, there ar numerous factors that influence the choice of shopping model, with the portalibility of online shopping facilities being the most prominent. As a result, this study will depict the environmental factors that influence the consumption of internet function as easily as the factors influencing the decision of sellers and retailers to exsert online shopping services. The most prominent researc h questions include* How online shopping environment affects nodes behaviour?* How online shopping can contribute to promoting societal and economic development?* In China and other developing countries, what problems ar online shopping have and how to improve it?Chapter 2 Literature reviewThe growing get for better services by both consumers and shoppers have driven retailers and sellers to invent an endless number of models, each bearing a certain set of advantages of the introductory one. According to research by Alam Yasin (2010), success in rolling out online shopping facilities is depended on the acceptability of these factors, availability of enabling infrastructures and technical elements as swell as positive customer attitude towards the internet as an avenue towards satisfaction of certain needs and wants. According to Alam Yasin (2010) the overriding need to ensure customer satisfaction as a way of enhancing customer loyalty sticks the most prominent primer behi nd implementation of strategies in a business. Online shopping, bonnie the traditional model, relies on the ability of the seller to attract and retain customers, thereby augmenting his returns. In most developing countries, the consumption of IT is complicated and hampered by the concentration of SMEs, which remain unviable options for online shopping as indicated by Olajubu, Afolabi Ajayi (2009). In the business-to-customer (B2C) model, online shopping culminates in the purchasing, selling and exchange of products facilitated by computer networks (internet), with electronic settlement of the transactions. Numerous models have been proposed to embolden in analysis of consumer behavior in response to introduction of novel ICT structures. The most common include Rogers Diffusion model (Lawson, 2000), the perceived characteristics of innovation (Sideridis, 2010 67), the reason action theory, the planned behavior theory (Mendes et al, 2004 58) and the model for technological accepta nce (Liu Ye, 2001 336). Infrastructural aspects of online shopping have a significant influence on the ability of individuals to access the goods and complete the transactions as indicated by Teo, Wang, Leong, (2004). In the developing countries, economic development or underdevelopment has significantly contributed to the slow uptake of online shopping as an option, with most individuals preferring the traditional model. The lack of connectivity and communication infrastructure necessary for implementation of online services by the shoppers limits their choices, while making it an unviable option since only a small number of individuals will be willing and able to utilize the model in most cases, online shopping in developing counties has surfaced as a strategy for a select few categories of goods, limited to a small number of locations where the consumption of internet is significantly reliable. Even in those location, most individuals have not notwithstanding fully grasped and appreciated the intricacies of online shopping, thereby leading to the part-consumption of the service. As indicated by Wang (2003) the key determinants of success or failure depends on the quality of the services on offer and value-addition capabilities of the model in application. In addition to price and online presence, online shoppers are also in search for quality services, and a reason not to prefer the traditional shopping model over the online model. This originates from change in the attitudes of the individuals towards online shopping, mainly hinged on the ensuing trust on the part of the customers (Lee Turban, 2001). The numerous barriers to development of trust in the business to customer platform are closely related to the online shopping environment, which originated from the differences in both models as observed by Wang (2003).The environmental factors to be fear about include the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental issues (Teo, Wan g, Leong, 2004). Each of these factors has an overriding influence on the ability of consumers to utilize the internet for shopping as well as the availability of the goods online. The unavailability of case work and sufficient information to base the assessments regarding the spread in online shopping and retailing is the most prominent hindrance as observed by Findlay, Paddison Dawson (1990 106)Developing countries have found it necessary to embrace technology as a way of measuring up to the steepening competition on the global scale. The increased competition by the global business unit has make it necessary for every business to avoid passing up on any opportunity to increase and retain its market share. As a result, it has become common for retailers and sellers to avail any kind of service to the consumers, in graze to improve their current and future earnings. According to, online shopping is not a silver bullet to improvement in earnings. As indicated by the numerous fail ed ventures and organizations which relied on online shopping as a core strategic move to improve earnings, there is more to offering the goods and service online. According to Kamel (2006 70), technological aspects of online shopping are a major aspect of the online shopping environment. Over the past decade, the number of individuals using the internet for day to day chores has increased tremendously, making it impossible for most individuals to operate without the internet. In the developing countries, investing in online service and communication infrastructure is still in its initial stages. However, the number of individuals consuming internet services grows by the day and for a country like China, it is true to postulate that there are a substantial number of internet users to warrant investment on e-commerce by businesses. In addition to shopping for goods and services, numerous individuals will be searching for information, making it a widely used service. The quality of o nline services such as website features (Shergill Chen, 2005) and home page design (Ho Wu, 1999) were observed to influence the consumers ability to choose online shopping. Political factors also influence the spread of online shopping practices in a developing country. Political structures influence the trajectory of development and availability of resources as well as public policy, which affects the availability of investments in the necessary sectors. As a result, political influence is a major contributor to prevalence of online shopping in a country, especially the developing countries where political structures are any underdeveloped or absent completely. As observed by Wilson (III.) (2004 223 )the new technologies have influenced social behavior, accelerated entrepreneurism, enhanced transparency and promoted new ideas.yet the market is advantageously driven by competitive jockeying among powerful groups in agencies, ministries, government-owned companies and private bod ies, including ISPs and ICPS. Their influence on the spread of online shopping is undeniable, with the supply-side and demand factors culminating from their actions. Social factors influence the attitudes and perception of individuals. According to Efendioglu, Yip Murray (n.d), the long-standing preference of off-line transaction systems have a significant influence on the ability of individuals to migrate to the online facilities. Having served the needs of most individuals for long these off-line models, such as telephone and catalogue sales pose a threat to the implementation of the online shopping owing to their ability to provide the same train of perceived utility, in addition to having inculcated transition trust and the opportunity to socialize, as it is customary in China and other developing countries. As a result, the robotization of the shopping process is bound to conflict with the contemporary perception of the shopping process. According to McKinnon et al (2010 327) , success depends on establishment of online presence by the prospective consumers, and wherefore adoption of the new shopping model. Chakrabati (2002 81) posited that not all goods were suited for online shopping. The type of products on offer and on demand also influenced the spread of online shopping. The Study by Kamel (2006 66) revealed that developing countries only account for 18.5% of the digitized information, which is small percentage as compared to the rest of the world. Consumption of infrastructural components has an influence on the environment, owing to the increased generation of e-waste (Zwass, 1996). Lack of government activity mechanisms of such wastes in addition to the increased need for energy to power the systems is bound to influence the environment. With each home having an internet connection, there originates the need for increased generation of energy thereby necessitating development of policies to address the environmental impact. Karake-Shalhoub Qas imi (2006 209) and Kamel (2006 71) noted that the legal quagmires facing cyber space still dog the developing countries, where legal systems are faced with numerous challenges. The inability to develop sufficient laws regarding conduct in cyber space to match the laws govern the real space is directly attributable to the inability of most individuals to take up online shopping as a viable alternative to traditional shopping. According to Wilson (III) (2004 300) and Anwer et al. (2010) the unique nature of the internet presents real challenges rase for developed countries, with policy agenda lacking with regard to privacy, security, protection of online consumers, electronic signatures, domestic and international trade as well as taxation matters. Chapter 3 MethodologyThe research will comprise of a qualitative and quantitative analysis. Through the use of a 25-question questionnaire, data will be gathered from a selected sample of 200 individuals. The data gathered will be analyz ed through statistic means and presented in both tabular and graphical terms. Inferences from the data will be used in the generation of findings and conclusions. Chapter 4PracticalitiesThe developing economies form a significant portion of the global market place. The immense number of consumers presents a potential market for goods and services, from both developed and developing markets. Rational consumers in search of maximization of utility are bound to prefer the most in force(p) model and the source of value addition, thereby making it imperative to understand the intrinsic nature of online shopping and the environment in developing countries. This research will present an insight into the challenges and successes of introducing online shopping to China, classified as a developing country, with sufficient data and information to provide guidelines applicable to other developing countries. The inferences and recommendations originating from this research are adaptable to othe r developing countries with slight customization to cater for differences in environments in the countries in question. Chapter 5Ethical aspectsOwing to the necessity for human community in the research, ethical issues arose regarding the conduct of the data collection process as well as the use of the findings from the study. As a rule, any data, information and assertions made by the targeted sample was to be used solely for the current project with strict privacy rules. The data collected through questionnaires was to be done on a basis of anonymity of the individuals, thereby making it impossible to tie the responses to a specific individual. Since the assertions made in the study were to be utilized in formulation of conclusions and recommendation, it was deemed representative of the situation and true to the knowledge of the individual. For this reason, the study was to be carried under strict adherence to the Universitys policy regarding research involving Human Participants , data and Tissue.

Advanced technology in speech-based interfaces

Advanced engineering science in quarrel- base interfacesAbstractSpeech-based interfaces ar non wise to computing, they have been sexual intercoursely underused as an efficient and potent method of human and calculator interaction. The engineering has been of great interest over the past few years, although there atomic number 18 still significant improvements and possibilities for the future. This paper investigates real usages and standards of the technology and what contributions ar being made. The paper also identifies nigh possible future uses of Speech-based interfaces, and possible future benefits of this technology, when compared to current methods and certain types of users.Speech-based interfaces are not new to computing, they have been relatively underused as an efficient and effective method of human and electronic computer interaction. A background to the technology is included and it is described how the unavoidableness for indispensable language and spe ech interfaces increased, and there became a need for standardisation, and the standard VoiceXML was released. From this standard other(a) technologies were born, including a combination of XHTML and VoiceXML to develop Internet applications with a speech-based interface. These technologies combined with weave and car technologies have provided an opportunity for vocalization controller motor fomite control in the near future. art object this technology has been designed to help the amount person be more efficient, with some small changes there can be benefits to be gained from ancient users and disabled users as well. With every new technology there exist problems which will be discussed as well, and this will lead to a conclusion summarising points and secureifying the benefits.Natural language interfaces are an substantial part of humankind Computer Interaction, as the number of tele mobilises in the world still outnumbers of computers and therefore natural language is m ore widely used than a mouse or keyboard. To smooth the progress of exchanges amongst humans and machines the World Wide clear Consortium (W3C) has published a recommendation for vocal interaction language based on XML, which allows interactions on m each interfaces including Internet applications by using XHTML combined with VoiceXML. Because VoiceXML uses the HTTP protocol to communicate it is possible for a VoiceXML telephone gateway to communicate with a nett server, in this type of environment the wind vane server is providing a chemical reaction to a user on a telephone and bridging the gap between phone and Internet. This is supported by the World Wide Web Consortium (2010)The telephone was invented more than 150 years ago, and continues to be a very important means for us to communicate with each other. The Web by comparison is very recent, but has rapidly scram a competing communications channel. The convergence of telecommunications and the Web is now bringing the be nefits of Web technology to the telephone, enabling Web developers to create applications that can be accessed via any telephone, and allowing multitude to interact with these applications via speech and telephone keypads (p. 1).VoiceXML is bonny a standard for Human-Computer audio, with speech synthesis and recognition of spoken stimulation. This technology brings the ability to have a natural conversation as an Internet and heart and soul manipulation interface. An automated phone body with VoiceXML also has the ability to understand or fork out multiple languages. The popularity is increasing as major companies such as IBM, HP and Motorola are now supporting and using VoiceXML. A major goal is to bring the advantages of web-based development and content de anticipatery to interactive voice response applications (Rouillard, 2007, p. 27).XHTML + Voice (X+V) are a technology for describing visual and audio web pages, visual interaction is described by XHTML and auditory interac tion is described by VoiceXML. Enabling users to have a HTML display of a website, with the ability to navigate and use the site by voice or by traditionalistic methods of input. Until recently XHTML and VoiceXML (X+V) functionality had not been implemented by major Internet browser companies, instead it had been used by small companies with government grants and been talked about as a possible future technology. Currently the Opera web browser offers native support for XHTML and VoiceXML, it will also attempt voice interaction with standard XHTML pages. While Internet Explorer and Firefox still do not have native support for XHTML and VoiceXML, although third party extensions and add-ons have been created. Opera Software ASA produce, any hightail itaday browser command can be done by voice, such as navigating to, and following the side by side(p) link in a document, going to the next slide in an Opera Show presentation, or logging on to a password protected Website (p. 1). XHTM L and VoiceXML offer an increased opportunity with Opera web browser now being installed in crossbreeding vehicles, for a speech-based interface to enable eye-free and hands-free computer interaction succession driving. This technology could potentially control dash-panel and computer systems via speech-based interfaces, enable users functionality from changing the temperature of the heater to sending emails by voice while driving a car. Opera Software ASA say, This ascendent will allow Ford truck and van owners to maintain a virtual work environment with access to all of the important files, information and applications they need on a day-by-day basis (p. 1).Because XML is a dynamic and universal language overseen by the W3C, it means that XML based technologies such as VoiceXML are not limited to Internet applications. The similar piece of XML can be used for various applications and imported into other applications if they support it, and there is no reason why VoiceXML cann ot be the same in the future as well. Mobile phones for some time have had the ability to read schoolbook messages and email messages aloud to the user, which could be beneficial for visually impair persons and persons operating a vehicle. Text-to-speech software reads the text on the screen aloud in a natural sounding voice, giving you convenient access to phone menus and functions, short messages, e-mail messages (Nokia, n.d., p. 1). Using VoiceXML based technology it is entirely possible for a user to read a text message aloud to the officious phone, the phone translate this to textual content and sends it via the SMS service. This may sound silly at introductory, due to the technology to be able to call someone and say it verbally without a computer translating the words into text for you. Although this would give businesses a greater ability to stay in contact while on the move, as text messaging is used extensively in business and preferred in some cases depending on the m essage being sent. This could also provide a solution to a major problem with cellular phones, which is texting while driving. In principle a technology that allows a user to drive and sent text messages safely while talking to their cell phone will save lives and make lives easier. Talking to a passenger or singing to the radio has not been noted as a significant cause of crashes, which are very similar functions to verbalising a text message. Government officials arent the only ones getting on the texting ban-wagon. TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey has launched a national television and Internet campaign to encourage people to commit to putting their cell phones away while driving (Hattiesburg American, 2010, p. 1). As technology has progressed, people have continuously sought after smaller and smaller devices with greater detail and speed. Technology has reached the point where the input devices themselves are holding back the device from becoming any smaller. Voice interaction ca n escape the physical limitations on keypads and displays as mobile devices become ever smaller (World Wide Web Consortium, 2010, p. 5).With a global aging population it is important that we enable and help elderly people to function and live as independently as technology will allow. Elderly people may be able to benefit by the advancement of speech-based technologies, but to first understand how they could benefit, it is important to understand their characteristics. The human interfaces to most computer systems for cosmopolitan use have been designed, either deliberately or by default, for a typical, junior user (Gregor, P., Newell, A. F., 2001, p. 1). Elderly people can be crudely generalised into three groups fit one-time(a) people, frail older people and older people with long term disabilities. Fit older people can be described as those who appear or do not consider themselves disabled. finespun older people who would be considered as disabled and have one or more difficu lties, including at least one that impairs their functionality in some way. The elderly who have had a long-term disability throughout their lifetime that has affected the aging fulfill and their ability to function is dependent on declining functions. Other expressions to aliveness into consideration are the variability in physical, sensory and cognitive abilities with the elderly, as one size does not fit all in this situation. Another aspect is the variations in ability to operate a computer system due to disabilities, impairments and learning capabilities. Gregor and Newell (2001) concludeIn general, as people grow older their abilities change. This process of change includes a decline over time in the cognitive, physical and sensory functions, and each of these will decline at different rates relative to one another for each individual. This pattern of capabilities varies widely between individuals, and as people grow older, this variability increases. In addition, any give n individuals capabilities vary in the short term due, for physical exercise, to temporary decrease in, or loss of, function due to a variety of causes including illness, blood sugar levels and state of arousal (p. 2). Interfaces for older people need to have a greater diversity of functionality when compared to a younger group, to meet the greater needs. By providing a speech based interface as an option for operating a computer, it is dependent on a function that most people have used their entire lives and is reliant on a function that is not considered to dramatically decrease with age. This can also enable them to use a computer system with a telephone as described previously with VoiceXML capabilities, for those who are intimidated by technology and the thought of using a computer. Finally the interface designed needs to use general terms over technical terms, for example moving to the main section rather than clicking on the home link.Most systems and interfaces are designed for typical sun-loving or high functioning users, when compared with users with disabilities that can have difficulties using a standard keyboard or mouse. It is important with the growth of the Internet and technology that disabled users are not left wing out, and that they are able to access these resources if they choose, or if it could benefit their lives. There may be situations where a computer application could benefit the life of somebody with a handicap, but they cannot use a computer due to motor-function restrictions. This demonstrates the need for hands-free or eye-free computer access and includes two main groups, visually impaired users and motor-handicapped. The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) works with organizations around the world to develop strategies, guidelines, and resources to help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities (Web Accessibility Initiative, 2009, p. 1). Many applications and web browsers are developed to assist people with disabi lities, although many of them have been quietly withdrawn leaving broken links or on the occasion that the system is still available for download it may have been abandoned and not maintained anymore. An important aspect of developing voice applications for handicapped users is that they may deficiency to use voice control in combination with other interfaces such as a joystick or other aid devices. The aim of speech systems is generally naturalness and to copy conversations that we have had our entire lives, but in the case of users with disabilities it may be more beneficial to aim for learn-ability over naturalness. For example instead of saying activate microphone or something technical to activate the microphone, saying Wake Up un-mutes the microphone and turns on the light in left side (Brondsted Aaskoven, 2005, p.4). Technology is currently heading toward eye-free and hands-free access of systems, for purposes such as accessing a computer while driving a car or devising us more productive. The same base technology is required to support speech based services for disabled users, but the difference of needs when interacting are very different. We generally would prefer to speak to a computer in a turn based communication like we have when we are talking to other human beings, although as an aid for using systems or interface for disabled users it would be more beneficial to use command driven voice systems using non-technical terms. While still using human to human terms, such as wake-up and sleep which even severely mentally disabled users would understand. There are people with mental disabilities so severe that they are unable to understand wake-up or sleep, but they are highly unlikely to have any need for a computer, as they are more concerned with surviving day to day.The VoiceXML standard has ensured a guideline for developing voice applications, but there are currently no standards for the development environments or interfaces. This means that the layout and functionality from development environments will be completely different, and the code generated by the development environments will not unavoidably be compatible, as the two different development environments will generate completely different tags and formats. Building spoken applications from scratch can take a long period of time, and several different frameworks and technologies. As VoiceXML works with predetermined grammar, which can be troublesome in the development of some applications. But by combining the VoiceXML platform with independent systems for voice recognition, it is possible to increase its capacities of understanding. VoiceXML is great step toward speech and voice based interfaces, but it has a lot of work to become a complete framework for developing speech applications. Accordingly, a great deal of emphasis has been placed on the development of toolkits and environments that hide some of this complexity and allow developers to rapidly prototy pe and deploy speech-based applications. (Bennett Llitjod Shriver Rudnicky Black, 2002, p. 1). Natural speech-based interfaces can provide a known and familiar interface for interacting with computer systems, because we spend our lives conversing with other people and communicating over the telephone. Current technology makes it possible to interact with a website or computer application via a telephone and it is possible to translate the language spoken for the system, and translate a response back to the user. The ability to use a generic markup language like VoiceXML with applications such as XHTML is a leap forward in creating an Internet that can be accessible via speech-based interfaces. This enables future technology such as voice controlled functions of a motor vehicle and improved cell phone speech interface. One of the most significant impacts of this technology is the ability for elderly people to use a function is not known for degeneration as a computing interface. This will also enable users who are new to computers but familiar with telephones to use a computer more easily. Many disabled people struggle to maintain their independence, with motor function restrictions that prevents them from using a computer effectively. With the ability for disabled people to bullshit programs and browse the Internet with a speech interface, it could help them maintain their freedom and independence. As with all new technologies, there are severe problems that a solution must be found for before this technology can take off this includes a standard for a complete framework rather than just a markup language providing grammar and large vocabulary support. It is concluded that speech-based interfaces currently, and will continue to, provide benefits in the advancement of the technology, providing that the right people get access to this technology and not just the average user who is happy to type.ReferencesBennett, C., Llitjod, A. F., Shriver, S., Rudnick y, A., Black, A.W. (2002). Building voicexml-based applications. Paper presented at the7th International Conference on Spoken Language Processing family 2002, Denver, Colorado, United States of America. Retrieved February 19, 2010, from http//www.cs.cmu.edu/awb/papers/ICSLP2002/voicexml.pdfBrondsted, T., Aaskoven, E. (2005). Voice-controlled internet shop for motor-handicapped users. Design and Implementation Issues, Interspeech 2005. doi10.1.1.65.3974Gregor, P., Newell, A. F. (2001). Designing for Dynamic Diversity Making accessible interfaces for older people. In J. Jorge., R. Heller., R. Guedj (Eds.). minutes of 2001 EC/NSF Workshop on Universal Accessibility of Ubiquitous Computing Providing for the Elderly 22-25 May 2001, Alcacer do Sal, Portugal. Dunhee University of Dunhee.Hattiesburg American. (2010). Texting while driving deadly at any age. Retrieved run into 1, from 2010 from http//www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20100221/OPINION01/2210304/Texting-while-driving-d eadly-at-any-ageOpera Software ASA. (2010). Opera Tutorials. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from http//www.opera.com/browser/tutorials/voice/using/Opera Software ASA. (2009). Opera brings full web browsing to new ford trucks and vans. Retrieved March 3, 2010 from http//www.opera.com/press/releases/2009/04/02_2/Nokia. (n.d.). Nokia accessibility Text to speech. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from http//www.nokiaaccessibility.com/tts.htmlRouillard, J. (2007) Web services and speech-based applications around voicexml. Journal of Networks, 2(1), 27-35.Web Accessibility Initiative. (2009). About WAI. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from http//www.w3.org/WAI/about-links.htmlWorld Wide Web Consortium. (2010). W3C voice browser working group. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from http//www.w3.org/Voice/

DSL or Cable Essays -- Internet Computers Web Technology Essays

digital subscriber line or cable lengthEveryday there are millions of people connecting to the Internet. The Internet is made up of networks of computers linked together around the initiation where people can chat, shop, instant message, and e-mail each other. With so many people connecting one might wonder how exclusively of these millions of people are connecting to the Internet. on that point are many different options for people to use to connect to the Internet, such as dial-up, DSL, Cable, and Satellite. Dial-up internet connection uses the telephone line this is the oldest connection that has been around since the 1990s. The newest sign of connection would be the satellite connection, which is not very popular right now because of the high cost. The two most popular choices that people are use today are DSL and Cable. These are the two internet connections that will be compared to see which one is right for you. DSL vs. Cable What is the difference?DSLDSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line, which is a method of moving information over a telephone line. A DSL circuit is much hot than a regular phone connection and the wires coming into the subscribers premises are the same ( crap) wires used for regular phone service (www.about.com). The copper wires have lots of room for carrying more then normal telephone calls, carrying this extra information does not disturb a telephone conversion. Most all homes and small business use a type of DSL called asymmetric. Asymmetric DSL divides up the available frequencies in a line on the assertion that most Internet users look at, or download, mush more information than they send, or upload. Under this assumption, of the connection speed from the internet to the user is three to quadruple times faster... ...h the service being down. I also like the fact that they give discounts to customers that have cable television with them. Although Cox Internet connection is not available in all areas in P hoenix yet, they are working to get everyone a chance to connect to the Internet. Whether you chose DSL or a Cable provider, make sure you are happy with the services you are being provided, because the companies are working quickly to be available in all areas. So if you are not happy, check to see if other services are available in your area.Bibliographyhttp//about.com . DSL vs. Cable Modem. June 15, 2004.www.qwest.com . High speed Internet opening. June 17, 2004.www.cox.com/Phoenix . Internet Options in Phoenix. June 15, 2004.www.howstuffworks.com . How DSL and cable modems work. June 16, 2004.www.connext.net . DSL facts. June 14, 2004.

A Rose for Emily By William Faulkner :: Free Essay Writer

A Rose for EmilyThe following paper analyzes the William Faulkner story called A Rose for Emily. The paper discusses my thoughts and ideas ab out(p) the story, and evaluates different elements of the story. The paper analyzes the style that the reference uses in characterization, and a few specific methods used to convey the plot and lay out the scene mentally, giving specific examples in the story. Finally, I trust my overall opinion of the story.I found the first paragraph very enticing first drawing me in with the explanations of why all the townspeople attended her funeral. Then making me want to get a look into her house that only a few others had seen for so many years. The descriptions of the house with its cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies sparked memories of old houses in my neighborhood when I was growing up. The story quickly created strong mental images of contrasting scenery with the mention of the encroaching cotton gins, garages, and gas pumps around Emilys grand, but decaying home on what the author calls a select street, (Xroads, 2005). The Authors smooth use of imagery and language drew me obscure into the story after only the first paragraph, and it just kept getting better. I enjoyed this story for a number of reasons, which included how the author laid out the plot. The story was not told in a chronological order, thus allowing relevant information to be pieced together in an interesting and different way. It started with Emilys death, consequently jumped back in time and finally led to her ultimate demise. This play on time was carefully constructed so that it built suspense and anticipation in a way that a chronological story could not, (Xroads, 2005). I also enjoyed the story because of its gothic undertones. The authors use of dark images such as the decaying mansion, dead bodies, and the morbid attraction of Emily to dead bodies was only part of the carefully crafted multi-layered story line that used descriptive language, characterization, and chronology to keep you on the edge of your seat, (Xroads, 2005). I also liked the way the author portrayed the characters in the story, especially Emily. One example is Emilys characterization when she purchases the arsenic, looking through her cold, haughty obscure eyes which peer from a face the flesh of which was strained across the temples and about the eye-sockets, (Xroads, 2005).