Abstract
This work reports a study conducted relating to customer satisfaction levels at the Marina Mall. This article conducts the study through the instrument of a survey/questionnaire which asks 300 respondents, 150 male and 150 female, questions relating to different aspects of the mall in the areas of design, service, atmosphere, quality, selection, variety, products, and sales people, as well as parking and time preferences for visiting the mall. This research is a qualitative and quantitative nature exploring the preferences of respondent/consumers to a variety of questions concerning the various elements of the retail establishment that the review of literature in this study reveals as 'key' considerations for consumers related to retail shopping and entertainment or 'mall' establishments. Findings in this study include gender differences in the types of shops, food establishments, entertainment, etc. however, the Marina Shopping Mall is rated by the respondent/consumers participating in this study as having satisfied their expectations in most areas and totaling a majority percentage as well.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Definition of the Problem
Bigger "Mega' Centers Customer-Preferred
Branding and Image are One-in-the-Same
Lack of Effective Planning Leads to Irrational Development Patterns
Teens, Preferences and Satisfaction Attributes of Shopping Malls
Gender-Focused Research and Customer Satisfaction Variables
Successful Pricing-Strategies
Store Design and Customer Satisfaction
Internet Shopping and the Impact on Traditional Store Shopping
Design of Shopping Mall (Location and Design Factors)
Summary of Review of Literature
Methodology
Instrument of Study
Data Collection and Analysis
Questions of the Study
Overview of Survey/Questionnaire
Data Analysis
Data Analysis, Findings & Conclusion
Findings of the Study
Conclusion
Recommendations for Further Research

From the Paper
"There is a considerable body of existing literature reporting studies that had as the main focus the consumer's preference of retail format. However, among this body of work limited examples of research exists that incorporate the role that demographics play in relation to choice of format in retail business. Location has been the focus of previous study as have patterns of product purchase, the potential for business at specific retail sites as well customer satisfaction and loyalty. This study has utilized an exploratory approach and has as its aim in part to characterize six major age cohort groups in terms of their preferences for retail formats."
"This study further divides these six groups into two major categories of male and female with each group containing three separate age groups. Through data analysis of these groupings by gender this study aims to understand the preference of the average consumer in relation to the Marina Shopping Mall."

Tags:shopping, center, stores, consumer

Abstract
This paper presents a study relating to customer satisfaction levels at Marina Mall. The paper conducts the study through the instrument of a questionnaire which asks 300 respondents questions relating to different aspects of the mall in the areas of selection, atmosphere, convenience/location, salespeople, food and beverage, promotional activities, and parking and time preferences for visiting the mall. The paper provides a conclusion and recommendations for further research.

Outline:
Abstract
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Chapter 3: Methodology
Chapter 4: Data Analysis, Findings and Conclusion
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations

From the Paper
"The objective of this work is to research and examine customer satisfaction levels at Marina Shopping Mall. This study will further investigate whether sources of satisfaction differ in importance with respect to gender and age, which generally are two important variables for retail segmentation. Studies state findings that there are six (6) underlying factors of varying characteristic which are important to customer satisfaction: (1) selection; (2) atmosphere; (3) convenience/location; (4) sales people; (5) food and beverage; and (6) promotional/entertainment activities. The scope of this work will review a variety of choices or selection and flexibility, atmosphere of the Marina Mall both in terms of the physical and social environment; the convenience or location and ease of access, parking food and beverage; and the promotional activity or the entertainment activities."

Tags:consumers, perceptions, expectations, preferences, opinions

Abstract
This paper discusses the various ways to measure customer satisfaction. Customer service satisfaction measurement is seen as the way companies can gain competitive advantage, as they can target customers better by finding out their preferences and level of satisfaction with existing products and services. The idea is that what is not measured can subsequently not be managed. Various measurement techniques are evaluated also.

From the Paper
"Most emerging approaches to the measurement of overall productivity and management results agree on the importance of customer capital, as expressed in sales, satisfaction and reputation. The higher the innovative and service component, the more the customer becomes part of the performance equation. Customer feedback helps continuously to improve product and performance, with the peripheral benefit of inspiring employees to increased efforts toward better results."

Tags:preference, product, service, loyalty, market, research, study, statistics, questionnaire, survey

Abstract
This paper explains that the Veterans Health Administration uses aggregation, a process for clustering several similar products or services to group veteran types by age, priority level and enrollees type. It also shows how the VHA uses cost models to reflect the projected health care demand of the enrollees by preferred facility and to reflect the projected health care demands of enrollees by their county of residence. The author outlines the methodology used to develop the Veteran Enrollment, Health Care Utilization and Expenditure Projection Demand Models. The paper states that predictive forecasting customer demand models achieve for the VHA (1) an integrated healthcare plan including financial, capital assets and workforce needs to provide data-driven information for budgetary and legislative and regulatory negotiations with OMB, the President, and Congress; (2) a continuous feedback loop for VHA to assess performance and outcomes and (3) needed information for mandated reporting to Congress. Charts.

From the Paper
"The root of most business decisions is the challenge of forecasting customer demand; this function is a difficult task because the demand for goods and services can vary greatly. External factors impact the VA's demand for healthcare. External factors that affect demand for a firm's products or services are beyond management's control. For example, it is impossible to determine how world events will unfold. Those events that impact our economy and the use of our military may have a profound impact on veterans' enrollment in our health care programs as well as expenditure projections."

Tags:aggregation, models, projections, methodology, moving-average

Abstract
The paper discusses the various types of loyalty programs, their key features and their effects. The paper reveals the new elements of the Starwood Preferred Guest Program and provides recommendations to the director of the Hilton's HHonors Worldwide Program on actions designed to answer Starwood's initiatives.

Outline:
Introduction
What a Frequency Loyalty Program is
How Frequency Loyalty Programs Work
What Loyalty Programs are Supposed to Do...
Can These Guest Loyalty Programs be Measured
Are Loyalty Programs Successfully...
Memo to Jeff Diskin
The Different Impacts These Programs Have on Redemption Across Hilton's Offerings
How Hilton Should Respond to the 4 Key Features of Starwood's Plan
Recommendations
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Customer loyalty is particularly important to the hotel industry, because most hotel-industry segments are mature and competition is strong. Reichheld and Sasser (1990) found that a 5-percent increase in customer retention resulted in a 25- to 125-percent increase in profits in nine service-industry groups they studied. Thus, the goal of relationship marketing is to build customers' loyalty based on factors other than pure economics or product attributes, and building a relationship with customers should be the strategic focus of loyalty programs."

Tags:Hilton, Starwood, consumers, marketing, rewards

Abstract
The paper examines the factors and elements that are related to customer satisfaction. The paper focuses on the differential data relating to gender and age differences in customer satisfaction. The paper reveals how many factors impact the satisfaction of customers including the shopping mall design, location, stores availability, entertainment availability and availability of places to rest and for children to play. The paper also discusses pricing, stock, environment, configuration, whether the store has online Internet shopping and the culinary offerings of the shopping mall.

Outline:
Bigger "Mega' Centers Customer-Preferred
Branding and Image are One-in-the-Same
Lack of Effective Planning Leads to Irrational Development Patterns
Teens, Preferences and Satisfaction Attributes of Shopping Malls
Gender-Focused Research and Customer Satisfaction Variables
Successful Pricing-Strategies
Store Design and Customer Satisfaction
Internet Shopping and the Impact on Traditional Store Shopping
Design of Shopping Mall (Location and Design Factors)
Summary of Review of Literature

From the Paper
"A press release in 2005 related that "in the next two years the total retain spending in UAE is expected to grow to AED 35bn (US$9.5bn) from the present level AED 26bn (US$7bn) or a growth rate of 35%." (Dubai Women's College, 2006) Furthermore the Dubai shopping centers have grown from 2 only one decade ago to approximately 35 shopping centers and ten of them stated to "fall under the category of "Mega" centers, hosting almost every major brand label around the world... [with a reported] retail space...estimated at 2 million square feet...[which incidentally] is "one of the highest per capita availability in the world.""

Tags:design, online, prices, stock, location

Abstract
The paper describes the proposed product known as Custom Compilations, that will allow people to go into a record store and purchase only the songs they want. The paper discusses how the rise in legal music downloading, the decrease in illegal music downloading, lawsuits against piracy and the fact that many people in America do not and will not access the Internet at home will contribute to the success of Custom Compilations. The paper explains the benefits to producers, retailers and consumers alike.

Outline:
Introduction
The Consumer Need
The Solution
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Have you ever been to a record store and bought a CD with a song you like, only to find out that's the only good song on the entire CD? It makes you feel like you've wasted your money. CD stores have come up with a way to satisfy their customers, allowing them to make sure they like the album before they buy it. Stores have kiosks where you can scan any album in the store and listen to the songs on it. But customers who do find that there's only one good song on the album usually don't buy the album. They'll go home and download the one song they want (whether legally or illegally). But the people who don't have computers, or don't have internet access, or just don't have the knowledge of how to, cannot go home and download the song they want. They still have to buy the whole CD if they really want that song. Well, we've come up with a solution for these people. This solution is "Custom Compilations." It will allow people to go into a record store and purchase only the songs they want."

Tags:Internet, piracy, peer-to-peer, programs, songs, albums, CDs, mp3, kiosk

Abstract
In this paper the author examines the striking differences between Japanese and U.S. business customs which emanate from their different cultures. The author looks at the main concepts that differ between the two nations such as the Japanese emphasis on trust which they believe must be a major component of all long-term relationships. The author gives the example of how contracts do not have as much meaning as with U.S. business relationships. The author discusses in detail the main concepts that the Japanese work under, trust and harmony, unity and intuitive decision making. In conclusion the author points out that although the customs of Japanese business relationships are becoming more widely known and understood, he still recommends that a third party intermediary is taken to help in transactions. This, he states is quite common practice and a preferred practice of the Japanese so that many of the common errors of business protocol can be avoided.

Table of Contents:
Key Concepts
Group Harmony or Wa
Long-Term Relationships, or Nagai Tsukiai
Public Face;Tatemae and True Feelings; Honne
Communication Without Words; Hara-gei and Trust; Shinyo
Conclusions

From the Paper
"This aspect of the Japanese value system has important implications for business negotiations with Japanese clients or partners and is an area where particularly Americans with their somewhat "helter-skelter," lifestyles tend to look upon as superfluous. Therefore, this striking difference of culture-clash is by way of contrast and comparison quite an important factor for the American businessperson to study very carefully if one wishes to conduct business on any level in Japan. Executives of the Japanese organization will want to spend a great deal of time in getting to know prospective foreign associates and it explains why there is so much emphasis on the getting acquainted phase of the first meeting and why informal socializing is such a crucial component of establishing a business alliance in Japan."

Tags:value, harmony, philosophy, opinion, nation, alliance, tolderance, negotiations

Abstract
This paper explains that Hilton Worldwide's ability to anticipate industry trends, such as identifying early the potential for expanding into emerging markets and implementing technological enhancements in its hotel service, have helped the hotel chain gain its premier market position. Next, the author identifies the customer's growing preference and sensitivity towards the ecological and environment practices of hotel providers and the customer's attention to what they eat as two major new trends. Using SWOT and PESTEL analysis, the paper concludes that Hilton Worldwide has overlooked these trends and by satisfying them can expand their leadership and profitability postions.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
Company Profile: Hilton Worldwide
SWOT Analysis
Strength
Strong Brand Image
Wide Range of Services
Improved Liquidity Position
Weakness
Opportunities
Launch of iPhone and iTouch Applications
Growing Global Hotels and Motels Industry
Threats
Terrorist Attacks And Natural Calamities
PESTEL/PESTLE Analysis
Political
Economic
Social
Technological
Environment
Legal
Trends
Going Green and Healthy
Recent Development at Hilton Worldwide: Is the Brand within the Trend?
Participation in Asia
Participation in India
Caution for Hilton Worldwide against Over-expansion: The Gloomy Economic Trend
Conclusion and Recommendation

From the Paper
"Hilton Worldwide's strong brand image is reinforced by the citations it received from respected award giving bodies such as being named as the number one hotel brand in some of the regions it operate. In 2009, the survey provided by Asia Pacific Business Hotel Guest ranked Hilton Worldwide as the Number One Hotel Brand and the Leading Choice Brand in Australia. In the same year, it was also recognized by Maktoob Research Travel Monitor who also voted Hilton Worldwide as the most recognized hotel brand both in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). In addition, the survey provided by Business Development Research Consultants' (BDRC) in September of 2009 also recognized Hilton Worldwide as a number one brand in the whole of Middle East. In the following year, "the company's brand Hampton Hotels was honored as the best hotel brand in the Midprice Tier segment; Doubletree, Embassy Suites and Hilton Garden Inn brands were recognized among the top five brands of the Upscale/Select Service Tier segments and the brand Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts ranked third in the Deluxe (Luxury) Tier segment ". Needless to say, Hilton Worldwide can capitalize on its strong brand presence for its steady revenue and growth."

Tags:portfolio, profitability centers, india liquidity applications

Abstract
This paper is a problem solution for the UOP Best Snacks scenario, developing an implementation plan for how Best Snacks can improve its corporate culture and make it more innovative, as well as incorporating more customer preferences and learning where to innovate.

From the Paper
"Best Snacks has a problem with innovation; it has not introduced anything new in the past five years. Innovation is a necessary ingredient for sustained success and an integral part of the business, and in the end it is the only reliable security for any company. One way that a company can become more innovative is to change..."

Tags:Best Snacks, innovation, creativity, customer, empowerment, metrics, implementation plan