Abstract
The paper explores how e-commerce systems and their resulting strategies are augmented and strengthened by mass customization's most prevalent implementations, product configuration and quote-to-order. The paper does this by comparing how Dell and Gateway rely on e-commerce systems to accomplish their strategic plans, achieve significant revenue growth and attain their mission statements. The paper highlights how Dell and Gateway illustrate what state-of-the-art e-commerce systems are evolving to, as each has a unique and extraordinary approach to integrating e-commerce into their quote-to-order and build-to-order process for customizing PCs, laptops and servers.

Outline:
Executive Summary
Introduction
Developments in e-Commerce Systems as They Relate to Mass
Customization
Evaluating the e-Commerce Strategies of Dell Computer and How They Make Mass Customization Pay
The use of e-Commerce Strategies At Gateway To Deliver Exceptional Experiences
Conclusion

From the Paper
"To the early adopters of e-commerce, mass customization represented an opportunity to take their unique, highly differentiated business models and propagate them globally. From PC manufacturers including Dell, Gateway, IBM and others to consumer good producers including Nike with their NikeID project, to financial services firms (Turowski, 69) mass customization allowed companies to sell online while also tailoring products and services to the unique needs of their customers. Across these industries the lessons learned from using e-commerce as the strategic platform for launching mass customization strategies online globally form the foundation of this analysis."

Tags:product, configuration, quote-to-order, profitability, Dell, Gateway

Abstract
Based on ten books written on the subjects of consumer behavior and customer service, this paper sets out to show whether customer centricity has been the focus of businesses for some time, and whether it has been addressed correctly. The writer explains that the study of customer retention information shows that what it takes to keep customers coming back is quite different from what it takes to attract new ones, and discusses various types of customer loyalty programs. From the literature four specific areas that need to be examined in order to help businesses improve customer focus are identified, as well as six factors that are often seen as imperative in improving customer retention, and five specific dimensions of service quality. The paper concludes that although most studies have indicated that retaining old customers is what really boosts business growth, many businesses still persist in spending more to get new customers who will cost them money by leaving, instead of spending less to retain loyal ones.

From the Paper
"It is significant to remember when looking at customer centricity that people seldom stop patronizing a business simply because of ordinary interactions that they deal with when they shop there but instead because of the failure of the specific organization to handle situations that could be potentially problematic to the satisfaction of the customer (Bowen & Lawler, 1992). Personnel who come into contact with customers need to be able to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and respond well to the pressure that often comes from customers who are angry or upset (Bowen & Lawler, 1992)."

Tags:success, customer satisfaction, effective personnel, problem solving, performance coaching communication

Abstract
This paper discusses customer loyalty, using the company Comcast Corporation as a case study. The paper begins with an assessment of the roots of customer loyalty, which it maintains are in staff loyalty. Next the paper examines how customer loyalty is developed. Then the paper asks how customer loyalty is incorporated into marketing strategy. Finally, the paper studies the affect of customer loyalty on Comcast's customer retention.

From the Paper
"Winning customer loyalty begins with winning staff loyalty. Companies that try to win customer loyalty without first winning staff loyalty often find that in spite of great customer loyalty programs and initiatives their results fall far short."

Tags:customer loyalty, staff loyalty, customer retention, Comcast Corporation, marketing

Abstract
This paper examines the growing importance of customer satisfaction towards the achievement of organizational goals, focusing on a variety of mechanisms which deal effectively with with the clients. First, the paper discusses how customers are viewed as the main determinants of corporate success. Then, the paper defines customer relationship management, or CRM, which basically revolves around the art of dealing with the customer. Numerous sources are cited which further elaborate on this concept. The paper also highlights the changes that have occurred in both the business and technological sectors and shows how CRM is pivotal in a companies success. The paper concludes by stating that CRM represents the art and science of developing and maintaining efficient communications and relations with the client, with the aim of better satisfying their needs and turning them into loyal customers.

Outline:
Introduction
What is Customer Relationship Management?
Conclusions

From the Paper
"Given the still growing importance of customer satisfaction towards the achievement of organizational goals, economic agents employ a wide variety of mechanisms in most effectively dealing with the client. These mechanisms are developed and implemented by the marketing team within each institution and address a wide array of issues, such as satisfactions, dissatisfactions, additional demands and so on. The commonality of all strategies employed in dealing with the customer is that they are all based on improving communications with the target audience. Customer Relations Management is a modern concept to be employed in the relationship between organization and its clients, and, despite what was initially believed, it is more than a technological tool."

Tags:CRM, hi-tech, business strategies, customers

Abstract
Mass customization has emerged as a solution to address the new market requirements by producing goods and services to match individual customer's needs, while still enabling firms to capture the efficiency advantages of mass production. This means that individualized or personalized goods can be provided without the high cost surpluses and, thus, price premiums, usually associated with customization. To deliver mass customization, firms must find new ways to interact with their customers during the process of co-designing and configuring a customer-specific solution. This paper examines articles that deal with the ways in which several companies are meeting these demands without compromising the bottom line or customer service.

From the Paper
"Henry Ford, in reference to the Model T, once said you can have it in ?any color so long as it's black.? It was many years later before car buyers were able to completely customize vehicles according to their preferences. Even though Henry Ford may have been shortsighted in this aspect by today's standards, the complete lack of customization available on a Model T did make good business sense at the time. For example, he never had to worry about running out of a popular color of paint and delaying production until more could be acquired. But those days are long gone and today's customers are becoming more demanding than ever."

Tags:chain, customer, efficiency, made, management, operations, service, supply

Abstract
This essay explores competition strategies for General Electric, specifically regarding maintaining customer loyalty in existing and future customers. The essay outlines components of customer loyalty in the United States, and then discusses issues in building customer loyalty on the global scale. The essay describes General Electric as building its global image as an environmentally responsible developer by providing China and other countries with environmentally conscious technology. The essay argues that by presenting this environmentally conscious image, customer loyalty is ensured on both the global and local scales.

From the Paper
"General Electric is one of the largest companies in the United States, and indeed around the world. In order to achieve and maintain this status, it is necessary for the company not only to maintain its strategies in terms of the competition, but also in terms of its existing and future customers. GE then has various strategies by means of which it maintains its loyal customer base both locally and abroad. The company's Web site, along with other sources, provides insight into what has been done to maintain loyalty in customers and to ensure an influx of new customers. Customer Loyalty: United States Most of the transitions towards ensuring a better customer experience in the United States have occurred over the last five years, since 2003. According to the GE Web site (2008), the company as implemented new tools towards the goals of customer-centric service and market-facing competition. These strategies, according to the Web site, include a variety of actions all focused upon making the customer's experience something unique. This is done by directly involving customers not only in the assessment of the company, but also in the creative process itself."

Tags:customer satisfaction, global image, marketing strategies, energy saving technology

Abstract
This paper examines the success of companies that shift from being product-centric to customer-centric. In companies that have a customer-as-king philosophy growth has been remarkable since adopting that outlook. Companies that focus on creating great products lag behind in the marketplace. 3M is used as an example of a company that changed its direction to customer-centric. The paper cites several articles that confirm this phenomenon. The paper concludes that companies that grasp the notion that business should be built around customers, not products, are setting themselves up for success.

Outline:
Resistance to CCS/CRM
Customer Relationship Management
CRM Origins
CRM Technology
Summary

From the Paper
"Beyond that problem, the basic problem with 3M's Web site was that it was concentrating all its "internal silos" rather than on "its customer's needs." So, 3M got synchronized, and now presents a more "unified fact to its customers" by storing all "customer relationships and product configurations" in a single database. This transformation from the awkward presentation of products and slipshod system of customer record keeping - similar to what Thompson Financial did - is called moving from a product-centric company to a customer-centric company. Instead of finding "customers for its products," both these firms (and untold hundreds of other companies) now concentrate on finding "products for its customers," Sawhney writes."

Tags:business, customer, centric, product, centric

Abstract
The writer of this paper stresses the importance of reliable and effective customer service which is crucial in retaining satisfied customers and clients in business. This paper examines the blatant limitations in most customer service departments. This paper explores the concept of implementing technology into existing customer service departments while detailing the resulting impact in a particular business.

From the Paper
"Good customer service is predicated upon the service desk's ability to provide service. This paper explores the concept of technology as a critical component of that ability. The kind of service that a service desk can provide is limited by its technology not just by its personnel. In this paper the experience of Consonus, a company that has used technology to ramp up its customer service capabilities is examined."

Tags:customer service, technology, technology-based customer service, HP, OpenView, clustering, open architecture

Abstract
The history of restaurant business reveals that policy making for customer service has been a painless effort, but attaining employee acceptance to the same for making it operational is the more challenging area. This impracticability of customer services' policies in restaurant management has led most strategies to failure from their initiation. This paper primarily describes the concept of customer service in restaurant management. Thereafter, it shows how the improvement of customer services in restaurant management depends upon the management's and the employee's approach towards each other, the establishment and the services. It also provides research findings on the subject and recommendations that can help improve customer service in restaurant management.

From the Paper
"The Industrial Era's school of thought was established on the notion that employees were not at all bothered to provide quality service since they abhorred working. They were given directives like any automated machine is directed a set of instructions. With the exception of employee collapses that included wounds or ailment, tasks were reluctantly accomplished.
In most cases, restaurant managements decline to the ideology of the US Industrial Era wherein employees were regarded as a constituent of manufacture process, no different than any mechanized paraphernalia. Intentionally or unintentionally, they disregard the fact that implementation of all programs, policies and strategies though ultimately affect customer satisfaction, but revolve around the internal public of the restaurant organization."

Tags:Industrial, Era, satisfaction, commitment, customer, grievances

Abstract
This paper discusses customer-driven quality in a manufacturing environment and how it stands with reference to other types of organizations, such as government, non-profit, and service. The value of quality in relationship to customer satisfaction and the importance of participatory management are explained.

From the Paper
"The modern manufacturing environment has been responsible for a dramatic loss in product quality in recent years with a concomitant loss of customer satisfaction. Products are not made as well do not last as long and do not have ..."

Tags:customer-driven quality, manufacturing, customer satisfaction, customer service