Friday, April 5, 2019

Overview Of The Sampath Bank Management Essay

Overview Of The Sampath depose Management EssayObjective of this chapter is to map a general idea astir(predicate) the look. Hence, Chapter unity is divided into eight atomic effect 18as such as minimize of the subscribe, Objectives of the explore, research problem, conceptual modelling, research hypotheses, research questions, significance of the research and organization of the study.1.1 Overview of the Sampath patois and Background of the studyThe dynamic nature of the new marketplace today has created a matched incentive among many companies to merge and reconcile their acquaintance assets as a means of creating encourage that is sustainable all over time. intimacy take outring is believed to be able to improve performance and productivity of the organization and fellowship transferring has been illustrated as a satisfying refine in leading to positive performance in the organization (Kasim, 2008). To achieve competitive sustainability, many companies ar launching extensive cognition transferring efforts. More recently, familiarity transfer has emerged as powerful determinants of set compassionates in organizations. Organizations specific companionship becomes as a necessary agentive character of competitive advantage (Gold, Malhotra, and Segars, 2001).The Sampath Bank has commenced its operations as a License commercial pious platitude in 1987 with 47 employees. At birth 3rd largest PCB in the contry Its vision statement, The Growing Force in Sri Lankan Financial services and values mentioned in below enhancing skipper standards of internal and outdoor(a) customers (Sampath bank, 2012). take a leak a culture culture that promotes individualistic and organisational development as well as promoting inception and value for customers.Treat all internal and international customers the fashion we would like to be treated.Encourage and promote police squad practise in all aspects of behavior.Open to feedback and demonstr ate an bumptiousness for personalized development.Monitor and demonstrate an impressive commitment to results.Uncompromising ethical and professional standards of behaviorThe bank believes that its grea hear treasure in what is truly a service industry is its investiture in human capital, the high spirit of prudence staff, motivation, dedication, and team spirit. The bank does non employ clerks and peons and ubiquitous features in virtually separate institutions. Its staff is composed of executives assisted by secretaries, all of whom have been handpicked and adequately remunerated at take aims well above prevailing market rates. Team of Sampath Bank is young and energetic, adaptable to change and atomic number 18 blessed with a gungkok bo attitude which in all circumstances allows us to pursue the vision and tutelage of the bank stridently. They are committed to constant improvement, new ideas and remain unafraid of challenges. They seek new opportunities deep down the experience ground culture we permeate across the bank and this has resulted in winning accolades from all spheres of competencies. Moreover, among the embodied objectives of the bank was employ, develop and retain a self-motivated group of employees who themselves enforce high standards of performance (Sampath bank, 2012). match to universe of discourse(a) Manager of Sampath bank the relative youth, together with the enthusiasm and the pioneering spirit of all members of the staff had laid the pes for the development of an innovative culture which was so essential in a field as competitive as banking. Intensive training, recreation and welfare facilities transform and guided the development and skills attitudes of the team necessary to relinquish superior customer satisfaction (Sampath bank, 2012).The numbers of employees and branches have been increased to 3230 and 206 respectively in 2011. It has recruited new employees double to the vision of accelerating the branch ne car dinalrk with the aim of gaining competitive advantage. The Sampath Bank had to fill the new vacancies from strategic level to function level in the newly opened 35 branches. The rapid expansion did not engender a room to in-ho office built the skilled team members to allocate for newly opened branches. approximately of team members were promoted to higher potential grades than their real potential grades. Number of employees who have been worked in unalike department in Sampath bank utilized the opportunity to work in branches. Transferred team members were required enhancing professional standards of internal and external customers with woful from their functions to branch banking.nbSeveral bailiwicks can be lookd with reference to familiarity transferring in Sampath Bank. This research intends to secernate whether the transferred employees have been overlap or gain their cognition at bottom the subordinate employees. The main objectives of this study to seek link ami d employee transfer and friendship transfer. This study is monitoring these issues and identified ways in which they may be overcome by introducing changes to the effective experience transferring.Objectives of the researchThe purpose of this research is to examine the links amongst employee transfer and acquaintance transfer. The following objectives lead be fulfilled above aim of this study.To explore fore approximation concepts to review links between employee transfer and fellowship transferTo get wind individual and organisational factors for affecting effectiveness of companionship transfer question problemTop corporate entities in the world are beginning to realize the significance and immenseness of transferring experience and are beginning to appreciate noesis as the most important and run across assets that leads to organisational performance. The Sampath Bank forget compete for business precisely on the basis of tincture, price and superior service to its customers. Considering values in Sampath bank, The Bank develops a highly motivated and workmanlike team of individuals who in appearently ensure that the highest standards are maintained by means ofout the Bank. The bank Create a learning culture that promotes individual and organizational development as well as promoting innovation and value for customers are highly focused. Promoting open to feedback and monitor commitment to results are aimed to enhance its ethical and professional standards of behavior. The Sampath bank makes every effort to train and develop team members to educate the professional skills and knowledge they would pauperization to use in the Bank and the bank do hope that both team members professional and personal goals will be realized in a satisfying and rewarding career at the Sampath bank. The bank encourages team members to find new and better ways of doing their moving in or improving their Banks systems and processes. Innovation creates value not only for customers but for team members. It would amount to the quality of work life and ensure that quality work of team members.The Sampath bank considers training and development as one of the most valuable investment in realizing their enduring goals and aspirations. Work towards developing their own talents and creating a culture where team members strive to teach and dowery new knowledge critical to achieve mission of the bank. The Sampath bank deploys systematic and modern learning methods to enhance knowledge and productivity. As a matter of policy, the bank provides minimum of sixty hours of training per course of study for every team member. The type of training will be determined by an analysis of what skills and knowledge are required by each. The analysis will consider not only what is necessary in their current job but also what they would require in successive positions in the future.Team members are generally expected to serve in a particular workstation for a minimum stage of quatern years. However, request for a transfer from team members assigned to Branches in remote areas may be considered later on completion of three years. In the event of transfer of a team member, subsequent to his/her promotion, the minimum period of three years will not apply. Except for team members identified for specialization.The Bank encourages team members to acquire the skills and knowledge they need to do their job and the future positions they will hold and to disseminate those skills and knowledge within the Bank, So that, the Banks organizational capabilities and effectiveness are always improved. Career at the bank will depend on how well team members perform in the jobs they hold and the attitudes they exhibit. The work performance will be the sole criteria for any promotion.Considering rapid expansion in Sampath bank, it has emerged more vacancies in Branch banking. In presenting issue in promoting team members who has fewer competencies in br anch banking to team members in branches. Required knowledge transferring through the transferred employees is questionable. Relationship between knowledge transferring and employee transferring in the Sampath bank is vital for academic performances. Considering these events and factors less publication in banking industry have addressed the effectiveness of knowledge transferring. As such, this study effort to identify the effectiveness of knowledge transferring from transferred employees at the Sampath bank.Conceptual mannikinA conceptual modeling represents the relationships and the type of relationships among the concepts. The conceptual framework portrayed in figure.1 explains the relevant concepts in this study, and the form of relationship between the perceptions.Figure 1.1 Conceptual framework of the studyCharacteristics of the Transferred EmployeesEmployee TransfersEffectiveness of intimacy TransferringSource Researchers orginal constraction.Moreover, figure 1 describes an analytical model in a graphical model found on some theoretical foundations. Accordingly, the conceptual framework is developed based on theories. The model assumes transferred employees as independent and knowledge transferring as dependent.Research hypothesesBhatti, Zaheer and Rehman (2010) studied the effect of knowledge management practices on organizational performance. Specially, the study explored the effectiveness of knowledge transferring depend on learning capability, lead skills and experience of employees.H1 Effectiveness of knowledge transfer is influenced by characteristics of the transferred team members at the Sampath bank.Research questionsHow individual and organizational factors influence for the effectiveness of knowledge transfer?What are the individual characteristics affect to knowledge transfer?How transfer knowledge via transferred employees?Significance of the researchThe main significance of this study is to help management of The Sampath Bank identif y the effectiveness of knowledge transferring from transferred employees. Effectiveness of knowledge transferring relates to Banks current business performance named as customer orientation, competent people, long term profitability and growth, image building, effectiveness leadership among study customer segments. This knowledge will enable management implement the appropriate strategies that help improve the effectiveness of knowledge transfer.On the other hand, knowledge transferring plays significance role in building up sustainable competitive advantage in Banking industry.Limitation of the studyThe aim of this section is to define the boundaries of the study or to enumerate how the researcher has contract down its focus. The survey was conducted over a period of three months.Organization of the ReportThe main bole of this report comprises seven sections. Its structural organization is presented in Figure 1.2 given below.Chapter 03Research methodologyand frameworkChapter 04T hematic organization,presentation andAnalysis of dataChapter 05Statisticsoutcome.Chapter 06Concluding remarksChapter 01IntroductionChapter 02Literature reviewSource Researchers orginal constraction.The fundament that comprises a glimpse of the study, focusing on the context, the objectives of the study, an overview of the Sampath bank in Sri Lanka, the research issue and empirical shot of the research. it also provides an account of limitations that the researcher has set for defining the boundaries of the study.Chapter ii contains a review of past research on the topics covered in this study. In this section, some important findings of past studies are outlined, while caution is paid to their methodological concerns. A special feature of thhhis literature review is the emphasis placed on bringing to the fore findings of knowledge transferring and characteristics of employees.The research methodology and framework of the study are presented in chapter three. diagnose areas addr essed therein include the case study research strategy employed, units of analysis, the method of sampling, methods of data collection, the quality of research strategy and the research framework. The foundation for this study as developed in the preceding two sections leads to the development of a conceptual framework as a piece of original work of the researcher, which has alter the researchers endeavor to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the subject.Chapter four and five which are based on Knowledge transferring and transferred employees. Chapter Four explains the methodology, adopted in this study in order to empirically test the research hypotheses. Moreover, the chapter presents findings, statistics outcomes and facts. Chapter Five comprises of a review of data collection, followed by a detailed review of the factor analysis.in addition, objectives of the study, evaluate hypotheses and limitations are presented. And, it presents the similarities and differences between knowledge transfers and employee transfers with special reference to the organization of knowledge transferring function and job transfer.Chapter six presents findings and concluding remarks of the study. Latter part of this section documents presents limitations of the study, inviting the attention of academics, researchers, scholars and practitioners to understand how they could plan future research taking cognizance of these limitations. Potential research would essentially contribute to broadening the horizons of the body of knowledge and knowledge on knowledge transferring as an academic and professionaldiscipline.Literature Review2.0 Introduction to the chapterThe purpose of this chapter is to present the literature review related to the concepts incorporated in the study. This chapter consists of sections such as definition of knowledge, definition of knowledge management, types of knowledge, importance of knowledge, knowledge and organizational performance, knowled ge transferring, knowledge transferring and competitive advantage, factors affecting for knowledge transferring, effectiveness of knowledge transferring and knowledge transferring in financial institutions and Individual characteristics and knowledge transferring. Meanwhile2.1 Knowledge and Knowledge transferringKnowledge is fluent mixes of framed experience, values, contextual schooling and expert insight that provides a framework for evaluating and incur pirating new experiences and selective information or Knowledge is about people, relationship. Communities and new ways of working Tan (2010) reviewed that knowledge are the two types of knowledge such as perspicuous knowledge and tacit knowledge. Information systems which achieved by organization named as transparent knowledge and tacit knowledge refers to in statuesque knowledge which gain through work experiences. Most scholars divide knowledge into two types such as explicit knowledge or information, and tacit knowledge or know-how (Hussain. Lucas. and Ali., 2004).The key to knowledge is capturing intellectual assets for the tangible benefits for the organization. As such, imperatives of knowledge is to transform knowledge to add value to the processes and operations of the business, leverage knowledge strategic to business to accelerate growth and innovation and use knowledge to provide a competitive advantage for the business. (Hussain. Lucas. and Ali., 2004). Knowledge management is an organizational discipline bridging information demand and supply in allow of learning processes within organizations (Curado.n.d.). Knowledge management enables the communication of knowledge from one person to another so that it can be used by the other person. (Hussain. Lucas. and Ali. , 2004). Knowledge transfer (KT), knowledge retention (KR), and knowledge utilization (KU) are identified as components of knowledge management systems.( Gayton, 2009).Knowledge transfer revealed by Makino (1990) typically has be en used to describe the movement of knowledge between different units, divisions, or organizations rather than individuals. This is described Tan,(2010) and Disterer (2001) by stating Knowledge transferring can be defined as a cordial interaction culture involving the exchange of employee knowledge, experiences and knowledge through the whole department or organizations. However, Gayton (2009) conclude knowledge transferring is not only between departments. The process of knowledge can be transferred through one channel to another channel such as group, department and branch. Therefore, Knowledge transfer means knowledge share-out within an organization between individual and groups (Trautman,2011).2.2 Significance of Knowledge transferringMost knowledge organizations, uses ten-fold knowledge management tools to transfer knowledge. With the result of knowledge transfer any organization that competes with other organizations in the marketplace on quality, price, or customer loyalt y. (Schlomer, Anderson and Shaw,1997). Due to the, emergence of personal networks and applications, knowledge transferring and capturing are fitting more on-demand. And, Organizations must continuously update their knowledge resource to stay in the competition (Bhatti, Zaheer and Rehman, 2010). Knowledge transferring is necessary for companies because what worked yesterday may or may not work tomorrow because, market needs are changing rapidly. Knowledge is a vital factor for financial institutions. Use the knowledge management system enhances continuous improvement and innovation to gain competitive advantage. Demands from customers and Human resources require transfer knowledge within the organization (Rasoulinezhad,n.d.).2.3 Factors that Influence Knowledge SharingThere is a scarcity of research specifically in the area of knowledge sacramental manduction between individuals in organizations, and empirical picture has rightful(prenominal) begun to exhibit some of the mingl ed dynamics that exist in processes related to knowledge sharing. Based on a review of theory and research related to knowledge sharing, the following have been identified as the major factors that influence knowledge sharing between individuals in organizations the nature of knowledge, motivation to share, opportunities to share, and the culture of the work environment.2.3.1 constitution of KnowledgeKnowledge by its very nature exists in both tacit and explicit forms. However, with the increase recognition of the importance of knowledge in organizations, different types of knowledge have also begun to be valued differently within organizations. These two characteristics of the nature of knowledge, tackiness and explicitness of knowledge, and the value attributed to knowledge have a monumental influence on the way knowledge is shared within organizations.2.3.2 Tacit and explicit knowledge.The dominant classification of knowledge in organizations divides it into two types, tacit a nd explicit. The critical differences between these two types are found in three major areas codifiability and mechanisms for transfer, methods for acquisition and accumulation, and the potential to be collected and distributed (Lam, 2000). The concept of tacit knowledge was starting line presented by Polanyi (1966), who argued that a large part of human knowledge cannot be articulated and made explicit easily. Tacit knowledge can be thought of as the know-how that is acquired through personal experience (Nonaka, 1994). It is so not easily codifiable and cannot be communicated or used without the individual who is the knower. Tacit knowledge also tends to be sticky in nature. Lam (2000) defined stickiness as the incremental expenditure involved in moving knowledge in a form that is useable and easily understood by the information seeker. According to Lam, stickiness for the knowledge supplier comes from the tackiness of the knowledge that has to be shared, whereas absorptive capac ity creates stickiness for the knowledge user. Therefore, tackiness of knowledge is a natural impediment to the successful sharing of knowledge between individuals in organizations. Explicit knowledge, on the other hand, can be easily codified, stored at a single location, and transferred across time and dummy independent of individuals (Lam, 2000). It is easier to disseminate and communicate (Schulz, 2001). Explicit knowledge therefore has a natural advantage over tacit knowledge in terms of its ability to be shared relatively easily among individuals. However, just because explicit knowledge is easily transferred across individuals and settings, it should not be assumed that it is easily shared in organizations. Weiss (1999) argued that the ability to articulate knowledge should not be equated with its availability for use by others in the organization. To support this point, he made a distinction between explicit knowledge that is easily shared with that which is not by introduc ing the notion of rationalized knowledge and embedded knowledge within the context of professional services organizations.Rationalized knowledge is general, context independent, standardized, and public. Weiss suggested that because this knowledge has been separated from its original source and is independent of specific individuals, this knowledge is readily shared and available to all those who seek it. Embedded knowledge, on the other hand, is context dependent, narrowly applicable, personalized, and may be personally or professionally sensitive. Therefore, explicit knowledge that is embedded in nature is not believably to be easily shared among individuals. However, knowledge must be seen as more than just explicit and tacit in nature. Regardless of whether knowledge is tacit or explicit, the value attributed to it also has a significant impact on whether and how individuals share it.2.3.3 Value of knowledgeKnowledge is increasingly perceived as existence commercially valuabl e, and its ownership is being recognized by both individuals and the organizations they work in (Brown Woodland, 1999). When individuals perceive the knowledge they possess as a valuable commodity, knowledge sharing becomes a process mediated by decisions about what knowledge to share, when to share, and who to share it with (Andrews and Delahaye, 2000). In situations in which it is valued highly, individuals may tend to claim turned on(p) ownership of knowledge (Jones and Jordan, 1998). This sense of ownership comes from the fact that in several settings, individual knowledge is joined to status, career prospects, and individual reputations (Andrews and Delahaye, 2000). The sharing of such knowledge is a complex process, and Jones and Jordan (1998) found that it involved, among other things, the cessation to which individuals perceived themselves to be valued by their organization.Certain types of knowledge are valued highly by both individuals and organizations. For example, k nowledge related to research and development is valued highly because of its commercial and scientific value. Research suggests that in research and development organizations, creative power resides in a relatively small number of individuals (Armbrecht et al., 2001), creating issues of ownership particularly because it is linked to tangible outcomes such as creation of new products, patents, research grants, and individual incomes. Therefore, in highly competitive environments or those in which knowledge has high commercial value, there exists a dilemma resulting from contradictory incentives to share knowledge and to withhold it.In organizations in which an individuals knowledge becomes his or her primary feather source of value to the firm, sharing this knowledge might potentially result in diminishing the value of the individual, creating a reluctance to engage in knowledge-sharing activities. Professionals, in particular, tend to guard their knowledge as they perceive that the ir own value to the firm is a product of the knowledge they possess (Weiss, 1999). Any reluctance to share knowledge is bring forward heightened in situations characterized by uncertainties and insecurities, such as mergers and acquisitions (Armbrecht et al., 2001).2.3.4 Motivation to ShareKnowledge is near and inextricably bound with peoples egos and occupations and does not flow easily across the organization. According to Stenmark (2001), People are not likely to share knowledge without strong personal motivation. Motivational factors that influence knowledge sharing between individuals can be divided into internal and external factors. Internal factors include the perceived power prone to the knowledge and the reciprocity that results from sharing.External factors include relationship with the recipient and rewards for sharing. Knowledge as power, the increasing importance given to knowledge in organizations, and the increasing value attributed to individuals who possess the right class of knowledge are conducive to creating the notion of power around knowledge. If individuals perceive that power comes from the knowledge they possess, it is likely to lead to knowledge hoarding instead of knowledge sharing. According to Brown and Woodland, individuals use knowledge for both control and self-abnegation (Armbrecht et al., 2001).In a competitive environment, withholding knowledge from those considered competitors is often regarded as being useful to attaining ones goals. Power governance is therefore an important aspect of knowledge sharing in organizations (Weiss, 1999).Blackler, Crump, and McDonald (1998) concurred with the notion that knowledge can be perceived as a source of power in organizations. They suggested that because knowledge is always situated within a particular context, it is natural that culture and power dynamics within the context affect the way knowledge is perceived and used. reciprocality or the mutual give-and-take of knowledge ca n facilitate knowledge sharing if individuals see that the value-add to them depends on the extent to which they share their own knowledge with others. Reciprocal acts as those in which individuals help others and share information without negotiation of terms and without knowledge of whether or when the other will reciprocate. Reciprocity as a motivator of knowledge sharing implies that individuals must be able to anticipate that sharing knowledge will prove worthwhile (Weiss, 1999). It is the expectation that those involved in sharing knowledge will be able to acquire or benefit from some of the value created by their involvement. Empirical evidence for the relationship between reciprocity and knowledge sharing indicates that receiving knowledge from others stimulates a reciprocal flow of knowledge in the direction of the sender both horizontally and vertically in organizations (Schulz, 2001). Support for the relationship between reciprocity and knowledge sharing was also found by Hall (2001). Reciprocity is also thought to be a motivator of knowledge sharing in communities of practice where knowledge sharing results in enhancing participants expertise and providing opportunities for recognition.2.3.5 Opportunities to ShareOpportunities to share knowledge in organizations can be both formal and informal in nature. Formal opportunities include training programs, structured work teams, and technology-based systems that facilitate the sharing of knowledge. Stenmark (2001) referred to these asformal interactions, and Hall (2001) called them goal-directed learning conveythose that are designed to explicitly acquire and disseminate knowledge. Informal opportunities include personal relationships and social networks that facilitate learning and the sharing of knowledge Weiss (1999) referred to these informal opportunities as relational learning channels. Purposive learning channels provide individuals with a structured environment in which to share knowledge. Armb recht et al (2001) identified some formal interventions that facilitate knowledge sharing in organizations, from basic instructions to share knowledge, to more complex interventions such as Nominal Group Technique and the Delphi Technique.However, knowledge shared through formal channels tends to be mainly explicit in nature (Yang ,2007) The advantages of purposive learning channels are that they are able to connect a large number of individuals and they allow for the speedy dissemination of shared knowledge, specially through electronic networks and other technology-based systems. Empirical evidence for successful knowledge sharing through formal channels was found by Chini (2004) and Tan (2010) Although purposive learning channels play an important role in facilitating knowledge sharing, research indicates that the most amount of knowledge is shared in informal settings through the relational learning. Relational channels facilitate face-to-face communication, which allows for th e building of trust, which in turn is critical to sharing knowledge. These informal opportunities to interact with other people help individuals develop respect and friendship, which influences their behavior Lim (2005) called this relational embeddedness the kind of personal relationships that people develop when they interact with each other over a period of time.2.3.6 civilization of the Work EnvironmentThe factors described above are important to understanding the manner in which knowledge is shared between individuals. However, all of these factors are influenced by the culture of the work environment the culture of the fractional monetary unit and/or the culture of the organization at large. Organizational culture is increasingly being recognized as a major barrier to effective knowledge creation, sharing, and use (Weiss,1999). Organizations are essentially cultural entities Lim (2005) and therefore, regardless of what organizations do to manage knowledge, the influences of the organizations culture are much stronger. Dyer (1998) defined culture as a course of basic assumptions that is developed by a group as they grapple with and develop solutions to everyday problems. When these assumptions work well enough to be considered valid, they are taught to new members as the appropriate way to approach these problems. Schein further added that a key part of every culture is a set of assumptions about how to determine or discover what is real and how members of a group take an action, how they determine what is relevant information, and when they have enough of it, to determine whether to act and what to do. Culture is therefore reflected in the values, norms, and practices of the organization, where values are manifested in norms that in turn modulate specific practices (Kasim, 2008).Weiss (1999) identified certain aspects of organizational culture that influence knowledge sharing culture shapes assumptions about which knowledge is important, it control

Thursday, April 4, 2019

The Various Positioning Errors Marketing Essay

The Various Positioning Errors Marketing EssayFor instance kotak-mahindra stances itself in the customers mind as one entity-kotak,which provide customized solutions to all the financial services needs.The positioning of the brand get out be influenced by the competitive stance one wants to adopt.Various Positioning ErrorsUNDER office present the customers have a blurred and unclear idea of the brand.OVER situation Here the customers have likewise limited awargonness of the brand.CONFUSED positioning Here the customers have confused opinion of the brand.DOUBLE POSITIONING Here the customers do not accept the claims of the brand.POSITIONING BY PRICE/COST LEADERSIPWhen it comes to marketing the business, in that respect are three generic strategies you can use focus, differentiation and cost leadership. This means that you need to minify your costs and pass the savings on to your customers.WAL-MARTWal-Mart Stores Inc. has been successful using its strategy of everyday low price s to rive customers. The idea of everyday low prices is to offer reapings at a cheaper rate than competitors on a legitimate basis, rather than relying on sales. Wal-Mart is able to achieve this due to its large scale and efficient supply chain. They source increases from cheap domestic suppliers and from low-wage foreign markets. This allows the company to sell their items at low prices and to profit off veer margins at a high volume.MCDONALDSThe restaurant industry is known for yielding low margins that can engage it difficult to make do with a cost leadership marketing strategy. McDonalds has been extremely successful with this strategy by offering basic fast-food meals at low prices. They are able to keep prices low through a division of labor that allows it to hire and train inexperienced employees rather than trained cooks. It also relies on few managers who typically earn higher wages. These staff savings allow the company to offer its foods for bargain prices.POSITIO NING BY LIFESTYLEBrand position in car-MAZDAMAZDAs Brand Positioning StrategyThere are similar intersection points throughout the automotive industry. Mazda considers it vitally important to strengthen its emotional bonds with consumers. In order to build an excellent brand anatomy through strong emotional ties with consumers, Mazda did not initially concentrate on brand strategy schemes, but rather sought to define a brand DNA.Target customersMazdas stooge customers are those individuals who stay young, have a good capability to express themselves, are always hot and are self-confident in their choices.Mazdas Brand DNAMazdas brand DNA is divided into two concepts of personality and Product. In order to gain pathos from the target customers, Mazda tried to create an image where Personality is specify as Stylish, Insightful and Spirited, and to guide Mazdas craftsmanship, Product is defined as Distinctive Design, and Responsive Drive.POSITIONING BY ATTRIBUTESBrand positioning is designed to develop a sustainable competitive edge on product attributes in the minds of the consumers.The consumer choice depends upon the attributes of the brand and the utility thus derived.brand attributes also known as core values,represent the means of the brand.FEW STRONG BRAND ATTRIBUTESSustainability A strong brand makes business competitive.A sustainable brand drives an face towards innovation and success.ExampleMarks and spencers.Inspirational A strong brand should transcend/inspire the cateogary it is famous for.Example NIKE primordial jersey.Appealing A strong brand should be attractive. Customers should be attracted by the promise one makes and by the value one delivers. Examplelife insurance companies.Sometimes a product can be positioned in terms of two or more attributes simultaneously. Theprice and quality attribute dimension is ordinarily used forpositioningthe products. The product is associated with attributes it possess.Ariel offers a specific benefit of cleaning even the dirtiest of clothes because of the small cleaning system in the product.Colgate offers benefits of preventing cavity andfresh breath.Promise, Balsaras toothpaste, could break Colgates stronghold by being the inaugural to claim that it contained clove, which differentiated it from the leader.Nirma offered the benefit of lowpriceover Hindustan Levers Surf to become a success.Maruti Suzukioffers benefits of maximum fuel efficiency and safety over its competitors. This strategy helped it to get 60% of the Indian automobilemarket.POSITIONING BY QUALITYAnother way is to communicate a specific image or position for a brand is to associate it with a specific use or application-Quality It PossessSurf stand out is positioned asstain remover Surf Excel henaClinic All Clear Dare to wear Black.POSITIONING ON THE BASIS OF PRODUCT CLASSOften the competition for a particular product comes from outside the product class. For example, airlines know that while they make out wi th other airlines, trains and buses are also viable alternatives. Manufacturers ofmusic CDs must compete with the cassettes industry. The product is positioned against others that, while not exactly the same, provide the same class of benefits.POSITIONING BY contentionCompetitors whitethorn be as important to positioning strategy as a firms own product or services. In todaysmarket, an effective positioning strategy for a product or brand may focus on specific competitors. This approach is similar to positioning by product class, although in this solecism the competition is within the same product category.Onida was positioned against the giants in the television industry through this strategy, ONIDA colour TV was launched with the message that all others were clones and only Onida was the leader. Neighbours Envy, Owners Pride.POSITIONING ACCORDING TO THE PRODUCT USERClinique, for example, has a strong image of being fresh, clean, and pure, with a white-coat clinical approach to sk in care and cosmetics. The typical user is perceived to be a young woman with oily skin. The challenge for Clinique is to maintain its current image strengths but to hold in the youthful image (to make the brand accessible to mature women) and to reach out beyond the narrow focus on oily, problem skin to a broader audience. For instance, Clinique would like to inject elements of elegance into the line, not to compete with the elegant position of competitors but to expand beyond theirstrong clinical position.POSITIONING BY involvementRecognizing the market potential, Cadbury decided to add theDiwalitwist toCelebrations. With the 1999 campaign that surprised families with Diwali Ki Meethi Shubhkaamnaayeand the Har Pal Bane Ek Utsavcampaign in 2000, people were now reveling in theDiwalifestivities with a box ofCadburyCelebrations. In 2002, with the tagline Rishtey Pakne Dothe Rich Dry ingathering Collection was introduced in the market that got families together in festive times. D elving beyond families, the 2004Celebrationscommercials starring Amitabh Bachchan cemented the spirit of fellowship with the tagline Aisi Mithaas Jo Dosti Banaye Khaas. In 2009,Celebrationstook the brand thought deeper into the meaning of Diwali it was now a symbol of new friendship, spreading happiness, and victorious a moment to thank all those who remain unappreciated for most part of the year. Tapping into the festive caprice of togetherness, Celebrationsstarted asking peopleIss Diwali Aap Kisse Khush Karenge?

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Technology of Ultrasound Scans

Technology of Ultra profound S potentiometers2.1 echography2.1.1 Physics of Ultra sizable with child(p) is a mechanical wave that blends by means of an elastic medium. ultrasonography (US) is sound at a relative frequency beyond 20 000 Hz, the limit of world hearing. Bats orientate themselves with the benefactor of US waves at 100 000 Hz. Ultrasound at frequencies of 200 000 Hz is utilise for navigation. The frequency range of symptomatic US is amongst 1 and 20 megahertz.When sound encounters a border amongst ii media of different densities some of the sound bounces jeopardize as an echo, a phenomenon c e precise last(predicate)ed reflection. The rest of the sound continues by dint of the medium however is deflected from its captain path, this is called refraction. Acoustic impedance is the resistance of a medium to the propagation of sound and decidiethylstilbesterol how much sound will be reflected at the interface between the media. some of the nil of the sound is converted by friction into oestrus when propagating, this loss of energy is called soaking up.When echography waves encounter a surface, a d aver(p) part of their energy is scattered away in random cargons trance most of the sound continues to propagate, a phenomenon called scatter. Reflection, refraction, impedance, absorption and scatter are all phenomena of the essence(predicate) for fancy formation in symptomatic ultrasonography routine. Artifacts, echoes that do not correspond to an anatomic structure but result from the tangible properties of ultrasonography propagation in the winds, are also weighty to be aware of when using ultrasound. This phenomenon can also be of diagnostic help. peerless example is the acoustic shadowing of a gallstone, developd by total absorption of the sound by the stone.Diagnostic ultrasound is based on the pulse-echo principle. The smallest operable units of the transducer are the piezoelectric crystals. The crystals are embedde d in the study, and each crystal has a specific frequency. A pulse is initiated from each crystal in the canvas and a longitudinal sound wave propagates through the body. whatever of the energy is oblivious in the create from raw stuff and some is reflected. The reflected energy is accepted by the probe, which calculates the depth of the interface by measuring the time interpreted to return.We can say that the human body is composed of three canonic materials differing in acoustic impedance gas with a very diminished impedance, bone with a very high impedance and soft tissue with an impedance somewhere in between. The large mismatch between breed and bone and tissue (impedance mismatch) causes 100% of the sound to be reflected at air/tissue interfaces and almost all the sound at bone/tissue interfaces. There is a small mismatch between different soft tissues in impedance, a fact that is the basis for diagnostic ultrasound.Different frequencies of ultrasound are utilize for different diagnostic examinations. high US frequencies (7-16 MHz) have higher(prenominal) resolution but are potently absorbed by soft tissue and are therefore used for superficial structures. Very high frequencies (16- 20 MHz) will just now travel for a few millimeters within tissue and are limited to intravascular and optic examinations. Lower frequencies (3-7 MHz) are used for deeper structures, being less strongly absorbed and of lower resolution.There are different humors of displaying the amplitude of reflected sound waves A- mode, M-mode and B-mode. A-mode (amplitude) calculates only the depth of the interface and is mainly of historical disport. M-mode (motion) is used to display move structures and is used in cardiac ultrasound. B-mode (brightness) is the routine US spot for most surgical applications. Here the returning echoes are displayed as shades of rusty with the echo amplitudes represented by a grey level ranging from foreboding(a) to white. The individua l image lines are stored, assessed and assembled on the monitor to create a two-dimensional B-mode image.Doppler ultrasound uses the Doppler effect. When US is reflected from a moving structure (i.e. blood) the frequencies of the waves adjustment and the amount of frequency change is determined by the speed and direction of blood flow. The use of Doppler is obvious in vascular US but is also of use in other areas of diagnostic ultrasound.2.1.2 History of UltrasoundScientists, including Aristoteles, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Sir Isaac Newton and Leonard Euler, have been studying the phenomena of acoustics, echoes and sound waves for many centuries. It was though not until 1877 that John William Strutt, also known as cleric Rayleigh, published a description of sound as a numeric equation in The theory of sound which became the foundation for the science of ultrasound. Some years later, 1880, Jaques and Pierre Curie discovered the piezo-electric effect that an electric e mf is generated when mechanical pressure is applied to a quartz crystal, an of import baring that eventually led to the development of the modern- day ultrasound transducer which contains piezoelectric crystals.The frontmost study of the application of ultrasound as a medical diagnostic tool was published by the Austrian brothers Karl and Friedrich Dussik in 1942. They attempted to determine brain tumours and the cerebral ventricles by measuring ultrasound transmission through the skull and concluded that if imagery of the ventricles was possible, the interior of the human body could also be visualized using ultrasound. Unfortunately it was later determined by Guttner, in 1952, that the images produced by the Dussiks were variations in bone thickness. Nevertheless, their scientific work marked the initiation of diagnostic ultrasonography in the medical firmament and Dussik wrote in an oblige a decade later As knife and forceps in surgery, the chemical agent in chemotherapy, the high frequency electric field in diathermy and X-ray application, so has medicine taken on a spic-and-span physical tool in the last decade the ultrasonic field.George Dring Ludwig, working together with Francis Struther, was the head start scientist to visualize gallstones, infix in the muscles and gall vesicas of dogs, with ultrasound. His studies also resulted in the finding that the mean velocity of ultrasound in soft tissue is 1540 m/sec, a discovery that was to give very important for future research. Much of his work was however considered certified information, because he was employed by the military, and therefore not published in medical journals.John Julian Wild and Douglass Howry were also important pioneers in the ultrasound field. Wild was a surgeon who was able to visualize catgut wall thickness with ultrasound, and he also discovered a expiration in echogenicity between benign and malignant tissue. Wild also genuine transrectal and transvaginal transduce rs and a planening device for screening forbearings for breast cancer. Howry built the first B- mode scanner in 1949 and, together with the two engineers Bliss and Posanky, he also developed the first linear contact scanner. The somascope, the first circumferential scanner, built in 1954, was also developed by Howry. The problem with these scanners was that the patient had to be immobilized and immersed for a long time. In the period 1957-58 an ultrasound scanner was developed by Howry and his colleagues where the patient was strapped to the plastic window of a curved pan filled with saline solution. Although not immersed, the patient had still to be immobilized for a long time. Finally, in the archaean 1960s, Howry developed the first hold contact scanner, together with Wright and E Myers.During the same time Ian Donald was carrying out ultrasound research in England and 1958 he published an article that came to be a landmark, (Investigation of abdominal bundlees by pulsed ultrasound), where he describes how ultrasound changed the treatment of a woman diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer dramatically by diagnosing a cystic mass with ultrasound the mass was later resected and found to be a benign ovarian cyst. Donald contributed importantly to the field of obstetric and gynecological ultrasound for example by discovering the urinary vesica to be a natural acoustic window for the pelvic organs and by measuring the biparietal diameter of the fetus for the first time.A century earlier the Doppler effect had been discovered by the famous Austrian scientist Christian Andreas Doppler and presented in 1842 in a paper called ber das farbige Licht der Doppelsterne und einiger anderer Gestirne des Himmels (On the colored light of the double stars and certain other stars of the heavens). In Lund, Sweden, the headland pioneers of echocardiography Inge Edler and Carl Hellmuth Hertz, developed the first echocardiogram in October 195323 . Subsequently Hertz and s berg invented the first two-dimensional real-time cardiac imaging machine 1967 and Edler and Lindstrm registred the first synchronic M-mode and intracardiac Doppler blood flow recordings at about the same time.Ultrasound has in the last decades developed quickly and the first digital scanners were released onto the market in 1976, providing best and reproducible images.Interventional ultrasonography dates back to 1969 when Kratochwill proposed the use of ultrasound for transdermic drain. Regarding ultrasound for injury the first report of the method for evaluating blunt trauma was dated 1971, by Kristenson in Germany.The development is still going on and in the light of advances in technology leading to smaller unattached machines combined with the prices of machines decreasing rapidly speculations have been made about the first step that doctors in the future will routinely be equipped with their own ultrasound stethoscope for use in their daily clinical work.2.1.3 Ultrasoun d InstrumentsIt is important to have a basic knowledge in which an ultrasound image is produced. The components of scanner includeTransmitter Emits galvanizing impulses that strike the transducer piezoelectric crystals and cause them to vibrate thus producing ultrasound wave.Transducer Transducer is one which converts one form of energy to another. In ultrasound it converts electric energy to mechanical energy and viceversa. It converts the electrical energy provided by the transmitter to the acoustic pulses directed into the patient. It serves as the pass receiver of reflected echoes, converting weak pressure changes into electric signals for processing.Receiver When returning echoes strike the transducer face,minute voltages are produced across the piezoelectric elements. The receiver detects and amplifies these weak signals and provides a means for compensating for the differences in echo strength which result from attenuation by different tissue thickness by control of time de pth compensation. Another important function of receiver is the compression of the wide range of amplitudes returning to the transducer into a range that can be displayed to the user.Scan Processor Processor detects and amplifies the back scattered energy and manipulates the reflected signals for display.Control ConsoleDisplay Display presents the ultrasound image or data in a form fitting for analysis and interpretation. Over the years imaging has evolved from simple A mode display to high resolution real time gray scurf imaging.Recording Device Interpretation of images and archival storage of images whitethorn be in the form of transparencies printed on film by optical or laser cameras and printers, videotape or through use of digital visit archiving and communications system (PACS). Increasingly digital storage is being used for archiving of ultrasound images.2.1.4 Transabdominal Ultrasound, Use and LimitationsTransabdominal ultrasound of the female pelvis has been the convent ional uprise in imaging of the female pelvis. With this approach) a replete(p) urinary bladder is required to provide a window for imaging and to displace bowel gas. Transabdominal scanning (TAS) therefore required deeper penetration and a lower frequency transducer, normally 3 -5 MHz, must be used. The resolution of images is limited by the relatively lower frequency transducer that is required, and it also has great limitations in the orotund lady, curiously in the elderly who often cannot hold a serious bladder. In the study of uterine hemodynamics in patients who are pregnant, these outrages whitethorn not be very significant, because the uterine arterial signal from these patients are usually strong. However, in the non-pregnant state, especially in postmenopausal ladies, studies of uterine hemodynamics with TAS could be very difficult.2.1.5 Transvaginal Ultrasound, Advantages and DisadvantagesWidespread availability of ultrasound imaging in the past two decades has drama tically changed the practice of obstetrics and gynecology. These specia totals rely heavily upon this technology to call for major decisions about attention of their patients.Transabdominal sonography (TAS) images the pelvic organs through the anterior abdominal wall in the supra-pubic region. A distended urinary bladder is essential to displace the bowel loops and to provide an acoustic window. There are two major limitations of TAS. First is the need to use lower frequencies for imaging collect to the longer distance between the transducer and the pelvic organs. Other disadvantage is the transfer degrading effect of the anterior abdominal wall especially in obese patients. Both these limitations lead to degradation in image quality.To overcome these limitations of TAS special transducers, which could be introduced in the vagina, were designed in 1985. The vaginal approach reduces the distance between the probe and the pelvic structures allowing the use of higher frequencies. T rans-vaginal sonography (TVS) produces greatly improved resolution as compared to TAS, primarily due to the higher frequencies employed and also due to the absence of beam torsion by the anterior abdominal wall, Major advantages of TVS over TAS are kick downstairs image quality and reverseance of patient discomfort due to full urinary bladder. Comparison of TVS and TAS is given in Table 2.1.2.1.5.1 Indications of TVSTVS is indicated whenever a better look at the pelvic structures is required. Common indications include the following first maternityLower uterine segment in late pregnancyEctopic pregnancyPelvic massesRetroverted or retroflexed wombObese or gaseous patientEmergency cases when bladder is fatuousFollicle monitoringOocyte retrievalEndometrial study to assess suitability in IVF ET techniquesCervical canal mucousDoppler examination of pelvic organsInterventional proceduresThe list is not exhaustive and newfangleder indications are continuously being added.TVSTASFull bladderNot essentialEssentialProbe frequency5-7.5 MHz3-5 MHzResolutionVery highModerateField of scenery footlingLargeContraindicationsVirgins, Vaginal obstructionPremature rupture of membraneNoneinterventional usesMany usesLimited roleTable 2.1 Comparison of TAS and TVS2.1.5.2 Scan TechniqueOnce the probe and the patient have been prepared, the transducer is gradually inserted while monitoring the ultrasound image. The urinary bladders normally consistent position in the pelvis relative to much to a greater extent variable position of the uterus and the ovaries makes it a good landmark to use when making initial assessment of the transducer orientation.Three basic scanning manoeuvres of the probe are useful to scan the pelvic organs comprehensively mesial imaging with side to side movements,90 rotation to obtain semi-coronal images with angulation of probe in vertical savourless,Variation in the depth of probe presentation to rent different parts within field of view/ central z one.A pelvic survey should be done first to happen quickly the relative position of the uterus and ovaries as well as to identify any obvious masses. This is obtained by slowly sweeping the beam in a sagittal plane from the midline to the lateral pelvic side walls followed by turning the probe 90 degrees into corona plane and sweeping the beam from cervix to the fundus. In multi-frequency probes proper selection is important for best results. Setting of appropriate focus in electronic arrays is as important. In mechanical sector fixed focus probes the organ of interest is brought in the focal zone by changing the depth of founding of the probe. Proper selection of frame averaging is also important. It should be low for firm moving structures like foetal heart and high for studying truehearted immobile tissues.For Doppler studies a steady probe position is essential and it helps if the examiners build up is well supported.2.1.5.3 Dynamic uses of the TVS probeThe ultrasonographi c examination can be raise by placing a hand over the lower abdomen to bring pelvic structures within the field of view/focal range of the probe. reparation of the point of maximal tenderness by the probe will help in identifying the cause of pain. Dense pelvic adhesions can be diagnosed by the sliding organ sign. In the absence of adhesions, the organs move freely past each other and the pelvic wall in solvent to pressure by the TVS probe tip. Absence of this free movement may suggest pelvic adhesions.2.1.5.4 Interventional uses of TVSThere are many interventional uses of transvaginal sonography. Newer indications are eer being added to the list. Some of the more common ones are given beneath-aspiration of ova for in vitro fertilisation (IVF)aspiration of ovarian cystdrainage of pelvic collectionmulti-foetal pregnancy reductionnon-surgical etopic pregnancy managementearly amniocentesischorion villous samplingtransvaginal embryo transfersonohysterosalpingigraphy2.1.5.5 Limitati on of TVSIt should be remembered that TVS provides a more limited field of view than TAS. A survey trans-abdominal scan usually be performed prior to the TVS to rule out the possibility of bossy a mass lying outside the field of view of the TVS transducer. To avoid the need of a full bladder it has been suggested that a TVS examination may be followed by a TAS scan with bladder empty. The rationale skunk this approach is that a mass lying outside the field of view of the TVS probe will be sufficient in size to be seen trans-abdominally even if the bladder is empty.The advent of the transvaginal sonography in 1985 has had a horrific impact on the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. The pelvic organs can now be imaged with a resolution not possible earlier. The management of infertility due to female factors depends mainly on the TVS. Addition of colour Doppler to TVS now gives added information about the vascular supply of various pelvic organs. Details of foetal anatomy that can be depicted by TVS are far superior to that shown by TAS. As a new technique TVS has proved very useful and has a bright future.