Synthesis Paper Essay Example for Free

Synthesis Paper Essay According to the course syllabus we were introduced to the techniques of psychological research. This course was able to provide an understanding of how research is done, and what methods we can use to do so. By having a clear understanding of research and techniques used, it allows us to communicate effectively in regards to ideas behind the research process. In this paper, I will use myself as the case study to examine exactly what I learned about research. In the field of mental health, professionals must be constantly looking for ways to help their patients. (Cozby Bates 2012). When dealing with research, it allows us to explore valuable information that has been researched before. By understanding the value of research or ways to interpret, it helps you decide the legitimacy of your research and how to apply it while other methods may rely on personal experiences or feelings. By knowing the value of the scientific method, this allows us to hold our information to possibly a higher standard. Ideas are looked at logically and others, to ensure validity, interpret conclusions. (Cozby Bates 2012). Ethical Research After gaining a clear understanding in regards to research, I’ve learned that it’s not necessarily what we find out from research but, where we gathered the information. We always need to be concerned with how we went about finding the information. With all information gathered, we must also gather participants. It is important to gather all participants to find the most accurate results, as well as ensuring equal treatment of all participants. One major step to ensure proper treatment is to gather informed consent. By doing so, this allows all participants to understand all parts of research that may affect their decision in participating. This obviously doesn’t indicate that we have given full disclosure, so that it doesn’t affect our end results. A safeguard is put in place to protect participants which is called the Institutional Review Board. This board is put in place to protect  the participants’ privacy and confidentiality. This can be achieved through anonymous questionnaire, or coding of answers to protect privacy. (Cozby Bates, 2012). Not only is this board put in place for the protection of people, but also for animals. Another major ethical portion of research is to understand fraud and plagiarism. Some may falsify their findings to indicate a result completely different from their research which is fraud. One thing to consider that may be beneficial is peer review, which can help prevent fraud. The findings should be replicated by others to ensure the results are valid. As long as credit is given when using someone else’s research, it is not considered fraud or plagiarism. Fundamental Research Issues and Measure Concepts In research, there are several variables that can change depending on the circumstances. Coming up with an operational definition of those variables ensures that all reading the research understand â€Å"the procedures used to measure or manipulate† them. (Cozby Bates, 2012). When we’re looking at more than one variable, we must be concerned with how the variables relate to each other. These relationships can be defined as negative linear, positive linear, curvilinear, or no relationship. The two ways we can study these relationships are through non experimental and experimental methods. Non experimental does not involve any direct manipulation of the variables as opposed to experimental which involves direct manipulation to see results. Reliability is so important because it ensures the most accurate results as possible. You can then use a test-retest, you can give the test twice and judge based on the similarity of results. (Cozby Bates, 2012) Once a method can be determined and results are attained, we must look for the internal and external validity. Internal validity will occur when we are certain that the changes seen directly the result of the relationship between variables. The certainty is greater when care has been taken to exclude any other possible causes for the changes in variables. (Cozby Bates, 2012). If the research can be repeated in a different setting and the same results still apply, the external validity is high. (Cozby Bates, 2012) When working with research, we must be sure that our methods are accurate in order to trust our results. Observational Methods and Survey Research When referring to research, no matter what research method you chose, an observation will take place. When focusing on quantitative research, quantitative research allows many participants to be involved. When using this type of research, it allows the results to effect a greater population. Qualitative involves a broader investigation with fewer subjects in a natural setting, more of an observational method. (Cozby Bates, 2012). One method that I have learned during this course is a case study. This begins with an observational method that provides a description of an individual. (Cozby Bates, 2012). Experimental Design and Conducting Experiments After doing my own testing and observation, I have found that cofounding variables are something we want to eliminate. Cofounding variables can alter your results and undermine all of your research. A way to eliminate this would be random assignment of participants. Using the pre-test-post-test design helps to ensure the introduction of the independent variable is responsible for any change to the dependent variable. (Cozby Bates, 2012). Self-reports are definitely some ways to measure the variable and are done by the participants. Research can cost a sufficient amount of money and may require a lot of your time; therefore a case study may be beneficial before beginning an entire research study. Biblical Perspective Now all has been heard: here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandment for this is the duty of all mankind. (Ecclesiastes 12:13). By doing so, we follow Gods plan and his word. Sometimes we may not always understand all things, but that definitely doesn’t mean God has the information concealed. I believe that discovery is more of a reward for those who seek him. This course has allowed me to understand the importance of research, how to accurately interpret research and how to protect the individuals that are involved. â€Å"It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings to search things out†. (Proverbs 25:2) This verse is definitely an example in reference to research and whether or not scripture supports it. My understanding of the verse is that it is important to research a topic biblically as opposed to the secular world, if we refer to scripture with every issue we can find the true meaning and validity to  daily living as Christians we are looking for. Overall this course has allowed me to gain clear knowledge of research as well as determine the validity. I have learned that research may have potential holes and cofounding variables so understanding research is extremely important to understand. I have learned different research methods and what methods are best for each individual situation. I have been able to understand research and the ethically aspect of research, but most importantly an understanding of research from a biblical standpoint. Research is important, and we all need research when it is done appropriately. As long as we put God first and refer to scripture for daily living, it will make the research process a lot easier. References Cozby, Paul. C., Bates, Scott. C. (2012). Methods in Behavioral Research (11th ed). New York, NY:McHraw-Hill The Holy Bible: New King James Version. (2010). McLeod, S. A. (2008) Case Study Method. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/case-study.html

Not Just A Rising Sun: Essay -- essays research papers

America is a Country based on diversity and immigration of many cultures creating a melting pot people from all over the world living together in freedom. The Asian American ethnic group is also based on diversity and different immigration patterns of different cultures all representing each other under one name Asian American. Asian Americans have a very diverse history and have different subgroups that have different social status. This essay will discuss and analyze the history of and how Asian Americans and subgroups are affected differently by discrimination and prejudices, and have different identities that can lead to different assimilation into American Culture and economy. This essay will discuss this through examining Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, Filipino and other Southeast Asian Islanders. Waves of Migration The Asian American community achieved their status in America in many different ways throughout history; with different reasons for immigrating to America and suffering different challenges and prejudices along the way. There were 2 distinct waves of immigration to the United States from Asian Americans. There was the old Asian wave of immigration that consists of Asians that immigrated from the middle of the Nineteenth Century to the early years of the Twentieth Century. The second wave is Asians that have immigrated to the United States since 1965. Chinese History The Chinese were the AA first to immigrate to the United States. A series of wars, rebellions, civil disorders, floods, famines and droughts made earning a livelihood in China difficult. Also, China faced a disheartening defeat in the Opium War of 1840 against the British. When news of a gold rush on the west coast of America reached China there was a huge influx of young male peasants immigrating to the United States trying to better themselves economically and then return home to there families. These immigrants started off working construction and on railroads. This was recognized by the white workers as a threat. The Chinese were not only forced out of the there jobs, but there was also legal measures taken to keep the Chinese out of the American workforce; with the Chinese Exclusion Act, passed in 1882 by the U. S. Congress. This was the first time in American History that a specific ethnic group was completely barred from immigrating to America.... ..., Filipino and other Southeast Asian Islanders. Yet they are a threat to the dominant group economically as they overcome fierce discrimination. One of the most common themes in constructing this essay is that Asian Americans are growing as a social and economical force in America and are starting to be recognized for that. They are at the top and bottom of our economy, and come from many different countries with different identities. This diversity is what makes Asian Americans such an interesting and complex minority. Work Cited Marger, Martin M. 2003. Race and Ethnic Relations: American and Global Perspectives. Michigan. Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. Gudykunst, William B. 2001, Asian American Ethnicity and Communication. Thousand Oaks. Sage Publications Inc. Mary Yu Danico and Franklin Ng, 2004. Asian American Issues. London. Greenwood Press Le, C.N. 2005. "Anti-Asian Racism & Violence" Asian-Nation: The Landscape of Asian America. http://www.asian-nation.org/racism.shtml Le, C.N. 2005. "Socioeconomic Statistics & Demographics" Asian-Nation: The Landscape of Asian America. http://www.asian-nation.org/demographics.shtml

Overview Of Information Systems Essay

Information Systems Types Description / Benefits Example of Each (Including Vendor Name / Vendor Website) How have you seen them used in your organization or an organization that you are familiar with? 1. Databases A database is a computer mechanism for storing and retrieving data. It gives one true command of their data, enabling one to retrieve it, sort it, analyze it, summarize it, and report results in changes. Example: Google Cloud Website: cloud.google.com/ I have seen them used by businesses, and individual users who want to utilize their data across different IT systems. 2. Networks A network is a group of two or more computer systems linked together. The benefits of networking include more convenient file sharing and Internet connection sharing. Example: Examples include local-area networks (LANs) and wide-area networks (WANs). University of Phoenix www.phoenix.edu/ I am currently using a wide area network to download and post my assignments to the university of phoenix website. 3. eBusiness Electronic Business, is the administration of conducting business via the Internet. This would include the buying and selling of goods and services, along with providing technical or customer support through the Internet. The benefit is ebusiness allows people to carry out businesses without the barriers of time or distance. Example: Amazon www.amazon.com I have owned my own business and ecommerce was a great way to provide  services without actually physically being there. 4. Wireless Wireless is communications sent without wires or cables. the benefits to wireless are productivity, convenience, and cost advantages over wired networks. Example: wireless phones www.att.com The use of wireless technology in business and everday life is prevelant in today’s society as a whole. I have a wireless phone use, use Bluetooth and wireless internet on my laptop, as well as being able to transmit ans share internet, in my home and business. 5. Social Media Social Media is the websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. One main benefit is the ability to seek out potential clients and networking opportunities. Example: LinkedIn www.linkedin.com I am am member of the site and it is a great tool in networking and finding clients and potential employees. 6. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Customer relationship management is the strategy that a company uses to handle customer interactions. It is beneficial by creating various platforms to meet customers needs and receive feedback. Example: rewards card program Best Buy www.bestbuy.com/site/†¦rewards/pcmcat102500050032.c?id Best Buy uses their rewards cards to track purchases ans other consumer information that helps in the promotion of certain products and services that they offer. 7. Supply Chain Management (SCM) Supply chain management is the the oversight of materials, information, and finances as they move in a process from start to finish. This is very beneficial as it shows a log off all happenings with a specific good or service. Example: The U.S. Department of Agriculture www.usda.gov/ The U.S. Department of Agriculture developed a Web-based solution for farmers and ranchers seeking to communicate with distributors and wholesalers. 8. Business Intelligence Business intelligence is a term that refers to a variety of software applications used to analyze an organization’s raw data. It is beneficial by helping companies be more efficient, spot areas for cost savings and identify new business opportunities. Example: the board is an all encompassing BI tool that has helped many companies. http://www.board.com/us/ I have seen a list of and have gotten goods and services from some of the companies that have employed the board’s BI tools.

Importance of Character in Homers Odyssey Essay - 1121 Words

Importance of Character in Homers Odyssey nbsp; Odyssey, by Homer, is about Odysseus, the king of Ithaca.nbsp; Odysseus fights in the Trojan War and wins.nbsp; He travels towards Ithaca but does not reach it because he is not in favor of Poseidon, god of the sea, who prevents his return.nbsp; For many years, Odysseus wanders the seas and has many adventures.nbsp; Meanwhile, suitors attempt to marry Penelope, Odysseus wife, but she remains faithful to her husband.nbsp; The gods pity Odysseus and assist in his safe return to Ithaca. Though Odysseus has the help of the gods, his personal qualities contribute to his survival in the seas and the return to his family in Ithaca.nbsp; Odysseus personal qualities of bravery,†¦show more content†¦nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Another quality that enables Odysseus to return home and restore his kingdom is self-discipline.nbsp; Menelaus gives one testimony to his self-discipline.nbsp; He tells Telemachus, Odysseus son, about Odysseus army that hid inside a wooden horse.nbsp; The horse was taken inside the enemy walls of Troy.nbsp; Everyone inside the horse wanted to say something but Odysseus was patient and did not say anything, nor did he let anyone else say a word.nbsp; Anticles would have said a word, according to Menalaus, but Odysseus held his two hands tight over the mans mouth, and saved the whole nation (line #).nbsp; Odysseus made the plan of the wooden horse successful with his self-discipline.nbsp; Another example of Odysseuss discipline is shown when he meets Nausicaa.nbsp; Odysseus is caught in a storm at sea and undergoes much suffering until Athena and a sea nymph help himShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Violence In The Odyssey1025 Words   |à ‚  5 Pages The Odyssey by Homer is a literary classic that presents many themes about the natures of both man and god. Although the characters of the book display characteristics relatable to those of the people today, one of the most prevalent differences between the two eras and their people is the intense violence that takes place throughout the entirety of the epic. This violence serves several functions in the work as a whole. The violence that is enacted upon the characters of The Odyssey serve as aRead MoreThe Impacts Of The Odyssey In Homers The Odyssey1166 Words   |  5 PagesHomer’s epic poem The Odyssey follows Odysseus on his long journey home. The Epic also includes the stories of Odysseus’ family left behind: the travels of his son, Telemachus, and how plenty, of what we would now call â€Å"home wreckers†, suitors pressured his wife, Penelope, into marrying one of them. The characters are beautifully crafted and the story is truly epic. All the elements presented can bring in any reader from any century, the Cyclops, the Gods, the trickery of Penelope, and the disguisesRead More Elements of Homers Odyssey in the Coen Brothers Oh Brother Where Art Thou646 Words   |  3 PagesThe Coen Brothers’ â€Å"Oh Brother Where Art Thou?†, loosely based on Homer’s classic adventure The Odyssey, is a film amusingly filled with themes of symbolism similar to those found in Homer’s epic, while still maintaining a sense of originality and style that they have become so renowned for. An exciting and entertaining blend of high adventure, humour, and heartfelt emotion, at first glance, the film barely resembles Homer’s poem: only certain elements are obvious, such as the main character’s nameRead More Essay on the Double Meanings of The Odyssey995 Words   |  4 PagesThe Double Meanings of The Odyssey      Ã‚     Throughout Homers The Odyssey, there are a number of tangible symbols that are used to represent abstract ideas. I would like to suggest that each symbol that Homer uses within The Odyssey has two clear meanings. The double meanings of these symbols are used to represent Odysseus and Telemachus as they strive to meet each other. While each symbol has a meaning that represents the growth of Telemachus, each one also represents, by another meaning, theRead More Essay on Names in The Odyssey and The Bible1634 Words   |  7 Pages Importance of Names in The Odyssey and The Bible      Ã‚   Two of the most widely studied ancient works are Homer’s Odyssey and the book of Genesis from the Bible.   Each of these texts provides a unique viewpoint of an early civilization.   In both of the texts, one can learn not only stories about great heroes, but also about the way that these peoples lived and what they believed.   Many interesting parallels can be drawn between the two developing societies shown in the Odyssey and the book ofRead More A Comparison of Homeric Formalism in The Iliad and The Odyssey1339 Words   |  6 PagesHomeric Formalism in The Iliad and The Odyssey Much that is terrible takes place in the Homeric poems, but it seldom takes place wordlessly... no speech is so filled with anger or scorn that the particles which express logical and grammatical connections are lacking or out of place. (from Odysseus Scar by Erich Auerbach)    In his immaculately detailed study comparing the narrative styles of Homer to those of the Bible, Erich Auerbach hits upon one of the most notable intriguesRead MoreThe Epic Of Homer s Odyssey1433 Words   |  6 PagesHomer’s Odyssey makes use of its epic qualities to narrate the lives of three men. The tale begins with Telemachus, a young prince who leaves his homeland to learn about his father and about himself at the same time. Through the use of this initial event, Homer creates a chronological structure that is further observed through the introduction of the story’s main character, Odysseus, the king of Ithaca and the father of Telemachus. Both father and son long to see each other after a decade of separationRead MoreEssay about Free Will and Fate in the Odyssey1574 Words   |  7 PagesHomer’s View of Free Will and Fate in the Odyssey Free will and fate are both prominent in the Odyssey. In the Odyssey, free will is depicted whenever characters make decisions. In example, Odysseus blinds the Cyclops, Polyphemus. Fate, in the Odyssey, is the consequences that are dealt out due to certain actions. In the case of Odysseus and Polyphemus, the consequence is that when Odysseus is on a ship heading home to reach Ithaca, Poseidon, being the father of Polyphemus, sends a storm atRead MoreJulius Caesar and The Odyssey Comparative Essay700 Words   |  3 PagesJulius Caesar and The Odyssey Comparative Essay Throughout William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar and Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, loyalty is strongly presented as a major motif. In both texts, loyalty is highly valued as one of the most important traits to a person’s character. Not only do the loyal characters receive better fates, but those who are not loyal are punished for the actions, usually through revenge. In Julius Caesar, the characters that remained loyal to Caesar are the few whoRead More Descent to the Underworld in the Aeneid by Virgil and the Odyssey by Homer1534 Words   |  7 PagesAeneid and the Odyssey I chose to compare the Odyssey written by the Greek poet Homer and the Aeneid by the Roman poet Virgil. I will focus my interest on Book 11 of the Odyssey and Book 6 of the Aeneid, since that is when both of the main characters make an educational visit to the underworld. The description of the underworld created by Homers wild imagination, inspired Virgil eight centuries later. Virgils masterpiece was planned as an imitation of Homers poems, so

Nursing Is The Profession Of Care - 912 Words

The history of mankind shows, from its beginnings, that human beings need care to survive, to live with health, happiness and well being, and to cure in disease situations. Care has been the subject of study of philosophers, historians, and anthropologists, but, in my view, nursing is the profession of care, and it has produced more knowledge to support the various dimensions of care. For me, the nursing care is to promote life, the life potential, the welfare of human beings in their individuality, complexity, and completeness. It involves an interpersonal encounter with therapeutic purpose, comfort, healing when possible and also preparation for death when it is inevitable. Nursing, as a discipline in science, has the responsibility to contribute permanently to the production of knowledge capable of supporting culturally congruent care actions, technically competent, morally acceptable and contribute to the preservation of life in its fullness in the different situations of the pro cess of human living. Patients need professional care, attention, and love for them to recover quickly. In my opinion, I think nursing is where love meets science. My passion for nursing start when I was seven years old. One of my mother’s friend, Nanci, was a nurse. We would go visiting her at her home during weekends and holidays. One day while playing in school, I bruised my his knee. When my mother came to pick me up from school, she insisted that the wound had to be dressed. So on our wayShow MoreRelatedNursing Profession And The Quality Of Care963 Words   |  4 Pagesthe history of nursing, many theorists have provided their ideas in an attempt to improve the nursing profession and the quality of care provided to patients. Chitty Black (2007) states that nursing as a profession is strengthen when nursing knowledge is built on sound theory. Through evidence-based practice, these theories have developed a foundation of the nursing profession. Theorists focus on different approaches to support their beliefs in improving the nursing profession. In order forRead MoreNursing Is A Profession Of Health Care Essay2100 Words   |  9 PagesNursing is a profession in health care that concentrates on the deliberation of the patients and their families. Nurses also assist in public health care that educates communities how to prevent sickness and also to stay healthy. They have a responsibility to care for patients during illness and provide support during recovery. Along with support and care, nurses have many other roles as well. As a present nursing student, I have many questions towards the fact how nursing will be like in a realRead MoreNursing Is A Profession Within Health Care1480 Words   |  6 PagesNursing is a profession within health care. It not only focuses on the care of individuals but it also focuses on the care of families and communities so that they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nursing is an art. In nursing, the nurse or provider gives, assist, or specializes in helping people with disabilities as well as people whose health may be deteriorating. People who suffer from disabilities need more than the ordinary assistance necessary used by a healthyRead MoreA Better Understanding Of The Nursing Profession And Care For Patients1392 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction According to Current Nursing, nursing theory is defined as â€Å"a set of concepts, definitions, relationships, and assumptions or propositions derived from nursing models or from other disciplines and project a purposive, systematic view of phenomena by designing specific inter-relationships among concepts for the purposes of describing, explaining, predicting, and /or prescribing†( â€Å"Nursing Theories†, 2012). Throughout this paper we will explore Sister Callista Roy and her theory of adaptationRead MoreCritical Care Nursing : An Analysis Of A Complicated Profession1395 Words   |  6 Pages Critical-Care Nursing: An Analysis of a Complicated Profession Nicholas D’Amario Carroll Community College â€Æ' The massive field of nursing is broken down into over one hundred specialties and subspecialties that each have a unique background and certain set of requirements and skills specific to the job. Critical Care is an area within nursing that aims to care for the most vulnerable and ill of patients. Nurses working in critical care units are typically highly skilled and have acquired manyRead MoreNursing Profession Practice Of Providing Care For The Sick And Infirm1026 Words   |  5 PagesNursing is a profession many wish to pursue. Why do they choose to pursue this profession out of the thousands of jobs out there? A person who pursues the nursing profession may like money they get, some may actually love doing the work, and some may just do it to get into the medical field. Nursing is the profession of practice of providing care for the sick and infirm. Saving lives and curing illnesses is an attribute many may want but an advantage some have. Nursing in particular has significantly Read MoreNursing Association : Nursing As The Profession Or Practice Of Providing Care For The Sick And Infirm2003 Words   |  9 PagesThe American Nursing Association describes nursing as the profession or practice of providing care for the sick and infirm. They say it is the duty of nurses to protect, promote and optimize the health and abilities of a patient. It is also the duty of those in the profession of nursing to prevent illness and injury, facilitate healing, and alleviate suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response. Nurses also advocate for the care of patients families. Nurses play a very importantRead MoreNursing Is A Profession That Has A Strong Tradition Of Providing Excellent Care For The Patients1151 Words   |  5 Pages Introduction Nursing is a profession that has a strong tradition of providing excellent care to the patients. Evidence-based practice is the utilization of the clinical research so as to determine the best forms of patient care. Through evidence based practices nurses can study the research, get expert opinions and others forms of data and thus can identify the ways to provide optimal forms of patient care. Evidence-based practice explores the empirical ways of knowing the facts, focuses on theRead MoreDeveloping An Implementation Plan For Nursing Shortage1662 Words   |  7 PagesDeveloping an Implementation Plan Nursing shortage is a global problem facing all health care system and the impact on nursing professional and patient care outcomes cannot be over emphasized. Despite all effort made by the ANA and health care institutions to address the issue of nursing shortage there seems to be no change and the problem still exist hence there is every need to implement a new plan to address the problem of nursing shortage (ANA, 2014). The project plan is aimed at introducingRead MoreThe Barriers Of Professionalism : A Discussion Of The Contributing Factors1743 Words   |  7 PagesThere are many barriers in the nursing profession. The many factors that contribute to these limitations have been noticed for centuries, such as the educational standards which were set forth by Isabel Hampton Robb in 1893. Robb set the standards of nursing education and formalized a curriculum (Black, 2014). Today we face several challenges and educational barriers. An important concept within the nursing professi on that affects many is the issue of education. Nursing achievements and requirements

Why I Chose This Career - 1067 Words

Introduction Paragraph The career that I will be researching is Cosmetology. There are really two reasons why I chose this career. The first reason is so I can help work my way through college. At first I wanted to go for a lawyer so I was looking at seven years of college, but now I am looking to go for business to open my own salon. The second reason is because since I was a little girl I have always loved doing hair. I find that when you do somebodies hair you are actually doing a good deed. They may walk into that salon not feeling as confident as they usually do because their hair is messed up or outgrown, and then when they leave your salon, they feel like a brand new person, and honestly that is what I love most about this occupation. I hope to learn that this is honestly the occupation for me. That I will be comfortable doing hair for the rest of my life. A lot of girls will drop out because once they go to school for cosmetology, they find out doing hair all the time is not something that they wan t to do. I found out that I enjoy it. I also want to learn that I will be able to support myself and my future family on this job and this job only if I open my own salon. Career Information Cosmetology is all about your skills and your personality. Think about it†¦ you go into a salon to get your hair done, and you have been going to this salon for your whole life. You know everyone there and they have been there for you through everything in your life. You are not going toShow MoreRelatedWhy I Chose This Career1065 Words   |  5 Pages Introduction Paragraph The career that I will be researching is Cosmetology. There are really two reasons why I chose this career. The first reason is so I can help work my way through college. At first I wanted to go for a lawyer so I was look at seven years of college, but now I am looking to go for business to open my own salon. The second reason is because since I was a little girl I have always loved doing hair. I find that when you do somebodies hair you are actuallyRead MorePersonal Family and Finance Essay982 Words   |  4 PagesAssignment 7: Careers (25.0 points) 1. Describe at least three specific individual differences that may give you an advantage in the workplace. (1-3 sentences. 1.5 points) - Diversity, rapid innovation, and productivity    2. Choose an industry you might be interested in working in, and explain why this industry interests you. (2-4 sentences. 1.0 points) - I would like to work in the music industry because I can’t go a day without listening to music, it motivates me.    3. DescribeRead MoreWhy I Chose A Marketing Career1349 Words   |  6 PagesWhy I Chose a Marketing Career College students have an array of options to choose from when it comes to deciding what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Students are expected to make a decision at the ages of 18-20 years old as to what they want their career path to be. They must pick a field of study that contains course work that will aid them in what they want for their career path to be. As a freshman, I chose to be apart of the College of Business and Economics. It took several businessRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Nursing1101 Words   |  5 PagesAs I journey through life, I have come to reckon with the saying that says â€Å"treat everyone the same way you want to be treated†. My point that I want to explore in this paper is my personal nursing philosophy that I have in mind to walk with in the path of my nursing career. Nursing encompasses more than just administering medications or following a prescription order. Nursing is also more than carrying out assessment on patients; nursi ng is rather the focus of delivering patient care that is notRead MoreMkt 421 Week 2 Individual Assignment Essay896 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Branding Plan Jessica Cutcher MKT/421 November 30, 2015 Rebecca Robbins Introduction Getting oneself out on the market is the most important part of getting a new job. In order to do this, a person must market themselves. In order to properly market themselves, a potential candidate has to know the resources in which to present themselves as good employee material. It is always a good idea to have a plan in place of the places thatRead MoreSample Resume : Dental Hygienist Essay1212 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: After INRW I plan to finish college and become a Dental Hygienist. I’ve wanted to become a Dental Hygienist since I was in the 7th grade. When people think of a Dental Hygienist they think about cleaning teeth but, that’s not all they do. I can remember in school my friends saying â€Å"I hate going to the Dentist.† I always loved going to the dentist and getting my teeth cleaned, therefore I chose this career. As a Dental Hygienist, I will be able to teach people the importance of cleanRead MorePersonal Narrative My Life Essay578 Words   |  3 PagesPersonal Narrative My Life I never really thought about where my life was going. I always believed life took me where I wanted to go, I never thought that I was the one who took myself were I wanted to go. Once I entered high school I changed the way I thought. This is why I chose to go to college. I believe that college will give me the keys to unlock the doors of life. This way I can choose for myself where I go instead of someone choosing for me. I have chosen to go to the local communityRead MoreEssay on Bridging Academic and Career Competencies595 Words   |  3 Pagesgoals into your career competencies can help you in the application and career-search process. Fill in the following table with 100-word summaries of how each university learning goal can help you with career preparedness. University learning goal How each goal prepares you for success in the workplace Professional Competence and Values Professional Competence and Values prepares me for success in the workplace by giving me the classes that I need to be successful in a future career and my personalRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Career Choice1174 Words   |  5 Pageswhen you grow up?† I never had an answer to that. Going into college I didn’t have a set plan as to what career I would like to pursue. However, I knew that I wanted to work with kids; I originally wanted to be a pediatrician. That career choice was based on my family wanting me to be successful, so I put my passion for working with kids and their passion together. As I began to focus on what I want instead of what others want, I changed my major to Early Childhood Education and chose the path of teachingRead MoreI Want To Be A Registered Nurse1108 Words   |  5 Pagesill need looking forward to this career. Hospital, provide inpatient care predominantly in settings such as medical wards, acute care units, intensive care units, rehabilit ation centers, or emergency rooms. Physical Therapists, assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury. My Occupation is; I want to be a doctor because I like caring about people

Case Study Product Innovation at Bank of America Free Essays

string(107) " the we have limited information about an opportunity Voice of the Customer and the related customer need\." BANKING STRATEGIES Case Study: Product Innovation at Bank of America By Cindy Murray What ? nancial institutions can learn from inventions and innovations in other industries. owhere is innovation more essential to survival than in the banking industry. In the payments domain, for example, nonbank competitors less constrained by bank regulations and therefore more agile are changing the banking industry’s grip on the public perception of banks as the only trusted brand for holding and moving money. We will write a custom essay sample on Case Study Product Innovation at Bank of America or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, innovation is challenging for banks. Many products, like payments, are a commodity. A vast number of products and a complex infrastructure require continual upgrades to keep apace with technology advancements and comply with evolving regulations and security requirements. This article describes how Bank of America fosters a culture of innovation. Pivotal to an innovative culture is the direct engagement of clients in the innovation process. We highlight some of the ways that Bank of America achieves this. But ? rst we’ll look at the role of innovation process in building brand loyalty. N Build Brand Equity Through Progressive Transformation Change can occur by rede? ning a problem or rede? ing a solution. According to Robert Sternberg, a leading creativity expert,1 creativity is the ability to rede? ne a problem. Innovation can be viewed as the ability to rede? ne a solution. Successful innovation is a process over time—one that typically happens in increments rather than leaps. Rarely is a single innovation a game changer. In banking, 90 percent of in novation focuses on core competencies (that is, business-as-usual innovation), seven percent on game-changing innovation MAY–JUNE 2009 within core competencies and only three percent on leaps that signi? cantly shift the client experience. Outside of banking, an evolutionary approach to innovation is also the rule, not the exception. Continual improvements throughout a product’s life cycle build brand equity. Take the case of Nabisco’s Oreo cookie, the bestselling cookie in the United States. In 1912, Nabisco came up with the idea of two chocolate disks with cream ? lling in between. Since then it has released Double Stuff cookies with more ? lling; fudge-covered Oreos; holiday cookies, including Halloween and Christmas cookies; bite-sized Oreos for children; and reduced-fat Oreos. Oreos illustrate two important aspects of product innovation. First, Nabisco stayed close to its customers. It understood how needs varied among consumers and changed over time. The company developed its product to meet the needs of a continually broader set of consumers. Second, the example illustrates an incremental approach to innovation that focuses on advancing core products. The iPod was at once the next step in an evolutionary process and also a creative leap. This product integrated a number of capabilities in a portable device, but it was not the ? rst MP3 player. However, the concept of iTunes was a new business model that changed the way consumers could store and listen to music. The iPod was transformative, too, because it aligned with changing consumer behavior re? ected in trends of mobility and customization. Technology enabled a tipping point. Consumers were ready to embrace a leap. Cindy Murray is Head of Product Innovation at Bank of America. Contact her at cindy. murray@bankofamerica. com. COMMERCIAL LENDING REVIEW 35 Banking Strategies way that stays close to customers’ evolving needs. For example, through ethnographic research, we discovered a common practice among consumers of rounding up when writing checks. We took the idea of rounding up and turned it on its head—rede? ing Innovation is a process over time—an evolutionary the problem by associating payments with savings. path. An incremental approach to innovation mirrors How can we foster increased saving? With Keep the the gradual way in which people change. Consumer Change, each time a customer pays using a Bank of behavior tends to change gradually. Successful innovation is customer driven. It gets as America check card, the bank rounds the payment close as possible to the customer’s current process. to the nearest dollar and transfers the extra change A deep understanding of how customers operate to the customer’s savings account. oday—and why they do what they do—gives inNow, instead of check writers rounding up, the sight into how to improve the process; how to create bank does it for them—but in a way that builds their a step forward for the customer. savings. The solution also facilitates increased use of Further, by directly engaging customers in the indebit cards, thereby supporting retailers’ efforts to novation process, they become deeply committed discourage check payments. It was also a timely soluto, and invested in, a solution, which took advantage tion’s evolutionary path. f evolving consumer beThis makes innovation a havior toward increased primary differentiator, ancard usage. Change can occur by rede? ning a other way of creating value Ethnographic research problem or rede? ning a solution. for customers by enriching has also been key to improvtheir experience and reining our electronic banking forcing loyalty over time. platform, CashPro, over Staying close to the customer is one of the most importime. For example, we designed an enhancement based tant attributes of a successful innovation process. on a typical client work ? ow for handling exceptions. By closely watching how 15 companies were posting their receivables, we identi? ed a common practice of Get Close to the Customer placing a sticky note on invoices when they did not match payment. Staff would then fax an invoice to At Bank of America, customers play a key role at the salesperson to inquire about the discrepancy. We every stage of the product innovation process. There incorporated an electronic sticky note with email capaare a number of ways in which we directly engage bility in CashPro, so that clients could maintain their our customers throughout product development. ork-? ow process in the online environment. We use a range of formal techniques for idea generation. Formal techniques focus on gaining deepened client insight and are important when Amplify the we have limited information about an opportunity Voice of the Customer and the related customer need. You read "Case Study Product Innovation at Bank of America" in category "Essay examples" Formal idea mining t ypically requires expertise through our internal innovation group or external specialized vendors. CashPro is a great example both of innovating in Ethnographic research is an important tool for increments to improve a product over time and of engenerating innovation ideas. Observation provides gaging clients in an evolutionary innovation process. insight into customer behavior and needs. ReturnWith CashPro, we established a customer advisory ing to the Oreo example, the idea for a bite-sized board, which has been closely involved in the prodcookie began to germinate when Nabisco researchers uct’s development. With CashPro, the innovation watched young children grapple with dunking the process becomes part of the client experience, thereby full-sized cookie in smaller cups. increasing customer satisfaction. For example, with Ethnographic research helps Bank of America CashPro, clients prefer self-service for upgrades. understand how to advance our core products in a They are fully vested in the change process. Engage Clients in the Evolutionary Path 36 COMMERCIAL LENDING REVIEW MAY–JUNE 2009 Banking Strategies Our strategic client program, Treasury Exchange, At the other end of the spectrum, responsibility serves to amplify our voice of the customer research. for innovation can be centralized in a shared serClients are long-term program members in senior vice center. At Bank of America, we have dedicated treasury and/or ? nance roles within their organizastaff focused on game-changing innovations. At tions. They meet regularly—at frequencies varying the same time, our entire organization recognizes from once per quarter to yearly. The program enables the importance of ongoing process improvement participants to share insights on best practices and and enhancements. learn from each other, while helping us to better understand their challenges and needs. A detailed executive Work with Peers summary that identi? s key discussion themes helps pinpoint areas for deepening discussion and exploraTo maintain a competitive edge, banks increasingly tion. Conference calls exploring priority topics serve will look for ways to work with clients, technolas touch points between in-person meetings. ogy companies and other ? nancial institutions We also look to Treasury Exchange members to to combine strengths. For example, in May 2008, validate and ? esh out new product ideas and to Bank of America announced a partnership with provide validation at points in the product develWells Fargo called Pariter Solutions LLC. The opment cycle. Treasury 50-50 joint venture will Exchange members have operate the commercialsubmitted innovation ized ACH platform that ideas under the auspices will be leveraged by the An incremental approach to of the program. Customer two banks. The goal is to innovation mirrors the gradual way advisory boards and spegain economies of scale in which people change. cial client programs like and better position both Treasury Exchange augbanks to develop future ment our extensive voice products with a single of the customer research. nvestment in the underlying processing engine instead of duplicative investments. It’s a platform for growth and innovation. Cultivate a Culture of Innovation It’s important to be open to ideas from all sources. That’s part of cultivating a culture of innovation. At Bank of America, all associates are invited to collaborate in the innovation process. For example, associates can submit their ideas online via IdeasZone, an internal intranet site. These ideas are funneled into the idea stream and receive equal attention within our innovation process. Collaborate with Technology Innovators In banking, technology is an enabler of innovation. Therefore, it’s important that banks collaborate with their technology providers. Bank of America’s collaboration with Microsoft is a great example of how we work with technology companies to develop innovative applications. Cash positioning and forecasting continue to be key client challenges. We spoke with clients to determine how they perform cash positioning and forecasting. Treasurers might use a treasury workstation, an Excel spreadsheet or a combination of tools. However, treasurers who rely on treasury workstations typically supplement their process with an Excel spreadsheet. Our research also con? rmed that many clients have dif? culty building a historical database of information for trend analysis to support forecasting. COMMERCIAL LENDING REVIEW Foster Employees There are different options for organizational structure to foster an innovative environment. At Google, it’s part of everyone’s job to innovate. There is a decentralized approach to innovation in which all employees are engaged and given incentives. It’s built into their objectives and re? ected in their salary increases and bonuses. MAY–JUNE 2009 37 Banking Strategies Bank of America worked with Microsoft to develop CashPro Accelerate. This tool accepts information feeds across all of a client’s bank accounts and automates the cash-positioning process. It also builds a historical database that clients can use for forecasting. Keep Moving Forward â€Å"I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward. †Ã¢â‚¬â€Thomas Edison With an inventor’s mind-set, the idea of failure is a fallacy. Some who know best have even looked at failures as a continual path forward. Besides being the still-unrivaled record holder of 1,093 U. S. patents, Thomas Edison broadened the concept of the invention to what’s known today as â€Å"innovationinvention,† R D and commercialization. 3 Innovative companies ? nd ways to leverage new insights to keep moving forward. The creation of 3M Post-it notes is a classic story of turning failure on its head and using creativity to rede? ne a problem. Spencer Silver was working on developing a strong adhesive but invented a weak one instead. Silver’s colleague Arthur Fry came up with a novel application for the weak adhesive, which became the basis for Post-it notes—a new vehicle for communication—which Bank of America used in its CashPro innovation. Sometimes the leap is in how we look at things. Build a Brain Trust In a September 2008 issue of H ARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW, Ed Catmull, cofounder of Pixar and the president of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, talked about how Pixar fosters collective creativity. One of Pixar ’s core operating principles is that, â€Å"We must stay close to innovations happening in the academic community. 2 It’s part of the company’s effort to eliminate boundaries between different disciplines. Earlier this year, Bank of America and MIT’s Media Laboratory announced the creation of the Center for Future Banking. Over the next ? ve years, Bank of America will contribute $3 million to $5 million annually. The center is a prototype for how busin ess and academia can work together to invent the future of an entire industry. It will bring together researchers with radically different perspectives, including behavioral economists, social scientists, computer scientists, psychologists, designers and others. The goal is to trigger unexpected new ideas that lead to innovation leaps in banking. Test, Learn, Evolve This inventor mentality is at the heart of our testand-learn environment, in which we deploy an initial solution design to get ? rsthand feedback from clients on its usability and value. At this stage, the intent is to address any issues or opportunities in the next iteration of the design. The process enables us to evolve our product design before we get to the pilot stage. As an iterative process, the test-andlearn environment is a microcosm of the broader innovation process focused at a certain point in the development process. The Intelligent Cash Manager, a new end-to-end Bank of America solution, gives a live example of the test-and-learn approach. The solution concept germinated in a series of Treasury Exchange meetings, where clients identi? ed cash handling and deposit as a major pain point. It’s an ATM-like machine that counts cash, accepts it for deposit and provides safekeeping. An issue related to jamming surfaced in the test-and-learn environment, which will inform a solution redesign. MAY–JUNE 2009 Choose Winning Concepts Vetting ideas and building a business case are key steps in the innovation process. Bank of America uses a scoring technique as part of our process for vetting ideas. Scoring criteria include whether a concept matches to plan objectives, whether it has wide applicability, its level of innovativeness and complexity and the potential magnitude of its impact. At Bank of America, for example, out of 919 ideas received this year, 10 have been submitted for funding in 2009. Building a business case is a key step. An effective business case must describe the opportunity and its alignment with strategy and also describes the target client and market within the context of the competitive landscape. Finally, it outlines the proposed approach, the risk and the ? nancial opportunity. 38 COMMERCIAL LENDING REVIEW Banking Strategies Storyboarding is a creative technique used in the early stage of ? lmmaking. Storyboarding can help speed time-to-market. By not building the entire product—but rather using storyboards and prototypes in a test-and-learn environment—we retain ? exibility even as we move further into the product-development process. Flexibility enables us to prioritize the most important features and integrate feedback and new insights from customers. It helps us to make smart choices with our investment dollars as products take more tangible form. The Next Leap in the Innovation Process The ability to synthesize information into insights will be an increasingly important part of creating a valuable client experience—not only banks connecting to customers—but of customers connecting to each other for insight. Incubation and the cross-fertilization of ideas are important to the creative process. Bank of America is integrating online networking into its innovation process. For example, we are connecting participants in the Treasury Exchange program to an online forum. Our long-term vision is to link our various Treasury Exchange client groups—which are based on industry, function and geography—into a clientcentric global collaborative network. We also plan to introduce online ideation as a way to collaborate with Treasury Exchange participants on innovation. More broadly, the idea of integrating social networking into the bank’s innovation process holds tremendous promise. With our consumer base of 59 million households, social networking can be a powerful tool for engaging customers ? rsthand in product development. hen the next step integrates multiple aspects to transform the end-to-end client experience. To cite an earlier example, the iPod integrates communication speed, mobility and storage capacity. All of these come together, along with consumer readiness for change and the introduction of the iTunes business model. Within the banking realm, clients increasingly want banking solutions to integrate into their flowâ€⠀whether flow constitutes, for example, a mobile consumer or the workflow related to a treasurer’s broader financial processes. The need to integrate payments in the broader customer experience will involve mobile technology in some form and the analysis of information to provide insight. For corporate customers, banks are already delivering time-sensitive information to personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cell phones. Information analysis and synthesis could help treasurers to improve broader ? nancial processes (for example, accounts payable or receivable), help optimize working capital and minimize cost and use payment information to deepen insight into customer behavior. We are already seeing merchants, for example, use consumer payment information to tailor coupons to a customer ’s buying preferences. Banks can deliver robust information to consumers, for example, to help them weigh product features and engage in ? nancial planning to evaluate a purchase within a desired spending budget. Perhaps, ultimately, clients will want to take their bank accounts with them, storing virtual money inside their mobile phones. Banks have an opportunity to reassert their unique role as the trusted brand in storing and moving money. Innovation will be critical to our success. What Might Be the Next Leap in Banking? Successful innovation continuously improves aspects of the customer’s experience. Leaps occur Endnotes 1 2 3 Professor at Tufts University; research focuses on creativity. How Pixar Fosters Collective Creativity, HARVARD BUS. REV. , Sept. 2008, at 71. The Edison Papers, http://edison. rutgers. edu/biogrphy. htm. MAY–JUNE 2009 COMMERCIAL LENDING REVIEW 39 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. How to cite Case Study Product Innovation at Bank of America, Free Case study samples