Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Other subjects

1.1 Defining Quality: Performance and Expectations

Quality = Performance (how it works) / Expectations. If Q > 1, the customer has a positive feeling. The customer determines his or her expectations.

Definition of quality: A group of properties and characteristics of a service or a product that has the ability to satisfy different needs. Some dimensions of quality are reliability, durability, service, reputation, and more. These dimensions are independent.

• Performance — how well the product or service works.
• Expectations — what the customer anticipates or requires.
• Dimensions of quality — reliability, durability, service, reputation, etc.

1.2 Enemies of Quality and Cultural Changes

Common enemies of quality include:

• Lack of definition: Responsibilities

International Air Transport Association (IATA)

IATA is the International Air Transport Association, a trade association for the world’s airlines. It promotes cooperation, safety, reliability, confidence, and economy in air transport, benefiting its private shareholders.

• IATA represents 290 airlines, accounting for 82% of worldwide air traffic.
• It was established in 1945 in Havana, Cuba.
• IATA seeks common solutions for industry problems that individual airlines cannot solve alone.

IATA Airport and Airline Codes

• IATA Airport Codes: These are 3-letter codes used to designate airports worldwide.
• Cities with multiple airports also have a specific code to designate the city itself (e.g., NYC for New York City).
• Airline Designators:
  • IATA codes (2 letters)

Formal Education Systems

Formal education corresponds to a systematic, organized education model, structured and administered according to a given set of laws and norms. It typically presents a rather rigid curriculum regarding objectives, content, and methodology.

Key Characteristics of Formal Education

It is characterized by a contiguous education process, named, as Sarramona remarks, “presential education,” which necessarily involves the teacher, the students, and the institution.

It corresponds to the education process normally adopted by our schools and universities. Formal education institutions are administratively, physically, and curricularly organized and require students to maintain a minimum classroom attendance.

It confers degrees... Continue reading "Formal vs. Non-Formal Education Systems and Characteristics" »

Automatic Voltage Control

Basically consists of a main exciter field which excites the alternator field to control the output voltage. The exciter field is automatically controlled through an error equal to V reference - Vt. When the output voltage is higher than the required value, the BT is measured by a potential transformer and fed back to the input so that the error V reference - Vt is applied to the exciting field. This ensures that the generator output voltage is maintained at the desired level.

Components:

• Potential Transformer: Provides a sample of terminal voltage
• Differentiating Device: Gives actuating error e = V ref - Vt
• Error Amplifier: Amplifies the error signal
• SCR Power Amp: Transfer Function = (ke / 1 + TeS)

Automatic Generation

Relative Humidity: Definition and Measurement

Relative humidity (RH) relates the amount of moisture actually present in the atmosphere to the maximum amount it can hold at a given temperature. If the air is saturated, the relative humidity is 100%.

Measuring Relative Humidity with a Hygrometer

Relative humidity is measured using a wet and dry bulb thermometer, sometimes known as a hygrometer. The measurement process relies on evaporative cooling:

• Water from a bottle soaks the cotton gauze covering the wet bulb, keeping the thermometer wet.
• As water evaporates from the damp cotton, it cools and reduces the temperature of the wet bulb thermometer.
• Consequently, the wet bulb temperature is lower than the dry bulb temperature due to this cooling effect.

What is the Service Marketing Mix?

All elements within the control of the firm that communicate the firm's capabilities and image to customers or that influence customer satisfaction with the firm's product and services: product, price, place, and promotion.

• People: All human actors who play a part in service delivery and thus influence the buyer's perceptions: namely, the firm's personnel, the customer, and other customers in the service environment.
• Physical Evidence: The environment in which the service is delivered and where the firm and customer interact, and any tangible components that facilitate performance or communication of the service.
• Process: The actual procedures, mechanisms, and flow of activities by which the service is delivered

1. Key Market Observation

(WHY?) What one problem or need can the brand solve or satisfy for the market that will help the creative agency understand the business? Please provide only the basics.

2. Source of Business (€)

Where, specifically, is the business expected to come from, and why would customers pay for it?

• Avoid general descriptions; provide only specific sources.
• Example: People unhappy with specific restrictions on their current brand.

3. Consumer Barrier and Insight

What one thing is known about the potential target audience that may help reach them or needs to be overcome?

• What do they already know, think, or feel about the brand or product category?
• How do they distinguish between different brands?

4. Target Market

What is the most clear... Continue reading "Strategic Creative Brief Framework for Agencies" »

SWOT is an acronym that stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. A **SWOT analysis** is an organized list of your business’s greatest strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Strengths and weaknesses are internal to the company (think: reputation, patents, location). You can change them over time, but not without some work. Opportunities and threats are external (think: suppliers, competitors, prices)—they are out there in the market, happening whether you like it or not. You cannot change them.

VRIO Analysis: Resource Evaluation for Advantage

VRIO Analysis is an analytical technique brilliant for the evaluation of a company’s resources and thus its competitive advantage. VRIO is an acronym from the initials... Continue reading "Strategic Business Analysis Frameworks & Competitive Edge" »

Major Components of a Master Budget

A master budget can be divided into operating and financial budgets:

• Operating budgets describe the income-generating activities of a firm: sales, production, and finished goods inventories. The ultimate outcome of the operating budgets is a pro forma or budgeted income statement.
• Financial budgets detail the inflows and outflows of cash and the overall financial position. Planned cash inflows and outflows appear in the cash budget. The expected financial position at the end of the budget period is shown in a budgeted, or pro forma, balance sheet.

Behavioral Dimension of Budgeting

Using Budgets for Performance Evaluation

• Budgets are often used to judge the performance of managers.
• Bonuses, salary increases, and

Organizational Fundamentals

The Organization (Org): Social entities with defined objectives. As a system, it is a set of people acting within set limits to produce goods or services.

Work Systems and Management Roles

Work System: Input – Processes – Output.

Morrison's Management Role: Involves evaluating the work of subordinates and creating plans considering technological factors.

Levels of Management and Performance Metrics

• Levels of Management (Gerencia):
  • High Level (Conceptual Skills)
  • Human Skills
  • Technical Skills
• Efficiency: The optimal use of resources.
• Effectiveness: Achieving established goals.

Functions of Management (Henri Fayol)

The functions of management are to plan, organize, lead, coordinate, and control.

Organizational Structure Components