The impact of user genated content and social media networks in Dissertation

The impact of user genated content and social media networks in consumer behaviour - Dissertation Example Hence, the primary research question of the current study is what is the impact of user generated content and social media networks in consumer behaviour? There are very few studies conducted on the subject, which makes the potential contribution of this study to the marketing communications literature valuable. In order to answer the aforementioned question, the researcher adopts a qualitative design, or more particularly, in-depth interviews. The sample size is small and respondents are chose purposively. The researcher takes into account not just the strong points of the qualitative research method but also its empirical, practical, theoretical and ethical limitations. Introduction The primary research question this study will attempt to answer is â€Å"What is the impact of user generated content and social media networks in consumer behaviour?† More specifically, this study will try to answer the following questions: a. Do consumers consult user generated content and soci al media if they are planning to buy something? b. Do consumers consult product-review websites, such as Epinions.com, on a regular basis? c. Do consumers participate in an online forum where in direct discussions about particular products or services are carried out? d. Do consumers post content about the products they bought or plan of buying, or interested in, in product-review websites? e. What are the purpose(s) of consumers in participating in user generated content and social media? f. Do user generated content and social media networks promote unregulated buying behaviour? This topic has been chosen by the researcher because of the fact that word-of-mouth communications entrenched in social media and user generated content are occupying an ever more major role in the preferences of consumers by assisting consumers in making decisions about technologically intricate products, rummage through a sudden increase in product-focused information, amass consumers’ experience and opinion, and perform it at an immensely reduced cost (Laughlin & MacDonald 2010). The emergent influence of user generated content and social media in consumer behaviour deserves scholarly attention so as to present further knowledge of a major enigma of marketing. Relation to Previous Research A number of studies, even though few, have been carried out to identify whether or not user generated content and social media influences customer behaviour and decisions, but their outcomes diverge. The study of Schlossberg (1992 as cited in Thorson & Moore 1996) reports that social media may be useful to consumers as a persuasive instrument in influencing behaviours and decisions and perhaps in building more encouraging social attitudes and actions; others report that affirmative thoughts about the social media do not automatically affect the preference and decisions of consumers. Basically, the limited number of empirical research and contradictory results make the effects of user gene rated content and social media difficult to quantify. Hence, an important mission is assigned for researchers to study the form of user generated content that are successful in influencing buying behaviour and decision of consumers. Brown and colleagues (2007 as cited in Laughlin & MacDonald 2010) report that contrary to conventional face-to-face social messages, consumers seem

Network Security Risk Assessment Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Network Security Risk Assessment - Term Paper Example This paper gives a critical analysis and discussion of Fast Distribution, Inc. with a view of investigating its information assets, organizational risk, security posture and problems which leads to the recommendation of the ways that can be implemented in order to mitigate the information security problem within the organization. Organizational Assets Fast Distribution, Inc. has both human capital and equipment assets. These assets are important in facilitating the central role or functions of the organization. The necessity of the company assets is revealed by their role in helping the company to make its supply chain management business possible. The human resource as a valuable asset comprises of the more than 3200 employees who work for the company to make it achieve its objectives. The human capital also includes the management of the company which is engaged in making important decisions for the success of the company’s coordination of warehousing, distribution, staging, transportation in additional to the relationship with the wholesaler, Value Added Resellers and customers. In an information system, the people are the human resource and expertise who are involved in various organizational activities and processes. These include the clients, staff, management, suppliers and distributors (Dalanhese, 2007). Data or information is one of the most important assets of the company because it helps organization to function and survive in the business environment through its application to enhance all business processes and to compete favorably within the market. Since the company is automated, the information systems within its functional areas are also vital assets for the company. The operations of FDI depend on technology and thus the computing systems of the organization are crucial assets which make the business activities of the company possible and running in an efficient and effective manner. The networking within the organization illustrates var ious component assents of the company’s information system. An information system is a combination of hardware, software, procedures, policies, people, information and data which is involved in the management of organizational business functions with an aim of meeting organizational objectives and goals with efficiency and effectiveness. The hardware within information systems includes the physical aspects of the system such as computer components and the related equipment. The software is a set of applications that are used together with the hardware to effectively perform organizational or business functions. The software applications include information processing systems, finance and accounting packages, anti malware applications, statistical tools and word processing packages (Brown, 2003). The hardware assets of FDI include its terminals or computers, servers, switches, routers, application mainframes and bridgeheads. The software components of the organization help to make the hardware function. The software applications of the company are important assets and include the operating systems for its servers and terminals, database management packages, financial and human resource management systems. The software for management of the company’s information systems is an important asset for the company. The software assets include transaction processing systems which are a set of applications for the processing of the daily activities and processes of an organization. Decision supports systems are other examples of information systems that are important in the decision making process of