The Use of the Internet in Distributing Packaged Software

To reflect common practice in the software industry and extend transaction cost theory, this research developed building on previous research and empirically tested a model based on to identify conditions in which software vendors are likely to sell and distribute their packaged products directly to end-users through the Internet. How software firms distribute their products over the Internet is an important issue because software is a digital product, and the potential for the Internet to transform the distribution channel is considerable. Extant literature shows that Canadian software firms frequently choose direct instead of market channels. However, none of the existing studies focuses specifically on packaged software, or on the Internet as a distribution channel. Further, recent research on what products are suitable for distribution through the Internet does not address the case of packaged software. Knowledge-based asset specificity, human asset specificity, and physical asset specificity are positively associated with the likelihood of using the Internet to distribute packaged software (H1, H2, and H3). The likelihood of using the Internet in delivering products has a positive relationship with the volatility of packaged software, its clients, and markets (H4); whereas this likelihood has a negative relationship with diversity (H5). Channel growth is positively associated with the online distribution of packaged software (H6); Channel volume is negatively associated with the likelihood that packaged software developers use the Internet to deliver products (H7). The rate of growth in gross sales has a positive relationship with the likelihood of online distribution by packaged software firms (H8); while the gross sales of a firm negatively are associated with this likelihood (H9). The use of the Internet in the distribution of packaged software is positively associated with the United States market and negatively associated with other national markets (H10). The data to test these hypotheses were collected from Canadian software developers by a web-based survey. The information includes the distribution channels for their best selling product in its largest market, and Likert scales that measure forms of asset specificity, market uncertainty, and channel volume. The hypotheses are tested using logistic regression. The results provide support for hypotheses H5, H6, and H9 whiles hypotheses H1, H2, H4, H7, H8, and H10 are not supported. The result for H3 is statistically significant, but the direction of the relationship is the opposite of the expectation. The results of this study have implications both for theory and managerial practice. This research contributes to the literature a test of the ability of transaction cost analysis to explain the use of the Internet in distributing software. It also provides managers with reliable insights into some of the circumstances where packaged software developers may use the Internet to deliver their products. However, further research is required to verify the generalizability of the findings of this study

Implementation plan of health and safety processes

An auditor was asked to review an organisation’s Health and Safety procedures to assess compliance with the new legislation imposed by The Health and Safety Act 2015. Then the organisation approached an internal source to conduct a strategic plan in order to target issues of health and safety risk. An implementation plan will be designed to achieve the auditors recommendations and improve the organisation’s Health and Safety practices. Research and audit of the current policies and procedures used at the organisation must be conducted in order to gain a better understanding of the current issues and from there develop action plans and a strategy on how to reach those action plans. Current documentation of policies and an interview with management will be analysed to detail the potential action plans.Once the research has been conducted, results will be used to determine conclusions

The implications of tax on a small business in New Zealand

Small businesses have little resources but must pay tax, so this investigation reports on the implications of tax on a small business. Literature is to be searched to identify the implications for small businesses

A strategy for a university cafe during holidays

With no existing strategy for a cafe business and a highly competitive market, the organisation requires a planned strategy. This research proposes to research a café to determine the best strategy for the organisation. A questionnaire will collect quantitative and qualitative data and the organisation will be observed to determine business strategies

Identifying successful sales and marketing strategies that affect customer loyalty in a coffee shop

.Most small businesses such as coffee shops are concerned with customer loyalty and satisfaction, and increasing profitability. Marketing strategy becomes important when customer loyalty is low. The aim of this research is to identify sales that affect customer loyalty in a small coffee shop and to investigate the relationship between effective marketing strategies and customer loyalty, using a survey of customers

Open Educational Content for Digital Public Libraries

If the production of digital content for teaching -- particularly free content -- is to expand substantially, there must be mechanisms to establish a link to fame and fortune that was not perceived in a pre-digital world. How that might be done is the central question this report addresses, in the context of examining the movement for open educational content. Understanding that movement requires delving into the history of what may seem, on first pass, a totally unrelated field of endeavor. The reader's patience is requested....

Rating system in Food delivery

A small business in food delivery has much competition. The organisation delivers food in food trucks at local markets. The aim of this research is to examine how a rating system will impact on the quality of goods and services and customer satisfaction levels. This research will accomplish the aim in three steps: examine the current state of food trucks, investigate the potential of a rating system, and identify further avenues to use rating systems efficiently. A survey of customers will be used to gather quantitative data and an interview to gather qualitative data