Factors contributing to the success of commercial printers

Printing had been the uncontested primary media format for over five hundred years--with the commercial printing industry also thriving--until the late 1990s, when abnormal cost patterns and disruptive new media technologies worked together to permanently change the world economy and media landscape. Romano (2010a) estimated that 20% of all print production in the US had disappeared between 1995 and 2010. Many different theories have been posited to commercial printers as to how best to survive, but the overall message has been relatively consistent: print companies cannot rely on economic growth to regain business. Instead, they must adapt to the changing media environment (Cummings & Chhita, 2004). The purpose of this research study was to discover which strategies commercial printing companies have employed to remain successful, despite the shrinking and ever-changing print business market. To achieve this, the researcher conducted open-ended interviews with leadership in the businesses in question. Common themes or trends were identified amongst the studied companies through comparisons of their responses. In addition, this research explored how these companies defined success--as a combination of recognition, persistent growth, and sustained or improved profitability--and to what degree the leadership felt the company had achieved it. This study found four primary categories of factors which had been the most influential in sustaining the participating companies\u27 success through the years 2001 to 2011. These changes and practices consisted of: * Continually developing efficiencies through initiatives, training, and investment; * Regularly investing in new technologies and capabilities to improve efficiencies and gain market share; * Regular assessment and strategic repositioning of their marketing mix based on industry trends, emerging markets, and their existing customers\u27 needs; * Business management practices to strategically evaluate and manage these investments and changes, with the goal of continually improving their operations. Through a combination of these factors, the participants have positioned themselves to survive and thrive in the near future, despite the shrinking market and constantly evolving technologies. These factors are also readily applicable to other commercial printers, and reinforce the impact of the strategic business practices recommended by industry literature as explored in the literature review

Testing Potential Fish Fraud in Community-Supported Fisheries

The seafood industry has long been plagued by the substitution of a species under a false label. Seafood mislabeling is a major concern in the management of fish and marine species. Incorrect labels hamper the ability to estimate stock size effectively, reduce consumer choice, and represent potential health hazards. The rates of seafood fraudulence have been shown to differ across businesses and markets, and in recent years, community-supported fishery programs (CSFs) have sprung up as an alternative to fish markets and grocery stores. Using genetic analysis, I show that 17 out of 41 (41.5%) samples examined from multiple markets in New Hampshire and Maine were fraudulent. The rates of fraudulent labeling differed across species and across markets, with community-supported fishery programs having the lowest levels of fraud (3 out of 10 samples, 30%) followed by restaurants (33%), fish markets (44%), sushi restaurants (50%) and grocery stores (58%). While the different levels of fraudulence between CSFs and other markets were not found to be statistically significant (p=0.36), my findings should warrant future studies with a larger sample of CSFs to determine the extent to which CSFs can help reduce seafood fraudulence

Informal Savings and Credit Institutions in the Urban Areas: The Case of Cooperative Credit Unions

Less developed countries are usually characterized by a dualistic financial system: the formal and informal credit system. One form of the latter is the Cooperative Credit Union (CCU), which at present finds shelter in the private and government offices as well as in public markets. Analysis presented in this paper points to the fact that the ten sample CCUs have performed well without government subsidies. Without regulation, they are more likely to introduce more innovations. However, to successfully develop a cooperative, a concerted effort should be developed among leaders.informal financial sectors, credit unions, credit program, credit market, savings

Joining the Department of Defense Enterprise Resource Planning Team: The Air Force\u27s Role in the Enterprise

Over time, the Air Force (AF) built customized legacy logistics data and information systems, which have evolved into an inflexible network of obsolete systems that are costly to maintain and upgrade, and struggle to share data in a timely and coherent manner. The Department of Defense (DoD), to include the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the US AF, the US Army, and the US Navy, have all recognized the need to modernize and integrate their legacy systems to improve warfighter support. The DLA, the US Army, and the US Navy all see Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology as a commercial best practice, and consequently as the best way to replace their legacy systems. They are all in the process of implementing ERP pilot tests. The AF has adopted a watch and learn\u27 position on ERP, while continuing to upgrade its legacy systems piecemeal

A Case Study on Illinois Regional Public Universities and the 2015-2017 Budget Impasse

This study explores the lived experiences of administrators who led their institutions through the two-year Illinois budget impasse. This study also reviewed archival evidence of measures taken by public regional universities in Illinois to mitigate the loss of state appropriations. Previous research has shown that the business model of public higher education in the United States is undergoing disruption. Changing demographics, enrollment concerns, and rising tuition were just some of these issues pressuring public institutions of higher education. The temporary loss of state appropriations exacerbated these issues and had long-lasting effects even after the Illinois budget impasse ended. In order to understand the Illinois budget impasse and its affects on regional public universities in Illinois, four administrators from two public universities in Illinois were interviewed, two from each university. In addition, archival documents including Board of Trustee meeting minutes and student publications were researched in order to supplement information shared during the interviews. The study reveals that the loss of state appropriations for public universities forced them to use reserve funds to cover costs, reduce spending, downsize personnel, and adopt cultures of austerity that continue even after state appropriations are made available again

Investing in Change: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities For Women in the Washington Region's Labor Force

In this issue brief, we focus on promising approaches to building economic security for women through workforce development. In the following pages, we share the latest employment and labor force participation trends for working women in the Washington region, with a particular focus on low-income women. We identify some of the strategies of successful workforce development programs that support these women, and conclude with concrete steps that funders, policymakers, advocates, employers, and individuals can take to provide women with the effective education and job training programs they need to build economic security and change the trajectory of their lives

Education Reform for the Digital Era

Will the digital-learning movement repeat the mistakes of the charter-school movement? How much more successful might today's charter universe look if yesterday's proponents had focused on the policies and practices needed to ensure its quality, freedom, and resources over the long term? What mistakes might have been avoided? Damaging scandals forestalled? Missed opportunities seized

Albuquerque Street Paper Value Chain Development

Rationale for conducting this research project was based upon prior experiences with the street paper community. The first objective of this study was to work cooperatively with local experts in the fields of social entrepreneurship, workforce development, social service provisioning, city planning, and journalism to identify barriers and strategies for developing a street paper value chain for Albuquerque. The second objective of this study was to support these experts in selfidentifying their involvement as potential actors and/or value chain coordinators in developing a street paper operation in Albuquerque. While a comprehensive list of barriers to upward mobility for low-income and homeless populations were identified in the study, key findings from the research (related to the first objective of the study) have implications for overcoming those barriers through the operationalizing of a street paper value chain. This includes the identification of a wide variety of barriers and strategies to completing each value creation process involved in the street paper value chain. This also includes the identification of particular barriers and strategies to operating within local industry-specific and sector-specific business environments, the regulatory environment, and the political climate. Another key finding from the research (related to the second objective of the study) has implications for research participants’ and the community’s capacity to develop a street paper value chain in the near future. While there are a high number of research participants and community leaders who are interested in the concept of a street paper value chain and who have all the expertise to develop one, most of them are already operating at their highest capacity and have a limited amount of resources and/or time to dedicate to the development of such an operation outside of their current professional responsibilities. v This study is part of a growing body of research on value chain analysis and how it applies to the development of street paper operations. Future research could focus on examining the demand side of a street paper value chain through content analysis with a street paper product prototype

Food and Agriculture Related Policies and Practices to Benefit Limited Resource Farmers

This report highlights a variety of approaches for supporting the success of limited resource farmers and ranchers. It features examples from the work of 14 organizations that directly support limited resource producers, and summaries of 36 state and local government policies and practices that support these producers, sometimes indirectly. This publication will be especially valuable to organizations working with limited resource producers (or other local and family-scale farmers), Food Policy Councils, and advocates working on farm policy issues at the local and state levels. It was authored by Martin Bailkey and produced by the Food Policy Council Program of the Community Food Security Coalition, with support from the USDA Risk Management Agency

Business strategies of organisations in a challenging economy : the case of mobile company X Zimbabwe (MCXZ)

This study sought to establish the business strategies employed by Mobile Company X Zimbabwe (MCXZ) for it to survive the challenging economy. A qualitative research and a case-based approach involving MCXZ were used. Semi-structured interviews and secondary data were used to produce qualitative data and for triangulation of findings. Data was analysed and managed through qualitative coding and Atlas.ti program. The findings of the study showed that MCXZ employed growth business strategies through market penetration, product development, market development and strategic alliances. In addition, the study found that banking crisis, high competition, rapid technological changes, consumer preferences, shrinking markets and unfavourable government policies are the main threats in the challenging economy. However, MCXZ managed to survive and grow due to the integration of business strategies and the key success factors (KSF) in the industry. The KSF are organisational agility, research and development, quality and affordable mobile phones and effective after sales service and accessories.Business ManagementM. Com. (Business Management