Integrating Social Media into the Business Strategy of an Organisation

Millions of people use social media platforms daily and so present a huge market opportunity to businesses. However, management need a clear approach to the use of social media. This paper is a qualitative literature survey on the successful use of social media in business. It provides a model that can be used to ensure social media is directed by strategy, thus achieving business objectives. The approach is theoretical, based on an examination of recent case study material on the use of social media, successful or otherwise, across several business sectors. Arising out of the survey is seen the need to clarify the use of social media in business. This leads to a tool, the Social Media Canvas, which links strategy to the use of social media and provides for its successful implementation and evaluation. This results in effective change within the organisation. The opportunities presented by social media require the business to become a social enterprise. Central to this are customer needs and wants and the processes underlying consumer decisions. The Canvas links the business strategy directly to the customer’s decision-making process, and shows how social media can attract new customers and maintain relationships with them

The Strategic Use of Instagram in the Fashion Industry

The fashion industry, in particular, is now using social media in sophisticated ways to achieve clear objectives. Its media of choice is Instagram which is predominantly a visual medium and as such there are no language barriers and so is used across national boundaries. A most recent example is Mishanonoo.com who showed their New York Fashion Week SS16 collection as an #instashow on Instagram. This paper uses a theoretical approach to present a model for the strategic use of any social media platform in a company. It presents a literature review on the successful use of social media in companies to develop this model. The successful design, delivery and evaluation of using social media, in particular Instagram, is given with particular reference to fashion companies. It is argued that the opportunities presented by social media require the organisation become a social enterprise, that is, in frequent and entertaining communication with its customers. A real-life example that shows this conversation, StyleandTalent.com, is presented. Keywords: s

Technical Bulletins: Medical Benefits for Retirees

This Technical Bulletin discusses problems related to offering medical benefits to retirees

Technical Bulletins: Revenue Sharing Actual Use Report: Public Notice

This Technical Bulletin served as a reminder of the requirement for cities to publish a notice that their revenue sharing actual use report had been filed. The publication requirement was noted on Page 5 of the TN-2 form received by Tennessee cities. Included is a sample notice

Cocoa, Postprandial Lipoproteins, And Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes: A Secondary Data Analysis

Background: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is associated with dyslipidemia and chronic low-grade inflammation, which greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in this population. Hyperlipidemia and inflammation in the postprandial state substantially contribute to atherosclerosis development and CVD risk, and have shown to be exacerbated by high-fat meals. Dietary cocoa is a rich source of flavanols that is associated with favorable effects on cardiovascular health, such as improvements in the lipid profile and chronic inflammation, in non-diabetic adults. Objective: To conduct a secondary data analysis using unpublished data from a previously conducted clinical study to determine whether acute cocoa supplementation reduces postprandial metabolic stress, through improvements in serum markers of lipid metabolism and inflammation, in obese T2D adults after a high-fat fast-food-style meal. Methods: Adults with T2D [n = 18; age (mean ± SE): 56±3y; BMI (kg/m2): 35.3±2.0; 14 women; 4 men] were randomly assigned to receive cocoa beverage (960 mg total polyphenols; 480 mg flavanols) or flavanol-free placebo with a high-fat fast-food-style breakfast [766kcal, 50g fat (59% energy)] in a crossover trial. After an overnight fast, participants consumed the breakfast with cocoa or placebo, and blood sample collection [serum apoB, apoA1, NEFA, IL- 1β, IL-6, and IL-18] was conducted at fasting, 1, 2, 4, and 6 h postprandial time points. Results: Cocoa significantly decreased serum IL-18 levels at the 1, 4, and 6-h postprandial time points compared to placebo (p \u3c 0.001), but had no effects on serum apoB, apoA1, NEFA, IL- 1β, or IL-6 levels. Conclusion: Cocoa may play a protective role against the development and progression of CVD through selective anti-inflammatory effects on postprandial IL-18

Fun Precedes Function: Fostering a Creative Workplace in the Public Library

The public library is full of creative people. Many library employees flourish in library systems that encourage them to move forward with their creative muses. A scan of the blogosphere quickly proves the public library attracts many creative minds and innovative thinkers to join its ranks. Once they have signed on to serve, what do we do to keep these creative types inspired, dreaming and channeling this creative energy into crafting experiences that benefit our users? What are we doing to consciously create a workplace that keeps fresh thinkers and risk-takers encouraged and empowered? Gleaned from conversations, interviews (both in and outside the library), and the Youth & Outreach Services “Library in Action” blog (http://libraryinaction.blogspot.com), this article discusses how workspace affects learning, temperament, production, and creativity in public libraries

Technical Bulletins: Beer Application Fees

This Technical Bulletin discusses an amendment to the Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-5-108, regarding a $100 application fee for beer permits/licenses

Les Liaisons amicales : desexualizing women in the Riccoboni-Laclos exchange

The 1782 correspondence between Marie-Jeanne Riccoboni and Choderlos Laclos is primarily a discussion of the Marquise de Merteuil, a character in Laclos’ recently published novel, Les Liaisons dangereuses. Riccoboni, a well-known author of the time, writes to Laclos to express her objections to his presentation of such an evil female character, and Laclos responds with a defense of his choice of such a character. Yet through the course of the eight letters. another dispute appears. As Laclos describes Merteuil’s crimes, his desire to continue this exchange with Riccoboni, and the attractive qualities of virtuous female characters, his tone and word choice indicate a sexual manner of perceiving women. Riccoboni responds to this with her own version of Merteuil’s crimes and a refusal to allow Laclos to treat her or other women in terms of their sexuality. In my thesis, I analyze this subtler debate and describe the presence of this same conflict in examples of Riccoboni and Laclos’ fictional works

The Impact of HOV/HOT Lane Creation on Public Transit Ridership: Evidence from the Los Angeles Metro

Most large cities face transit congestion due to increasing populations. Governments face trade-offs when determining which commuting infrastructure(s) to fund (e.g, public transit, HOV/HOT lanes, road expansion, etc.). A key question is whether commuters substitute across alternative commuting modes when new options are introduced. Substitution can happen because commuters may choose to minimize their travel time and therefore their time costs; in other words, commuters will choose the fastest route. A follow-up question is if commuters make their decision based on minimizing their transportation time. Using a framework that allows for empirical comparison between HOV/HOT lane openings and public transit rails, I find a negative relationship between public transit ridership and an HOV/HOT lane introduction. That is, when an HOV/HOT opens, my statistically significant results suggest that transit ridership for parallel transit lines will decrease approximately -4.69 to -4.76 percent

Technical Bulletins: Survey Shows Risk Management Study Value

To assist municipalities in Tennessee with implementation of a risk management program, the Municipal Technical Advisory Service has conducted risk management studies (12 since Fall 1979, as of July 1984) . This Technical Bulletin describes some of those risk management studies and also provides the results of a survey of the 12 municipalities who had received an MTAS risk management study