Franchising And The Internet: An Example of Knowledge Mangement in New Zealand Business

“The newest innovations, which we label information technologies, have begun to alter the manner in which we do business and create value, often in ways not readily foreseeable even five years ago.” [1]. The Internet is a technology that has revolutionised business and the manner in which it is conducted. Recent studies suggest that e-commerce will explode to over US$6 trillion in 2 years time. This paper discusses how the Internet can be used in one particular facet of business: franchising. The manner in which services are provided through the use of Internet sites and the strategies by which these can be implemented are covered, examining the different types of sites, and the roles of the franchisor and franchisee in development. The benefits that can be experienced are outlined, and vary from advertising both the franchise concept and the products or services provided, improving communication between parties, and providing the opportunity for collaborative ventures. Up until now the degree to which the Internet has been adopted by Franchises in New Zealand has been limited, with some notable exceptions. However recent surveys reveal that its acceptance is increasing, and that franchise systems recognise that the use of technology poses opportunities in the years to come

Audiologist Perception on Reporting Hearing Assessment Results to State Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs

Purpose To describe an evaluation conducted by 39 state EHDI programs on how acceptable the reporting process and system audiologists had to use when reporting the hearing test results to the EHDI program and the barriers encountered during reporting. Methods Each author independently extracted numbers, percentages, and texts from the evaluation reports into an Excel spreadsheet, which then became the dataset. Authors then compared and cross-checked the datasets before coding. Texts conveying similar concepts were coded with the same name and organized into categories. Finally, thematic identification and analysis were performed when a theme(s) or concept(s) that pertained to similar challenges encountered by audiologists was identified and organized under a higher-order domain. Results Some audiologists reported no barriers when reporting hearing test results to the state EHDI programs. Among those audiologists who reported barriers, the most recurrent barrier was a non-user-friendly data system design. The second most recurrent barrier was not having adequate administrative time to report data as a busy clinician. The third most recurrent barrier was an incomplete understanding of the state EHDI reporting requirements. Finally, the method audiologists were required to use when reporting results also posed some challenges, such as no internet connection in rural areas when required to report via an internet portal. Conclusion: Because of the wide variety of barriers faced by audiologists, multiple strategies to improve the reporting process would likely be beneficial. Keywords: reporting hearing result, EHDI program, barriers to reporting, audiologis

Towards An Internet Site Usability Evaluation Model

The population of web sites continues growing every year, but are the sites usable? Most sites seem to ignore the usability issue. Usability is about making the site easy for consumers to navigate and operate. Unusable sites do not attract and retain consumers. A usable site is one that is concerned with the user’ perception and provides the fundaments that allow the consumer to accomplish tasks such as searching and purchasing. According to ISO’s usability definition, examining its effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction, measures the usability of the web site. Five commonly used usability evaluation methods, competitive analysis, scenarios, inspection method, log analysis and on-line questionnaires, were reviewed. Using these earlier concepts as a basis, the usability evaluation model was developed. The model consists of four components - Information, Transaction Service, Trust, and Non-functional requirements. The model was first tested on Travel sites. It was found that it could be used to classify the sites. It was then tested against a user perception survey of the industry sites. This indicated an agreement between the model and the user perceptions. The model was then tailored for e-commerce web sites and, based on the core similarities, a more abstract level could be postulated. This was then tested against its application to a third industry, Internet banking sites. Similarities and differences between the fundamental elements of the sites in the three industry sectors are related to the sector’s needs and those of the customers that they service

Evaluating Usability of New Zealand E-Tailing Sites

“When a main street store builds a web site, they open up opportunities to expand their market beyond geographic boundaries. The chances of losing sales from the physical shop are slight, but the potential to increase sales through their web site could be enormous….” [1]. The Internet is world wide virtual world that everyone can access (buy) almo st everything they might want in the real world. The web site is the front door of the online store that interacts between the e-tailer and consumers. Setting up the web site seems easy, but to make the site that usable and effective is not so easy. Of the many web sites on the Internet, only a few can survive and make a profit. Thirty New Zealand e-tailing sites were evaluated using a model adapted from that of Hersey. Most sites do a satisfactory job enabling commercial transactions (providing electronic catalogue, online order, online payment and delivery). 70% of those examined are positioned as full e-commerce capability sites. However, they lack a sense of building the consumer’s trust, a necessary step towards establishing a relationship. They do not provide the necessary assistance to make it easy for consumers to shop online, nor do they create a consumer community. Only 47% use either pull or push techniques to attract and retain the consumers

Private Insurance Reimbursements for Newborn Hearing Screening in the United States, 2013-2014

The purpose of this study was to describe private insurance reimbursements for newborn hearing screening (NBHS) in the United States. Data from the MarketScan® Commercial Databases were used to estimate reimbursement for privately insured infants born between January 1, 2013–December 31, 2014. Estimates were based on billed claims for hearing-related services during infancy (71,820 infants with inpatient NBHS, 1,104 with outpatient NBHS). Median reimbursement for NBHS performed in a hospital setting was $148.00 (range$113.51–$196.02) when billed as an inpatient service and$136.48 (range $86.08–$220.15) when billed as an outpatient service. Both reimbursement amounts were three times greater than the median reimbursement of $41.60 (range$30.48–$49.25) for NBHS billed in conjunction with an office visit

Cerebral small vessel disease burden is associated with poststroke depressive symptoms: A 15-month prospective study

Objective: All types of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) markers including lacune, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebral microbleeds, and perivascular spaces were found to be associated with poststroke depressive symptoms (PDS). This study explored whether the combination of the four markers constituting an overall SVD burden was associated with PDS. Methods: A cohort of 563 patients with acute ischemic stroke were followed over a 15-month period after the index stroke. A score of _7 on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was defined as clinically significant PDS. Scores of the four SVD markers ascertained on magnetic resonance imaging were summed up to represent total SVD burden. The association between SVD burden and PDS was assessed with generalized estimating equation models. Results: The study sample had a mean age of 67.0 _ 10.2 years and mild-moderate stroke [National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score: 3, interquartile, 1–5]. PDS were found in 18.3%, 11.6%, and 12.3% of the sample at 3, 9, and 15 months after stroke, respectively. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, vascular risk factors, social support, stroke severity, physical and cognitive functions, and size and locations of stroke, the SVD burden was associated with an increased risk of PDS [odds ratio = 1.30; 95% confidence interval = 1.07–1.58; p = 0.010]. Other significant predictors of PDS were time of assessment, female sex, smoking, number of acute infarcts, functional independence, and social support. Conclusion: SVD burden was associated with PDS examined over a 15-month follow-up in patients with mild to moderate acute ischemic stroke

Measurement of retropubic tissue thickness using intrapartum transperineal ultrasound to assess cephalopelvic disproportion

Purpose First, to describe a new method of assessing cephalopelvic disproportion by measuring the retropubic tissue thickness (RTT), and second, to determine whether RTT was associated with an eventual delivery by cesarean section. Methods Three-dimensional transperineal ultrasound scans were performed on 129 laboring nulliparous women to obtain 3-dimensional volume datasets for assessing RTT. RTT was measured off-line by three operators (A, B, and C) as the shortest distance between the capsule of the pubic symphysis and the outer border of the fetal skull. The intraoperator repeatability of operator A and the interoperator reproducibility among A, B, and C were determined. The RTT in women who were delivered by cesarean section due to failure to progress was compared to that of women who had a vaginal delivery. Results The intraoperator repeatability for RTT was 1.2 mm. The overall RTT interoperator interclass correlation was 0.97 (0.95-0.98). The RTT in women who had a spontaneous, instrumental, or cesarean delivery was 1.16±0.32 cm, 1.12±0.25 cm, and 0.94±0.25 cm, respectively. Women who were delivered by cesarean section had a significantly smaller RTT than women who had a spontaneous delivery (P=0.008). There was no statistically significant difference in RTT between patients who had a normal vaginal delivery and patients who had an instrumental delivery (P=0.990), or between those who had an instrumental delivery and those who had a cesarean delivery after the Bonferroni correction (P=0.120). Conclusion RTT can be measured with satisfactory intraoperator repeatability and interoperator reproducibility. RTT was significantly smaller in women who eventually had a cesarean delivery than in those who had a vaginal delivery

Validation and application of health utilities index in Chinese subjects with down syndrome

Objectives: The objectives of the study were (1) to validate the Chinese version of Health Utilities Index (HUI-Ch); (2) to examine the Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of Chinese subjects with Down syndrome (DS); and (3) to study the impact of chronic health conditions on HRQoL of Chinese with DS. Methods: The multiple choice questionnaire for scoring Health Utilities Index Mark 2 (HUI2) and Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3) was translated and validated. In addition to the HRQoL scores from HUI2 and HUI3, proxy-data on socio-demographics, and 10 common chronic health conditions for people with DS were collected and analyzed. Data analysis involves multiple imputation and multiple regression analysis to predict variations in HRQoL in relation to different factors. Lastly, a gradient interval was constructed on the number of chronic health conditions in relation to HRQoL. Results: HUI-Ch was validated according to standard guidelines. People with DS were found to have a lower HRQoL as compared to the general population, with the majority categorized as moderate or severe on the scale. Behavioral and hearing problems on HUI2, and hearing problems on HUI3 were found to be statistically significant predictors of a lower HRQoL score. A significant gradient relationship existed showing when the number of health problems increased, the HRQoL scores decreased. Conclusions: HUI-Ch is a valid instrument to assess HRQoL. It can have broad application in Chinese subjects with DS including the study of the impact of different chronic health conditions on their quality of life. The quantifiable nature of HUI-Ch will facilitate longitudinal study on the well-being of subjects with DS and evaluation of effectiveness of intervention programs in the near future