netrashetty
Netra Shetty
Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) (from ALuminum Company Of America) is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal.[2] From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries. Alcoa is a world leader in the production and management of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina combined, through its active and growing participation in all major aspects of the industry: technology, mining, refining, smelting, fabricating, and recycling. Aluminum and alumina represent more than three-fourths of Alcoa’s revenue. Non-aluminum products include precision castings and aerospace and industrial fasteners. Alcoa’s products are used worldwide in aircraft, automobiles, commercial transportation, packaging, building and construction, oil and gas, defense, and industrial applications.
In May 2007 Alcoa made a $27 billion hostile takeover bid for Alcan, a former subsidiary, aiming to unite the two companies and form the world's largest aluminum producer. The takeover bid was withdrawn after Alcan announced a friendly takeover by Rio Tinto in July 2007.
Among Alcoa's other businesses are fastening systems, building products (Kawneer) and Howmet Castings.[3] The sale of the packaging unit was announced on December 21, 2007[4] and closed in the first quarter of 2008
LIMITATIONS
The research study relies solely on available information about the viability of the Hong Kong crisps and snacks market to foreign companies. The data yielded by this study are entirely condensed from existing information and does not include any opinion of people who are proficient with the topic. The researcher only wishes to present relevant and published information about characteristics of Hong Kong consumers that make them enjoy snacks and crisps products, dominant snacks in Hong Kong, and kinds of entry strategies that would entice the consumers. The researcher attempts to minimize time and money in this research by utilizing the exploratory approach.
Part of the evaluation is determining reliability and validity, as discussed earlier; however, other evaluation activities should also be conducted. The follow-up procedure should be evaluated to determine whether it improved response rates and whether it was worth its expense. The questionnaire itself also needs to be evaluated. Even with pilot testing, problems can arise with question ambiguity, questionnaire length, unanswered questions, and misread instructions. Documenting these problems immediately at the end of the study aids in revising the questionnaire if it is to be used again. The adequacy of the budget should be evaluated to determine which tasks required more or less time and money than anticipated; these budget evaluations will be helpful for future research. The study also aims to give a clear emphasis on the needed aspect of the topic in gathering coherent evidence for the validity of research information and findings integrating HK consumer preferences, it is possible that the study would be inexpensive and time-efficient. Thus, this study will use the descriptive approach. The purpose of employing this method is to describe the nature of a situation, as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the cause/s of particular phenomena. The questionnaires will be of a non-threatening nature and can be completed within 30 minutes. The respondents will grade each statement in the survey questionnaire using the Likert scaling wherein respondents will be given such response choices. The results will then be tabulated and averaged to get the strengths and weaknesses of each question in the survey.
Mail surveys are a relatively inexpensive way to reach a broad audience. They're much cheaper than in-person and phone surveys, but they only generate response rates of 3 percent to 15 percent. Despite the low return, mail surveys remain a cost-effective choice for small businesses.
Online surveys usually generate unpredictable response rates and unreliable data, because you have no control over the pool of respondents. But an online survey is a simple, inexpensive way to collect anecdotal evidence and gather customer opinions and preferences.
2. Focus groups. In focus groups, a moderator uses a scripted series of questions or topics to lead a discussion among a group of people. These sessions take place at neutral locations, usually at facilities with videotaping equipment and an observation room with one-way mirrors. A focus group usually lasts one to two hours, and it takes at least three groups to get balanced results.
3. Personal interviews. Like focus groups, personal interviews include unstructured, open-ended questions. They usually last for about an hour and are typically recorded.
Focus groups and personal interviews provide more subjective data than surveys. The results are not statistically reliable, which means that they usually don't represent a large enough segment of the population. Nevertheless, focus groups and interviews yield valuable insights into customer attitudes and are excellent ways to uncover issues related to new products or service development.
4. Observation. Individual responses to surveys and focus groups are sometimes at odds with people's actual behavior. When you observe consumers in action by videotaping them in stores, at work, or at home, you can observe how they buy or use a product. This gives you a more accurate picture of customers' usage habits and shopping patterns.
5. Field trials. Placing a new product in selected stores to test customer response under real-life selling conditions can help you make product modifications, adjust prices, or improve packaging. Small business owners should try to establish rapport with local store owners and Web sites that can help them test their products.
In May 2007 Alcoa made a $27 billion hostile takeover bid for Alcan, a former subsidiary, aiming to unite the two companies and form the world's largest aluminum producer. The takeover bid was withdrawn after Alcan announced a friendly takeover by Rio Tinto in July 2007.
Among Alcoa's other businesses are fastening systems, building products (Kawneer) and Howmet Castings.[3] The sale of the packaging unit was announced on December 21, 2007[4] and closed in the first quarter of 2008
LIMITATIONS
The research study relies solely on available information about the viability of the Hong Kong crisps and snacks market to foreign companies. The data yielded by this study are entirely condensed from existing information and does not include any opinion of people who are proficient with the topic. The researcher only wishes to present relevant and published information about characteristics of Hong Kong consumers that make them enjoy snacks and crisps products, dominant snacks in Hong Kong, and kinds of entry strategies that would entice the consumers. The researcher attempts to minimize time and money in this research by utilizing the exploratory approach.
Part of the evaluation is determining reliability and validity, as discussed earlier; however, other evaluation activities should also be conducted. The follow-up procedure should be evaluated to determine whether it improved response rates and whether it was worth its expense. The questionnaire itself also needs to be evaluated. Even with pilot testing, problems can arise with question ambiguity, questionnaire length, unanswered questions, and misread instructions. Documenting these problems immediately at the end of the study aids in revising the questionnaire if it is to be used again. The adequacy of the budget should be evaluated to determine which tasks required more or less time and money than anticipated; these budget evaluations will be helpful for future research. The study also aims to give a clear emphasis on the needed aspect of the topic in gathering coherent evidence for the validity of research information and findings integrating HK consumer preferences, it is possible that the study would be inexpensive and time-efficient. Thus, this study will use the descriptive approach. The purpose of employing this method is to describe the nature of a situation, as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the cause/s of particular phenomena. The questionnaires will be of a non-threatening nature and can be completed within 30 minutes. The respondents will grade each statement in the survey questionnaire using the Likert scaling wherein respondents will be given such response choices. The results will then be tabulated and averaged to get the strengths and weaknesses of each question in the survey.
Mail surveys are a relatively inexpensive way to reach a broad audience. They're much cheaper than in-person and phone surveys, but they only generate response rates of 3 percent to 15 percent. Despite the low return, mail surveys remain a cost-effective choice for small businesses.
Online surveys usually generate unpredictable response rates and unreliable data, because you have no control over the pool of respondents. But an online survey is a simple, inexpensive way to collect anecdotal evidence and gather customer opinions and preferences.
2. Focus groups. In focus groups, a moderator uses a scripted series of questions or topics to lead a discussion among a group of people. These sessions take place at neutral locations, usually at facilities with videotaping equipment and an observation room with one-way mirrors. A focus group usually lasts one to two hours, and it takes at least three groups to get balanced results.
3. Personal interviews. Like focus groups, personal interviews include unstructured, open-ended questions. They usually last for about an hour and are typically recorded.
Focus groups and personal interviews provide more subjective data than surveys. The results are not statistically reliable, which means that they usually don't represent a large enough segment of the population. Nevertheless, focus groups and interviews yield valuable insights into customer attitudes and are excellent ways to uncover issues related to new products or service development.
4. Observation. Individual responses to surveys and focus groups are sometimes at odds with people's actual behavior. When you observe consumers in action by videotaping them in stores, at work, or at home, you can observe how they buy or use a product. This gives you a more accurate picture of customers' usage habits and shopping patterns.
5. Field trials. Placing a new product in selected stores to test customer response under real-life selling conditions can help you make product modifications, adjust prices, or improve packaging. Small business owners should try to establish rapport with local store owners and Web sites that can help them test their products.
Last edited: