Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Home Delivery of Medication

Executive Summary This paper is a feasibility study to evaluate the dynamics associated with setting up Empire Home Delivery services in the US market. Empire Home Delivery Service is a hypothetical company that deals in the delivery of medication throughout the United States (US). This paper identifies that, the supply and distribution of medications is subject to intense regulations as the main deterrent to trade.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Home Delivery of Medication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, this paper notes that, Empire Home delivery services, has a lot of opportunities to explore in this market (home delivery of medication) because the market is vibrant and it has few participants. However, to succeed in this business, this paper observes that, Empire Home delivery service needs to have a well-distributed drug network that will be able to deliver medications whenever they are o rdered. This requirement emphasizes the need for the company to set up drug stores in various locations where it operates. With such infrastructural network in place, this paper observes that, a vigorous online marketing campaign would be appropriate for Empire Home Delivery services to succeed because it will ensure that, the company reaches a wide audience at very minimal costs. These dynamics withstanding, this paper recommends that, Empire should commence business. Problem Statement The medications supply market in the US has often experienced several operational problems. These problems are multifaceted, but the end-user (who is often the patient) is the one who suffers most. However, the drug supply market is not immune to market changes that happen in today’s world. The general business environment has mainly changed because of shifts in consumer tastes, preferences and technological advancements (Madura, 2006). From this understanding, the home delivery business has p icked up in many business segments such as food delivery, grocery delivery ( and the likes). Major retail companies in the world, such as Wal-Mart and Tesco, have adopted the home delivery strategy for the supply of their goods and services. Tesco has especially specialized in the delivery of groceries through an online platform where orders are placed virtually. However, the drug market is not similar to the food market, though they share the same business model (home delivery of goods).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nonetheless, both types of businesses aim to satisfy the same consumer needs. However, for a long time, many businesses have not ventured into the delivery of medications through the home delivery business model because of the sensitive nature of the drug market and the numerous legislations that surround it (Smith, 1991, p. 61). Conversely, drug use rs have experienced tedious hassles of having to frequent hospitals and drug stores to buy drugs. This situation has created an environment where there is a lot of time wastage and manpower loss because people could use their time to do other productive things, instead of making frantic trips to hospitals and drug stores to buy basic medications. Though this environment prevails, the drug market is unique to conventional markets because its end-users are normally not in a perfect physical condition to visit drug stores or hospitals to purchase drugs. Often, most consumers at the tail-end of the drug supply chain are patients who may be ailing from a certain condition, or who are not in the right physical state to drive or walk to drug stores to get their medication. However, considering the dynamics of the current market, most of such patients have been forced to travel long distances to buy drugs (though their physical conditions may not allow them to do so). Sometimes, some patien ts have been forced to miss their dosages because they were not in a good position to purchase drugs (Madura, 2006). Also, considering the fragile nature of sick patients; emergencies (which require a prompt administration of drugs) may turn out to be fatal experiences because patients may be unable to obtain drugs when they need them most. This situation may be further worsened by a scenario where a patient stays alone and does not have a helper. Moreover, certain drug stores have strict operating hours that are not flexible to patients’ needs. These dynamics form the basis for the venture of Empire home delivery services into the medications supply market. Project Business Requirement The success of home delivery businesses thrive on several factors. First, there needs to be a technical infrastructure that supports the ordering and placement of goods (Wysocki, 2010, p. 1). For instance, the earliest home delivery businesses started with the creation of the telecommunication s infrastructure where customers ordered for goods by phoning home delivery companies.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Home Delivery of Medication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Today’s business environment is also characterized by the same model of business but the internet has significantly changed the entire business landscape because most home delivery businesses rely on websites for ordering. This technological platform is cheaper and more effective for today’s home businesses because it is spontaneous, and many homes are currently connected to the internet. Confirmations for orders may also be placed through the same platform and customers can be guaranteed that their goods will be delivered to their doorsteps. For the success of home delivery businesses to be realized, such technological infrastructures need to be in place. However, even as Empire Home Delivery service strives to adopt this technological infrastructure, emphasis will be laid on ensuring this platform is secure for payments. A guarantee for secure payments will therefore be sought because payments will have to be made online. More importantly, research studies show that, customers always prefer a simple and effective payment option for home delivery businesses and Empire intends to live up to this expectation (Wysocki, 2010, p. 1). The delivery of medication through the home delivery business model is however prone to several legislative guidelines which normal businesses would not experience. The drug market is excessively regulated because it is a sensitive market that touches on human health. Existing drug regulations therefore try to uphold safety standards for the good health of the citizenry. It is also important to note that, home delivery businesses are likely to infringe on the tight safeguards implemented to observe high safety standards of drugs. The same situation has also been ex perienced in the supply of alcohol (through the home delivery model) because critics have observed that, a home-based business model (in the alcohol supply market) is likely to circumnavigate existing regulations which are meant to discourage under-age drinking (Fukumi, 2008, p. 72).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, it would be simple for an underage teenager to order alcohol to his (or her) residence, thereby bypassing the requirement to produce an identification card for alcohol purchasing. The same principle applies to the drug market because some drugs are considered to be highly addictive and certain consumers may want to abuse them. Such is the situation observed in the sale of prescription drugs because people tend to abuse such drugs for non-medical reasons (Fukumi, 2008, p. 72). Somewhat, this observation has also been made regarding the use of marijuana because it is recommend for medical use (in certain cases, such as, the treatment of cancer). However, some people have abused such regulatory provisions and consequently ordered marijuana for non-medical use (Fukumi, 2008, p. 72). Considering such dynamics, the home delivery of medications is subject to a lot of regulations. Nonetheless, these regulations cannot be overlooked. For home delivery businesses (engaged in med ical supplies) to succeed, there ought to be a keen compliance to such regulations. Compliance to such regulations may mean that, some medications may be exempted from the array of products to be delivered because there may not be an existing legislation that governs the distribution of the drugs (in the context of the home delivery business). Description of Products and Services The supply of medication through the home delivery model is expected to be done through an online platform. Medications that require a doctor’s prescription will not be sold through this business model. The online sales strategy will be able to transcend the geographical boundaries that conventional drug stores are limited to. This business model will also be able to capitalize on the opportunities that technology provides the healthcare sector because Empire Home delivery services will be able to market its products to new market bases, which do not fall within the limitations of conventional drug s upply systems (Gay, 2007). Through this online business model, Empire will be able to realize a positive growth projection because drug users will be able to gain access to drugs from the convenience of their homes. There will not be any significant changes to Empire’s product offing because its array of products is strongly limited by existing legislations. Therefore, any product modifications will have to be excluded from the context of this study. Marketing Strategy Empire’s marketing strategy will be based on online techniques, where virtual marketing tools such as, e mail listings, promotional advertisements (and the likes) will be used to improve customer loyalty and seek the participation of potential customers (Gay, 2007). Since Empire home delivery service is a new company, it is crucial to acknowledge that, it will not have the capacity to develop an internal expertise pool that is able to develop a sophisticated technological infrastructure to handle payment s, orders, feedbacks, marketing services and the likes. Consequently, this paper proposes that, such services will be outsourced to an internal market place provider who can design such a technological platform. Though this process will be outsourced, it is crucial to understand that, the technology already exists, and since it has been tested in other home delivery companies, the risks associated with its implementation will be significantly reduced (Gay, 2007, p. 2). Regardless of the sophistication of its marketing tools, Empire home delivery services still needs to differentiate itself in the market. To do so, Empire should aim to personalize its products and services through the development of new product packaging (Meyerson, 2005, p. 23). Currently, many medical supply companies operating the home delivery business do not personalize their packaging, and Empire aims to capitalize on this opportunity. Empire will also adopt an e mailing list to support its online marketing stra tegy because it will use this platform to send product promotions, sales advertisements and similar marketing tools that complement the company’s marketing strategy. This sale strategy will not be designed to sell medications but rather, to market the company to customers (Meyerson, 2005, p. 23). Costs will be an integral factor to be considered in the formulation and implementation of Empire’s marketing strategies. Since most of the company’s marketing strategies are electronic, minimal costs are likely to be incurred. The only (relatively) expensive marketing strategy will be the direct mailing strategy. Nonetheless, in spite of these marketing costs, Empire expects to realize high returns from the same marketing campaigns. However, if an effective marketing strategy is to be realized, the working staff needs to be properly trained. The training costs will be considered as part of the company’s start-up costs. Product/Service Market The market for medic ations has always existed since the existence of human science. The pharmaceutical industry is perceived to be a lucrative industry of the 21st century because of the surge in terminal illnesses and increased consumer purchasing power (Fulco, 1995). For instance, the pharmaceutical industry is known to have low overheads of operation and a high return on investments. The high return on investments has been a common feature of the pharmaceutical industry, for a long time. For instance, among the fortune 500 companies, the pharmaceutical industry was estimated to rake more returns than the combined median of all the existing companies within the category (Fulco, 1995). For example, during the late 80s period, statistics showed that, new drugs introduced during the period raked in close to $36 million in revenue after tax deductions. This profit margin was estimated to be two to three percent more than what other industries projected, even after considering the risks of researching and developing the new drugs (Fulco, 1995). The market for home delivery medication is not crowded. However jurisdiction laws seem to affect the extent which independent companies can operate. The most established companies that engage in the trade (delivery of medications) include RX America, and Direct RX (Critser, 2007). Other companies that engage in the trade (delivery of medications) do not specialize in the exclusive delivery of medications. They include the delivery of other goods such as groceries, meals and the likes. This last group of competitors is not going to be a threat to Empire Home Delivery services because they do not specialize in the delivery of medications (per se). Adopting a simpler and convenient platform for ordering and delivering service is going to be relied on as the main strategy for outperforming the competition. This strategy will be backed by an online marketing strategy that is expected to increase the customer pool. Empire should ensure its products are distributed to different customer locations from the nearest store location, thereby ensuring timely shipping and the avoidance of bureaucracies and inconveniencies of operating one store. The operation of several drug locations will be a costly affair (in terms of maintenance and initial setup costs) but considering the future company projections, the establishment of several outlets is still going to be a viable strategy. Success is expected to be realized from the stocking of adequate inventories and the realization of customer satisfaction because Empire anticipates that repeated purchases and word-of-mouth marketing will sustain the company’s sales. Organization and Staffing Empire’s focus on online marketing as its major marketing tool is expected to be independent from the company’s structural makeup. Nonetheless, the company needs to employ more staff if it intends to achieve its objectives (especially regarding customer satisfaction). A staff of 50 people will be appropriate in the early stages of the company’s lifecycle. The main position to be filled will be the online sales manager, where directions regarding existing (and upcoming) sales opportunities will be formulated. The second (main) position to be filled will be the online marketing manager. This office is expected to undertake a comprehensive market research that includes the identification of target markets and the identification of workable strategies to satisfy the needs of such target markets. Both positions require a direct reporting to the director of marketing. Strategic Management The anticipated financial breakdown for setting up Empire home delivery service is explained in the following table. Measure Year One Year Two Year Three Year Four Year Five Five-Year Total Sales projections $350,000 $425,000 $500,000 $650,000 $800,000 $2,725,000 Staffing Costs $160,000 $170,000 $200,000 $235,000 $255,000 $1,020,000 Projected Material, Shipping, In surance Costs $42,000 $58,000 $70,000 $78,000 $84,000 $332,000 Training for Sales and Marketing Staff $75,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $75,000 Website Maintenance $22,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000 $40,000 $152,000 Designing, Building and Implementation of Online Store $100,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $100,000 Cost of purchasing Transport machinery and equipment $399,000 $253,000 $300,000 $348,000 $379,000 $1,679,000 Cash Inflow -$49,000 $172,000 $200,000 $302,000 $421,000 $1,046,000 This table accounts for all aspects of the initial operating and setup costs. However, these costs are subject to several assumptions including a constant store sales projection, and a completion of operating expenses with one year (there should be no balances carried forwards or backdating). Findings and Recommendations After weighing the findings of this feasibility study, this paper recommends that, Empire should commence business because is stands a good chance of succeeding. This recommendation is based on cer tain key findings. On the technical front, this paper notes that, Empire should use new technology to minimize the severity of projected operational risks. Secondly, this paper observes that, though the medical supply market is heavily regulated, there are immense opportunities to exploit the distribution of legal and easily accessible medications. Sensitive prescriptions will therefore not be included in the group of products to be distributed. This paper also identifies that, the home delivery of medications is not a very competitive market and Empire stands a good chance of succeeding because there is more incentive for investments in this regard. However, considering the minimal competition that exists in the market, there is a strong need for Empire to differentiate its products and services. Through personalization of the products’ packaging and a sensitive â€Å"customer care† framework, Empire will be able to differentiate itself from other market participants. Through this feasibility study, this paper acknowledges that, an online marketing strategy will be most appropriate for Empire because it poses several advantages to the company. First, the company will be able to reach more people at a minimal cost. Secondly, Empire will be able to gain access to markets that it would otherwise not have accessed using conventional marketing techniques. Also, through the financial projections table, this paper identifies that; Empire will be able to break-even during its second year of operation. Moreover, from the paper’s financial projections, this paper identifies that; Empire will be able to achieve high market success if it maintains an active in-store and online presence where it can be able to communicate with its customers and amicably deliver medication to them. References Critser, G. (2007). Generation Rx: How Prescription Drugs Are Altering American Lives,  Minds, and Bodies. Michigan: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Fukumi, S. (2008 ). Cocaine Trafficking In Latin America: EU and US Policy Responses. New York: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Fulco, C. (1995). Development of Medications for the Treatment of Opiate And  Cocaine Addictions: Issues for the Government and Private Sector. New York: National Academies Press. Gay, R. (2007). Online Marketing: A Customer-Led Approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Madura, J. (2006). Introduction to Business. London: Cengage Learning. Meyerson, M. (2005). Success Secrets of the Online Marketing Superstars. New York: Kaplan Publishing. Smith, M. (1991). Pharmaceutical Marketing: Strategy and Cases. London: Routledge. Wysocki, R. (2010). Effective Project Management: Traditional, Adaptive, Extreme. London: John Wiley Sons. This research paper on Home Delivery of Medication was written and submitted by user America E. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

ATHENS VS SPARTA essays

ATHENS VS SPARTA essays Athens and Sparta were two major civilizations. Each had their own beliefs, morals, traditions, and things that set them apart. They each lived in different areas of the world. Sparta was very isolated, and Athens was a trade capital of the world. They each had their own battles, wars and problems within their respected countries. They both had different government systems as well as intellectual beliefs. In the end it was this different beliefs and egotistical leaders that would bring both civilizations to their ultimate downfall. Sparta is a great unique nation. They sit inland quite a bit and are isolated from trade and from spread of other countries customs. Around 725 B.C.E. Sparta conquered their neighbors, the Messcenians. Then Sparta made them their slaves. The term they used for them were helots. The helots out numbered the Spartans 160,000 to 32,000. Since the helots outnumber the Spartans by so much, a revolt was inevitable, these revolts led to the emergence of a government called the Lycurgan laws. Lycurgeous came up with this idea of government. Basically, there were two kings, which were in charge of the military army. The kings had the power to veto each other, so this made it hard for them to commit to a war, unless both kings were in favor of it. Next we have the Ephors, there were five of them and they basically controlled the helots. They Ephors also were in charge of international affairs. The Gerousia were made up of 30 men, and they held all judicial power and decisions. The y could not propose or pass any laws. The Assembly consisted of all males over thirty. They were the final authority but in practice, debate was carried on by magistrates, elders, and kings alone, and voting was usually by acclamation. If you notice there is no real power with any of the executive offices. This was on purpose it factored in a bunch of checks and balances between all parties of...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Peer Review primary research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Peer Review primary - Research Paper Example Yes. The article’s goal according to Aazam et al 2010 is to indicate how one can cope up with life after undergoing a surgical operation due to various diseases. Through the support of nurses, the patients are educated on how to manage the situation. The treatments of the disease include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy which cause a lot of pain to the patient and worries. Yes a qualitative methodology is appropriate. Aazam et al 2010 indicates various techniques that are qualitative in nature that can be applied by the patients as well as nurses to address the disease. The article focus was to indicate how a patient can continue with life after undergoing surgical operation, according to this article, the problem is quality of life in ostomy patients incase one is diagnosed and treatment starts for instance in case the doctor decides to do a biopsy which may work or not. This is a weakness since if biopsy does not work then pain and bleeding may occur increasingly and the only remaining thing is to start chemotherapy and radiotherapy which again may work or not which is given a number of day so that the doctor can diagnose and see whether things are okay. According to Aazam et al 2010, qualitative methodology is the right methodology for addressing the research goal since at long last is to survive through the entire period with a colostomy, urostomi es and ileostomies maintaining good relationship with the stoma nurse. Yes. Aazam et al 2010, article research design was appropriate to address the aims of the research. Aazam and others adopted various ideas from experts in order to address his aims. Additionally, the article included ideas from published nursing articles in order to provide adequate information that is reliable and resourceful for nurses. According to the article, during the entire period of pain and worries, one may have a major or a minor surgery but major surgery is mostly done and this