Dismissed as déclassé by gourmands, blamed for the scourge of obesity, and yet loved by all, the taste of sweet has long been at the center of both controversy and celebration. For anyone who has ever felt conflicted about a cupcake, this is a book to sink your teeth into. In The Taste of Sweet , unabashed dessert lover Joanne Chen takes us on an unexpected adventure into the nature of a taste you thought you knew and reveals a world you never imagined. Sweet is complicated, our individual relationships with it shaped as much by childhood memories and clever marketing as the actual sensation of the confection on the tongue. How did organic honey become a luxury while high-fructose corn syrup has been demonized? Why do Americans think of sweets as a guilty pleasure when other cultures just enjoy them? What new sweetener, destined to change the very definition of the word sweet, is being perfected right now in labs around the world? Chen finds the answers by visiting sensory scientists who study taste buds, horticulturalists who are out to breed the perfect strawberry, and educators who are researching the link between class and obesity. Along the way she sheds new light on a familiar taste by exploring the historical sweet­scape through the banquet tables of emperors, the pie safes of American pioneers, the corporate giants that exist to fulfill our every sweet wish, and the desserts that have delighted her throughout the years. This fabulously entertaining story of sweet will change the way you think about your next cookie. From the Hardcover edition.

Price: $9.99 USD

This is the eBook version of the printed book. Many people have written about creating customer-centered organizations. Michael Basch actually did it--better than anyone else. He was the co-founder of Federal Express, and the VP of Sales, Marketing and Customer Service. He built the systems, created the processes and developed the culture that made FedEx the legend it still is today in customer management and support. CustomerCulture is about consciously building the customer-centered organization where every employee is focused on serving their customers for sustained, profitable growth over the long haul... and it is now available in paperback. The people and companies that are constantly customer-centered are the "evolutionary forces" that continue to grow and innovate in their neverending quest for finding better ways. This is the definition of "CustomerCulture." In this book, Basch shows how any organization--from a small dental practice to a multinational organization--can transform itself for the customer, and become more profitable along the way. Endorsed by Fred Smith, principal founder and CEO of FedEx and James Barksdale, co-founder of Netscape.

Price: $13.99 USD

"Larry Weber has made an important contribution to helping any leader understand how to manage and protect reputation in a digital world. The influences on reputation have spun out of control, and this book is a highly actionable approach to move from reacting to managing one of every organization's most important assets." — Michael E. Porter , Bishop William Lawrence University Professor, Harvard Business School " In Sticks and Stones , Larry Weber presents a compelling look at the challenges of protecting corporate reputation in a world where company information can cross borders and gain momentum in an instant via the Internet. Drawing on his keen eye for communications trends, Larry offers practical advice for navigating this ever-changing environment. Corporate leaders would be wise to embrace his counsel." — Ron Sargent , Chairman and CEO, Staples, Inc. "Businesses no longer control their brands. At best, they can influence the communities of constituents who debate, shape, and refine their definition of what the brand means to them. Marketers and business executives can tap into these conversations to form incredibly rich and lasting bonds or allow themselves to be rolled by them. Larry Weber understood this dynamic long before most commu-nications thought leaders. In Sticks and Stones , he delivers not only bountiful examples of the best and worst practices in reputation management, but also practical advice that any leader can use to understand and shape reputation in this complex new world. This is a must-read book for the modern marketer." — Paul Gillin , author, The New Influencers and Secrets of Social Media Marketing "In today's interconnected world of social networking, 24/7 blogging and Twitter, a company's livelihood relies, in large measure, on its ability to build a reputable online presence. Sticks and Stones is a must-read for any leader in business, academia, or politics who wants to achieve and maintain a 21st-century, online competitive advantage." — Deborah Wince-Smith , President, Council on Competitiveness

Price: $24.95 USD

Hauptbeschreibung The present piece of research deals with the use of Web 2.0 applications within the health care market. When reviewing literature it became evident that up to now, research which has been conducted in this field is rather limited to single aspects of the topic. Comprehensive research investigating the topic as a whole could not be properly identified. Within this study, first of all, Web 2.0 is introduced in general, including a definition, its principles, as well as major supportive technologies and common applications, for example blogs, communities, virtual worlds and podcasts are outlined in detail. Since Web 2.0 is a rather young phenomenon, experts have not yet agreed on a common definition and scope. Therefore this part is intended to provide a basis for common understanding about Web 2.0. The second part is dedicated to the health care market itself. Here, a definition and classification of the market is provided. In this context it has been specified what has been included into its scope for the purpose of this study. Moreover, it is given an overview of current trends, the status quo, as well as an outlook to future development with respect to influencing factors like demographic changes, medical-technological progress, as well as political interventions. It is important to consider the structure and future development of the health care market in order to properly assess the value of Web 2.0 for this market. Afterwards, Web 2.0 is introduced to the health care market, thereby setting it into the context of e-health, the increasing virtualization and other related terms like "Medicine 2.0" or "Patient 2.0". Subsequently, possible applications and their value are discussed for the different stakeholder groups that have been identified as health care consumers, health care providers, and health care payer. It is depicted in depth which benefits can be obtained from the single applications. Majorly, it turned out that patients may have greatest benefits in the fields of information search and interaction with like-minded people, while health care providers may use such applications for collaboration and exchange of professional information in the majority of cases. Health care payers might draw greatest benefit in the field of customer-tailored marketing, as well as customer interaction and education. Afterwards, the common advantages and disadvantages that are valid for all health-related Web 2.0 applications are discussed. Here it is positively pointed to cost reduction and revenue increase effects, efficiency and quality gains, as well as patient empowerment on the one hand and negatively pointed to data quality and reliability issues, data security and protection, as well as limitations to access, on the other hand. The following chapter provides an overview of the legal framework for Web 2.0 applications in health care, outlining major legal difficulties with respect to general, internet-related, and he

Price: $38.96 USD

The opening chapter explains the recent growth of industry PR, and travel & tourism news coverage which today focuses on the considerable economic benefits of the industry. Additionally, it reviews the leading news media that covers the industry, the primary PR tools and audiences, and details the factors leading to PR's new prominence across the industry. It also provides informative sidebars with lists of key industry print media, top travel agencies, plus a Travel Industry Association of America case study of a post-9/11/2001 campaign to restore American confidence in travelling. It also includes a composite definition of PR, and tells how PR is a discipline distinctively different from publicity, propaganda, advertising, and marketing. The author notes how, over the past decade due to economic conditions, PR in many cases has been integrated with marketing communications and played an important role in both strategic and tactical marketing activities. Following this overview, the ensuing five chapters examine communications model specifics that are of special importance to the industry's major sectors: hotels/lodging establishments; restaurants; tourist attractions/destinations; and transportation services. Each of these sectors have their own special messages, PR tools, and audiences. For example, meeting planners and travel agents are of most importance to hotels, while travel agents are of little importance to airlines and restaurants. Also included is a chapter about what travel employers should understand about PR The chapters will be followed by appendices that will include: The top 30 U.S. Travel & Tourism Professional/Trade Associations; and the Leading U.S. Travel & Tourism Universities. * Provides a comprehensive how-to guide for travel & tourism PR practitioners to increase profits and enhance the visibility and image of their company or client * Introduces the key domestic/international media and audiences that PR pros in travel & tourism need to target, plus what the best PR tools are to use -- including crisis communication -- along with case studies * Addresses the unique communication challenges in each major industry sector as faced by travel & tourism PR professionals through perspectives from industry experts * Features a dozen sidebar contributions by some of the industry's top PR experts and media stars * Advises industry employers about the value of PR, what it is and is not, and suggests ways to identify PR talent

Price: $39.95 USD

The International Dictionary of Hospitality Management is the must have companion for all those working or studying in the field of hospitality management. With over 728 entries, it covers everything you need to know, from a concise definition of back office systems, to management accounting and yield management. It covers all of the relevant issues in the field of hospitality management from both a sectoral level: * Lodging * Restaurants and Food service * Time-share * Clubs * Events As well as a functional one: * Accounting and Finance * Marketing * Strategic Management * Human Resources * Information Technology * Facilities Management An abridged version of the successful International Encyclopedia of Hospitality Management, its user friendly layout provides readers with quick and concise answers across this diverse area of industry. * The ideal companion for all studying or working in the hospitality industry providing thorough and easily digestible solutions * Concise definitions for over 700 terms in the field of hospitality management * User-friendly layout that covers all relevant issues in hospitality management from a sectoral as well as functional level

Price: $49.95 USD

How-to guidance for optimizing incumbent technologies to deliver a better product and gain competitive advantage Their zip codes are far from Silicon Valley. Their SIC codes show retail, automobile or banking. But industry after industry is waking up to the opportunity of "smart" products and services for their increasingly tech-savvy customers. Traditionally technology buyers, they are learning to embed technology in their products and become technology vendors. In turn, if you analyze Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter and eBay, you marvel at their data centers, retail stores, application ecosystems, global supply chains, design shops. They are considered "consumer" tech but have better technology at larger scale than most enterprises. The old delineation of technology buyer and vendor is obsolete. There is a new definition for the technology elite - and you find them across industries and geographies. The 17 case studies and 4 guest columns spread through The New Technology Elite bring out the elite attributes in detail. Every organization will increasingly be benchmarked against these elite - and soon will be competing against them. Contrasts the productivity that Apple, Google and others have demonstrated in the last decade to that of the average enterprise technology group Reveals how to leverage what companies have learned from Google, Apple, Amazon.com, and Facebook to your company's advantage Designed for business practitioners, CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, technology vendors, venture capitalists, IT consultants, marketing executives, and policy makers Other titles by Vinnie Mirchandani: The New Polymath: Profiles in Compound-Technology Innovations If you're looking to encourage technology innovation, look no further. The New Technology Elite provides the building blocks your company needs to become innovative through incumbent technologies.

Price: $49.95 USD

Hauptbeschreibung Audio-Branding klingt gut - 'Corporate Sound' noch besser. Marketing-Experten bekommen bei diesen Begriffen ein Funkeln in den Augen, das vermuten lsst, es handle sich hierbei um Wunderwaffen fr die Behebung aktueller Probleme der Marken-Kommunikation. Fragt man jedoch nach einer umfassenden Beschreibung und Definition dieser Anglizismen, dann entpuppt sich mancher so genannter Experte schnell als Laie. Auch in aktuellen Medienberichten des Spiegel oder des Magazins ZEIT Wissen uern sich Beliebtheit und Popularitt des Themenkomplexes 'Akustische Markenfhrung'. Die Berichterstattungen wie Stellungnahmen der Marketing-Experten sind geprgt von dem Tenor, dass eine effiziente Markenfhrung nicht mehr ohne den Einsatz von Klang und Musik in einer strategischen Ausrichtung auskomme: 'Corporate Sound' sei deshalb unverzichtbar, damit sich die Unternehmens- und Produktmarken von den Wettbewerbern explizit abheben und die Konsumenten sie in der Flut an Werbeinformationen berhaupt wahrnehmen. Tatschlich ist die Marken-Kommunikation heute gravierend vernderten Bedingungen ausgesetzt, die sich auf der einen Seite in einem zunehmend unbersichtlichen und qualitativ austauschbaren Angebot an Produktmarken sowie auf der anderen Seite in einem wachsenden Desinteresse der Markenkontaktpersonen gegenber der Werbung in den Massenmedien manifestieren. Die zentrale Aufgabe einer an diese Bedingungen angepassten Marken-Kommunikationsstrategie besteht in der glaubhaften Vermittlung eines konsistenten Selbst- und Fremdbildes einer Marke. Unter diesen Prmissen wird im Rahmen der vorliegenden Magisterarbeit interdisziplinr die Notwendigkeit und das Potenzial der Anwendung von Audio-Branding und 'Corporate Sound' herausgearbeitet: Als sensuale Kommunikationsstrategien ergnzen sie die Marke unter expliziter Bercksichtigung der aktuellen Marktstrukturen sowie des Rezeptionsverhaltens der Markenkontaktpersonen um eine weitere, nmlich die akustische Dimension. Akustische Stimuli knnen als Kommunikationsinstrumente genutzt werden, weil, wie sich zeigen lsst, die ihnen zugrunde liegenden musikalischen Bausteine Teile eines umfassenden Zeichensystems sind und sich ihr vielfltiges Potenzial grundstzlich in einem Wechselprozess zwischen Sender und Empfnger realisiert. Der von Marketing-Experten als Sender erfolgte Einsatz von Musik und Klang in strategischer Ausrichtung kann die Aufmerksamkeit der Markenkontaktpersonen als Empfnger aktivieren, u. U. die Lern- und Gedchtnisleistung in Bezug auf das Markenwissen erhhen, Markenimages formen sowie identittsstiftend wirken. Diese umfangreichen fr die Marken-Kommunikation relevanten Funktionsmglichkeiten von Musik und Klang versucht Audio-Branding zu entfalten, um das sensuale Markenerlebnis zu betonen, welches konstituierend fr das Selbst- und Fremdbild der Marke ist. Das umfangreiche Instrumentarium, das im Prozess des Audio-Brandings seine Anwendung findet, wird in seinen wichtigsten Erscheinungsformen auch kon

Price: $53.45 USD

In order to satisfy the needs of their customers, network utilities require specially developed maintenance management capabilities. Maintenance Management information systems are essential to ensure control, gain knowledge and improve-decision making in companies dealing with network infrastructure, such as distribution of gas, water, electricity and telecommunications. Maintenance Management in Network Utilities studies specified characteristics of maintenance management in this sector to offer a practical approach to defining and implementing the best management practices and suitable frameworks. Divided into three major sections, Maintenance Management in Network Utilities defines a series of stages which can be followed to manage maintenance frameworks properly. Different case studies provide detailed descriptions which illustrate the experience in real company situations. An introduction to the concepts is followed by main sections including: * A Literature Review: covering the basic concepts and models needed for framework design, development and implementation. * Framework Design and Definition: developing the basic pillars of network utilities maintenance management framework. * Performance Evaluation & Maturity: focusing on the reliability concept and maturity models from different viewpoints. By establishing basic foundations for creating and maintaining maintenance managements strategies, Maintenance Management in Network Utilities acts a practical handbook for all professionals in these companies and across areas such as network development, operations management and marketing.

Price: $179.00 USD

As you are reading this, you are finding yourself in the ubiquitous public sphere that is the Web. Ubiquitous, and yet not universally accessible. This volume addresses this dilemma of the public sphere, which is by definition open to everyone but in practice often excludes particular groups of people in particular societies at particular points in time. The guiding questions for this collection of articles are therefore: Who has access to the public sphere? How is this access enabled or disabled? Under what conditions is it granted or withheld, and by whom? We regard the public sphere as the nodal point for the discourses of business, politics and media, and this basic assumption is also s reflected in the structure of the volume. Each of these three macro-topics comprises chapters by international scholars from a variety of disciplines and research traditions who each combine up-to-date overviews of the relevant literature with their own cutting-edge research into aspects of different public spheres such as corporate promotional communication, political rhetoric or genre features of electronic mass media. The broad scope of the volume is perhaps best reflected in a comprehensive discussion of communication technologies ranging from conventional spoken and written formats such as company brochures, political speeches and TV shows to emerging ones like customer chat forums, political blogs and text messaging. Due to the books' wide scope, its interdisciplinary approach and its clear structure, we are sure that whether you work in communication and media studies, linguistics, political science, sociology or marketing, you will find this handbook an invaluable guide offering state-of-the -art literature reviews and exciting new research in your field and adjacent areas.

Price: $289.00 USD