Corporate social responsibility in online retail – Perceptions from online discussions on Amazon

Online retail has experienced substantial growth due to the increased utilization of digital technologies. The growth in the industry has created numerous multinational corporations, which serve customers all around the world. As a result, the online retailers’ efforts in sustainability have been more often in publicity. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the efforts going beyond the company’s interest in order to bring social good, have been discussed in the academic community for decades. While the various effects of CSR in retail and business generally have been realized, the research aims to make a contribution by examining the concept from the viewpoint of online retail by focusing on interaction at online discussion forums. The main research question asks: What is the role of online retailer CSR in the online discussion forum context? In order to answer this question, additional three sub-research questions are suggested: 1) What elements of CSR are relevant in the online retailer context? 2) How are discussion forums used in communication regarding CSR and online retail by different discusser types? 3) What kind of company perceptions and consumer behavior appear in online discussions of Amazon’s CSR? The study is qualitative of nature, using the content analysis research method to examine posts found from four different public online discussion forums. A qualitative, interpretative analysis was used, although quantitative measures regarding discussion posts were also presented. The analysis contains a coding process, where attributes are attached to discussion posts. As a result of the process, specific patterns can be indicated in order to categorize the posts. As the research uses Amazon as the case company, the case study method is also adopted. In the online retail context, ethics regarding the online retailer’s tax and labor policies are found as most relevant elements. Customers, using discussion forums to share their experiences and opinions regarding online retailer CSR efforts, are realized as the most prominent stakeholder. The research also highlights the role of online retailer employees providing details on internal business practices. However, the not realize the possibility to participate in discussions. Most discussion posts refer either to a positive, negative or mixed reaction towards CSR efforts, it is suggested that the concept is relevant also in online retail. Although online retailer CSR efforts are somewhat linked to company perceptions, the concept has a minimal role in consumer behavior. In online retail, CSR efforts can reduce the risk of being involved in discussions related to controversies. In addition, online retailer CSR efforts should communicate how the retailer contributes locally.

Performance improvement in mediterranean operations using risk management analysis : Case study of Containerships Group Ltd

Emerging markets of Northern Africa and Turkey provide growth opportunities for logistics service companies in the middle of low growth environment of European Union. The purpose of this research is to explore and analyze the risk factors in container shipping industry and third party logistics (3PL) services. The research empirically examined the risk factors, which are related within the interaction between these two parties in emerging markets of Mediterranean area. The previous studies have provided a valuable insight into the operational risks faced by container shipping industries. However, most of these studies have focused on one or several operational risk factors from a single point of view, and no studies have inclusively examined the possible operational risks faced in the container shipping industry from dual perspective of 3PL provider and its customers. A questionnaire has been deployed to collect related data; and the impacts of the risks were then be assessed and ranked using the method of risk mapping. Respondents were located in Turkey, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. Research presents the most important risk factors identified, and compares them between 3PL provider and its customers. The research also provide some risk mitigation strategies for the key risk factors, and tried to figure out a common risk picture, which guides the managers in both sides to have a better decisions and as a result, improve the performance of the container shipping operations. Challenge during project execution time was that customers identified vast amount of more risks than what was the case with logistics service operator.

Corporate social responsibility in online retail – Perceptions from online discussions on Amazon

Online retail has experienced substantial growth due to the increased utilization of digital technologies. The growth in the industry has created numerous multinational corporations, which serve customers all around the world. As a result, the online retailers’ efforts in sustainability have been more often in publicity. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the efforts going beyond the company’s interest in order to bring social good, have been discussed in the academic community for decades. While the various effects of CSR in retail and business generally have been realized, the research aims to make a contribution by examining the concept from the viewpoint of online retail by focusing on interaction at online discussion forums. The main research question asks: What is the role of online retailer CSR in the online discussion forum context? In order to answer this question, additional three sub-research questions are suggested: 1) What elements of CSR are relevant in the online retailer context? 2) How are discussion forums used in communication regarding CSR and online retail by different discusser types? 3) What kind of company perceptions and consumer behavior appear in online discussions of Amazon’s CSR? The study is qualitative of nature, using the content analysis research method to examine posts found from four different public online discussion forums. A qualitative, interpretative analysis was used, although quantitative measures regarding discussion posts were also presented. The analysis contains a coding process, where attributes are attached to discussion posts. As a result of the process, specific patterns can be indicated in order to categorize the posts. As the research uses Amazon as the case company, the case study method is also adopted. In the online retail context, ethics regarding the online retailer’s tax and labor policies are found as most relevant elements. Customers, using discussion forums to share their experiences and opinions regarding online retailer CSR efforts, are realized as the most prominent stakeholder. The research also highlights the role of online retailer employees providing details on internal business practices. However, the not realize the possibility to participate in discussions. Most discussion posts refer either to a positive, negative or mixed reaction towards CSR efforts, it is suggested that the concept is relevant also in online retail. Although online retailer CSR efforts are somewhat linked to company perceptions, the concept has a minimal role in consumer behavior. In online retail, CSR efforts can reduce the risk of being involved in discussions related to controversies. In addition, online retailer CSR efforts should communicate how the retailer contributes locally.

Path Analysis of Online Users Using Clickstream Da-ta: Case Online Magazine Website

This paper explores behavioral patterns of web users on an online magazine web-site. The goal of the study is to first find and visualize user paths within the data generated during collection, and to identify some generic behavioral typologies of user behavior. To form a theoretical foundation for processing data and identifying behavioral ar-chetypes, the study relies on established consumer behavior literature to propose typologies of behavior. For data processing, the study utilizes methodologies of ap-plied cluster analysis and sequential path analysis. Utilizing a dataset of click stream data generated from the real-life clicks of 250 ran-domly selected website visitors over a period of six weeks. Based on the data collect-ed, an exploratory method is followed in order to find and visualize generally occur-ring paths of users on the website. Six distinct behavioral typologies were recog-nized, with the dominant user consuming mainly blog content, as opposed to editori-al content. Most importantly, it was observed that approximately 80% of clicks were of the blog content category, meaning that the majority of web traffic occurring in the site takes place in content other than the desired editorial content pages. The out-come of the study is a set of managerial recommendations for each identified behavioral archetype.

Jätteiden kemiallisten ominaisuuksien spektrometriset online-mittausmenetelmät

Tässä diplomityössä käsiteltiin spektrometrisia online-mittausmenetelmiä jätteiden kemiallisten ja fysikaalisten ominaisuuksien määrittämiseksi. Tavoitteena oli selvittää, mitä ominaisuuksia menetelmillä voidaan mitata ja kuinka luotettavia tuloksia mittauksilla saadaan. Diplomityössä suoritettiin kirjallisuuskatsaus, jossa käsiteltiin kolmen spektrometrisen menetelmän soveltuvuutta reaaliaikaisiin jätemittauksiin. Työn empiirisessä osassa FPXRFanalysaattorilla mitattiin neljän eri jätenäytteen alkuainepitoisuuksia. Mittauksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää, mitä alkuaineita menetelmällä voidaan mitata. FPXRF-analysaattorilla saatuja tuloksia verrattiin ICP-MS-menetelmällä saatuihin tuloksiin regressioanalyysin avulla. Työssä todettiin, että FPXRF-analysaattori sopii parhaiten kaliumin, kalsiumin, ja raudan pitoisuuksien määrittämiseen. Lisäksi lyijyn, sinkin, kromin, kloorin, kuparin, kadmiumin, arseenin, fosforin, molybdeenin ja vanadiinin määrittäminen on mahdollista, mutta tarkan pitoisuuden saamiseksi laboratoriomenetelmien käyttö voi olla tarpeen. Tutkituista jätenäytteistä menetelmä soveltui parhaiten tuhkalle ja kompostille niiden fyysisten ominaisuuksien, kuten homogeenisuuden ja kosteuspitoisuuden takia. Biojätteelle menetelmä soveltui huonosti. FPXRF-analysaattorin luotettavuuteen vaikuttaa näytteen kosteuspitoisuus, homogeenisuus, partikkelikoko, mittaustapa ja laitteen kalibrointi. Työssä tarkastelluilla menetelmillä ei voida tällä hetkellä täysin korvata laboratorioanalyyseja. FPXRF-analysaattoria voidaan kuitenkin käyttää kvalitatiiviseen tai semikvantitatiiviseen haitta-aineiden analysointiin, millä voidaan vähentää kalliiden laboratorioanalyysien tarvetta.

Real-time adaptive control of ultra-fast laser scribing process with spectrometer online monitoring

There exist several researches and applications about laser welding monitoring and parameter control but not a single one have been created for controlling of laser scribing processes. Laser scribing is considered to be very fast and accurate process and thus it would be necessary to develop accurate turning and monitoring system for such a process. This research focuses on finding out whether it would be possible to develop real-time adaptive control for ultra-fast laser scribing processes utilizing spectrometer online monitoring. The thesis accurately presents how control code for laser parameter tuning is developed using National Instrument's LabVIEW and how spectrometer is being utilized in online monitoring. Results are based on behavior of the control code and accuracy of the spectrometer monitoring when scribing different steel materials. Finally control code success is being evaluated and possible development ideas for future are presented.

Data and Inventory Management in Spare Part Business: Developing Operations in the Case Company

After sales business is an effective way to create profit and increase customer satisfaction in manufacturing companies. Despite this, some special business characteristics that are linked to these functions, make it exceptionally challenging in its own way. This Master’s Thesis examines the current situation of the data and inventory management in the case company regarding possibilities and challenges related to the consolidation of current business operations. The research examines process steps, procedures, data requirements, data mining practices and data storage management of spare part sales process, whereas the part focusing on inventory management is reviewing the current stock value and examining current practices and operational principles. There are two global after sales units which supply spare parts and issues reviewed in this study are examined from both units’ perspective. The analysis is focused on the operations of that unit where functions would be centralized by default, if change decisions are carried out. It was discovered that both data and inventory management include clear shortcomings, which result from lack of internal instructions and established processes as well as lack of cooperation with other stakeholders related to product’s lifecycle. The main product of data management was a guideline for consolidating the functions, tailored for the company’s needs. Additionally, potentially scrapped spare part were listed and a proposal of inventory management instructions was drafted. If the suggested spare part materials will be scrapped, stock value will decrease 46 percent. A guideline which was reviewed and commented in this thesis was chosen as the basis of the inventory management instructions.