Social Interaction and Content as Pathways to Paying Customers

Companies are seeking to find ways to draw in customers in a data rich environment. With lots of free content there must be something that differentiates sites to create income streams. Content alone is limited but content with social interaction develops engagement and eventual purchases. By developing social networking, group interaction, and constant new information sites can turn passive users into paying customers.

Social computing and networking has taken a more important function in business networks. Social computing power has transferred from organizations to individuals who desire to, “manifest their creativity, engage in social interaction, contribute their expertise, share content, collectively build new tools and disseminate information” (Parameswaran and Whinston, 2007, pp. 753).  It is a process of collaboration and social building. 

Commitment to a site and its content is important for overall engagement. Organizational commitment theory indicates that user’s behavior on content sites is directly related to their level of commitment (Meyer and Allen, 1991). Users must find value in the information and have a level of engagement with the materials being presented. 

Research by Oestreicher-Singer & Gal; Zalmanson (2013) helps to understand how online social interaction and user familiarity create higher levels of website subscription. A total of 150,000 participants (subscribers and non-subscriber) user profits were analyzed over a three month period in order to determine their behavior and likelihood of purchasing. Such research helps in understanding how website features foster higher levels of paying customers.

The research found that those who interacted consistently with other members were more willing to purchase subscriptions. In addition, those who run forums and become social online leaders were also more likely to purchase subscriptions. This helps indicate that people find a sense of social positioning and responsibility as they deal with others and are willing to pay to maintain that position. 

The number of play lists, blog posts, and groups managed predicted purchasing behavior. In essence, as people became more associated with and interactive with the company they were willing to extend these opportunities to engage in opportunities they enjoy.  The ultimate interaction activity and commitment displayed was seen in group leadership and blog posting.

Subscription rates are enhanced from building communities that revolve around social networking. The social interaction encourages constant participation and frequency which leads to eventual purchases. Those purchases occur because people desire to enhance their functionality in order to participate more with others. The stronger the consumer becomes engaged and builds an identity with others that are using the service the more likely their eventual purchases. 

Organizations should consider the development of social networks based around that product line. Whether that product is music, movies, education, camping supplies or anything else it is precisely that self-identity and interaction that helps encourage higher rates of engagement. Consumers must find utility and comfort with profiles before moving onto making full-scale purchases. They spend time on the site and familiarity brings both loyalty and purchases. 

Meyer, J. and Allen, N. (1991) A Three-Component Conceptualization of Organizational Commitment, Human Resource Management Review, 1 (1).

Oestreicher-Singer, G. & Zalmanson, L. (2013). Content or community? A digital business strategy for content providers in the social age. MIS Quarterly, 37 (2). 

Parameswaran, M., and Whinston, A. (2007). Research issues in social computing. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 8 (6).

STEM Fields and Immigration Opportunities

STEM Fields are science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The new immigration bill would allow foreign students with Ph.D.s  from American Universities to obtain a green card while students with a Master’s Degree in the STEM Fields can petition for one. This helps in drawing in science related students that can further American interests in developing the nation and economy. 

Americans ranks 31^st in science which means the foundations of innovation is very low when compared to other industrialized countries. Understanding how higher education and opportunities for those with the right skills is necessary to put their efforts to work in a positive and beneficial way. The immigration bill is part of this process of attracting candidates that can contribute the most to the economy.

The advantages to the program is that some of the world’s best and brightest minds become attracted to the nation and can find a way to use their new degrees in a way that will contribute to their own financial wellbeing as well as the strength of the country. These highly skilled workers are needed by technology companies and others in order to develop new products and services. 

A report called the Hidden STEM Economy indicates that 20% of all jobs require high skills in these areas. These jobs are located in construction, manufacturing, communications, healthcare, maintenance and repair. The majority of such jobs pay approximately 10% more than jobs with similar degree levels not inside these fields. Employment growth is likely to have aspects of these core competencies included in their descriptions.

The immigration system based upon educational attainment seems to have broad support. The rest of the immigration overhaul becomes extremely political by nature. Regardless of whether it is passed or not we know that educating students to take jobs in the scientific fields is important for innovation, development and the economy. Nations will have a hard time growing without discovery and science to lead the way.

The Causes and Prevention of Student Plagiarism

The issue of plagiarism is of great concern to many colleges and faculty members. Plagiarism entails the use of someone’s work without giving proper citation and credit to the author. It is a theft of intellectual property. Instructors can be preventative or punitive when dealing with plagiarism. According to Robert Insley in his publication Managing Plagiarism: A preventative Approach, there are a number of ways to deal with such issues. 

The author indicates that there are primarily three reasons why a student would plagiarize. This includes 1.) doing so without knowledge they are doing it; 2.) not managing their time well and rushing papers, and; 3.) taking the easy way out despite having time and knowledge. To prevent plagiarism requires an understanding of whether they are knowledgeable, not managing time, or really don’t care about plagiarism. 

The author discusses team projects and how they can be adjusted to avoid plagiarism. The same concepts apply to individual papers so they will be discussed from this vantage point. Consider the following preventative measures:

·         Not Knowing: Plagiarism can be a lack of awareness of proper citation and paraphrasing. Informing students about plagiarism and how to write effectively is a benefit. Handing out a sheet on the basics of citations, references and quotations with assignments can be beneficial. 

·         Time Management: Because time management can be a factor in plagiarism it is beneficial to have students turn in a draft copy of their work at a specified time before the paper is due. The draft ensure that they are making significant progress on their work and will not be forced to finish quickly. 

·         Easy Way: Such students should be informed about the process of losing one’s grade, damaging their academic potential, and how this limits their life goals. Informing such students helps them realize potential consequences. 

Comments: 

In my experience in teaching I have found instances where all three of these concepts are true. When a student isn’t aware they generally make some attempt to cite even though formatting and follow-up information is missing. This is an educational issue. The far majority of plagiarizers are people who have not managed their time well and simply browse the Internet seeking ways to get their work done on time. Only a few instances of complete paper copying have been experienced. In these cases, students knowingly and wittingly are short-circuiting the educational process. 

Time-management and knowledge are two of the fundamental weapons as it relates to plagiarism. Like in the working world, people have natural procrastination with only a few willing to be proactive on any project or issue. As students wait until the assignment is almost due they inevitably rush to get their work done. It is beneficial to discuss the importance of time management in classes and the benefit of this skill in the working world. I like to help students think of their college time as a practice for when these skills are going to be put to greater use. 

Insley, R. (2011). Managing plagiarism: a preventative approach. Business Communication Quarterly, 74 (2).

Report Argues for the Encouragement of a Liberal Arts Education

A report entitled The Heart of the Matter by the Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences indicates that liberal arts is necessary to encourage stronger national leadership that focuses on the overall development of social, communicative, and cultural knowledge. It indicates that such skills create a more adaptive workforce that can manage their own affairs. They argue that the humanities and social sciences are a critical aspect of national and international development through greater awareness. 

China is attempting to copy the American system of education and expand their humanities and social science related offerings. As they begin to expand their programs the fear is the U.S. is beginning to focus too narrowly on career oriented fields. Without a general understanding of how human society operates there is a problem with rounding out careers and decisions. 

Three goals are outlined in the report:   

1      -Educate Americans in the knowledge, skills, and understanding they will need to thrive in a twenty-first-century democracy.

2   -Foster a society that is innovative, competitive, and strong.

3   -Equip the nation for leadership in an interconnected world.

The report outlines the need for cultural understanding in society and bridging our past with our future. The strengthening of education can occur through supporting students with online courses and providing relevant materials. They encourage academics to engage the public in solving critical societal issues for a stronger and brighter future.

Employers are seeking students who have critical thinking skills, complex problem solving skills, and communication skills.  Humanities and social sciences encourages these finely develop skills. The report didn’t state this but there is a place in this argument for self-management skills. Each of these increases with higher education and general understanding of society.

You may read the rest of the report HERE

Commission on Humanities and Social Sciences 

Could New Water Desalination System Transform Regions?

Technology and research are two best friends that go on long strolls together to solve the world’s problems. Researchers have discovered a method of desalinating water without the use of a cumbersome filtration system. Dr. Richard Crooks from the University of Texas and Dr. Ulrich Tallarek at the University of Marburg developed an idea of using electricity in small channels to remove salt. 

Inside of the little chip are two channels with an electrode connected to it. With three volts of electricity it turns the chloride ions into neutral chlorine which further enhances the electric field. In turn the ions move down one channel and the fresh water moves down the other. The laws of physics requires a neutral electromagnetic field which forces ions into a smaller channel separating it from the main water supply. The end product is water that can be used for growing or drinking.

According to the United Nations about a third of the population lives in areas that are already water short. This is expected to grow to double in about 10 years. As the world suffers from issues such as declining forest/jungle, water supplies, and habitat it is ideas such as this which further helps foster a renewable environment. Food without an adequate supply of water cannot meet the needs of people. 

Around 12 years ago I wrote about a new technology for filtering ocean water and producing electricity. Countries like Saudi Arabia have implemented those technologies. The new system will be cheaper to build, run, and manage than previous systems. It requires only a little electricity and doesn’t require any major filtration systems. This means that capital investments and additional improvements in the system may someday transform the planet as we know it. 

The doctors have built a start-up company called Okeanos Technologies based upon the technology listed in the publication in the Journal Angewandte Chemie. The start-up has research partnerships with a number of universities to develop the technology for commercial uses. As it has lots of possibilities and already has interest from both governmental and private stakeholders its buzz is not yet finished.

Journal Article

Okeanos Technology Company Page

University of Texas