Trust Through Brand and Accurate Information Leads to Higher Sales In Online Auctions

Selling online is an absolute necessity for almost any business in the world today. As most consumers search and compare products the ability to sell products online makes or breaks profit margins. Online auctions is an important method selling products and can lead to an increase in sales as well as the clearing of old inventory. Information and reputation can make a big difference in sales success.

According to an article in the Journal of Electronic Commerce Research those sellers who create trust and provide relevant information end up selling more.

People want to know the person/company selling the items is reputable and will sell the items as they promised. These items will be fully functioning and be of the condition and quality the customer expects.

Customers also expect accurate information that highlights product features so they can make a purchase decision. A lack of information is ambiguous which often leads to purchase anxiety and lower sales.

Building a reputable brand that customer's support as well as providing solid product information leads to trust and higher sales. Potential customers look at the product and company before making a decision and when they both appear to be reputable there is greater interest in making a purchase.

To Increase Sales:

1. Create a trustworthy brand: return policies, marketing strategies, customer service, brand management.

2. Offer accurate descriptions on products: simple, to the point, and accurate.

Tu, Y., Tung, Y. A., & Goes, P. (2017). Online auction segmentation and effective selling strategy: trust and information asymmetry perspectives. Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, 18(3), 189-211

Permission to repeat with appropriate attribute- Dr. Murad Abel

Eighteenth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations

Eighteenth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany 15-16 March 2018 http://organization-studies.com/Konstanz2018 CALL FOR PAPERS The Eighteenth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations will be held at the University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany, 15-16 March 2018. We invite proposals for paper presentations, workshops/interactive sessions, posters/exhibits, virtual lightning talks, virtual posters, or colloquia addressing one of the following themes: Theme 1: Management Education Theme 2: Change Management Theme 3: Knowledge Management Theme 4: Organizational Cultures 2018 Special Focus: Navigating Change in Shifting Cultural Landscapes - Disruptive, Generative, Transformative? CONFERENCE SUBMISSION DEADLINES The next proposal deadline is 15 December 2017. We welcome the submission of presentation proposals at any time of the year up until 30 days before the start of the conference. All proposals will be reviewed within two to four weeks of submission. A COLLECTION OF JOURNALS The Organization Studies Journal Collection consists of four journals and an annual review. The Organization Studies Journal Collection encourages the widest range of submissions and aims to foster the highest standards of intellectual excellence. Articles may be submitted by in-person and virtual participants as well as Research Network Members. Journals in the Collection are indexed by: Association of Business Schools (Grade One), Academic Search Alumni Edition (EBSCO), Academic Search Elite (EBSCO), Academic Search Premier (EBSCO), Academic Search Complete (EBSCO), Academic Search International (EBSCO), Business Source Corporate Plus (EBSCO), Business Source Complete (EBSCO), Business Source International (EBSCO), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI Scholar), Genamics Journal Seek, Management Directory (Cabell's), Scopus, The Australian Research Council (ERA), Ulrich's Periodicals Directory CONFERENCE PARTNERS -International Graduate Center for Education, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia -University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany CONFERENCE PLENARY SPEAKERS -Peter Kell, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Law, Education, Business, and Arts (LEBA), Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia -Philipp Gonon, Professor of Vocational Training, Institute of Education Science, University of Zurich, Switzerland -Alison Fuller, Pro-Director, Research and Development, Institute of Education, and Professor, Vocational Education and Work, University College London, UK CONFERENCE LANGUAGE OPTIONS Proposals for presentation can be submitted in English and Spanish. For more information and to submit a proposal visit: http://organization-studies.com/Konstanz2018 Please forward this announcement to your colleagues and students who may be interested. Enquiries: support@organization-studies.com Web address: http://organization-studies.com/Konstanz2018 Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/organizationstudiesresearchnetwork

Military Study Highlights Performance Benefits of Sleep-Tips and Tricks for Better Rest!

Sleep-The rejuvenating mystery that keeps us in good health and settles our stresses so that we may function at our fullest capacity. While cutting back on sleep might seem like a good time when seemingly more important things are pressing our time it does damage out intellectual and physical performance according to sleep deprivation studies of military recruits (Miller, et.al., 2008). Sleep may be a deciding factor between stellar and mediocre performance.

The 4-year longitudinal study looked at the United States Navy's Military Academy and the result of extending sleep time from 6 hours to 8 hours per night. The researchers evaluated approximately 1,300 students for 30-days during the spring and fall semesters.What they found was that increasing sleep from 6 to 8 also increased academic performance by 11% in academics and a similar performance increase in physical capabilities.

Sleep is a necessity for high mental and physical performance. Yet we often skimp on our sleep when we are busy and this could limit our growth and development at the gym. One must wonder why we should put in all this effort if we are not going to let our bodies fully recover and reap full rewards from its efforts? Primarily, it is because we don't see the one-for-one benefits of sleep.

Hours in the gym and "hitting the books" does have its benefits but there is a constant need for balancing with downtime. Those who don't get enough sleep are often overweight, have higher levels of anxiety, and have slower recovery times. The study helps highlight only a sliver of what sleep can do for us. Without sleep all types of mental and physical issues may arise.

Those who may be having difficulties getting sleep may want to follow a few tips and tricks:

1. Turn off electronic equipment and bright lights a half hour before sleep to ensure the brain doesn't get confused.

2. Avoid caffeine and lots of sugar 3-4 hours before sleep.

3. Turn off all lights and keep the room as dark as possible.

4. Make sure you have a quiet place to sleep.

5. Turn the temperature down to 65-67 degrees to improve sleep.

6. Comfortable clothing, mattress and pillows.

Miller, et. al. (2008). Sleep and Academic Performance in U.S. Military Training and Education Programs. Mind, Brain, Education, 2, (1).

Permission to repost with appropriate attribution-Dr. Murad Abel

The North Korean Problem-Counting Down to Launch!

Nuclear weapons speak words louder than th ear can bear. North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong has been threatening for years to use such missiles on the U.S. and has even posted a video on what it would be like to drop one. Highly provocative and threatening behavior will likely be followed up by real violence in the future and the U.S. is right to act in this case. 

In today's world there is no good reason to have such missiles unless one is reaching for power. They serve no appropriate function and no longer act as much as a deterrent. Nations who want to develop them in the modern world want to threaten others. The superpowers of the world made a mistake when allowing other countries to have these missiles and should clamp down quickly on any nation that seeks to develop or grow their arsenal now.

Despite their despicable nature the technology is no longer so advanced in the world of supercomputers that many closed and impoverished nations like North Korea will soon be able to develop them. The international community must come to serious coordinated agreement, not excluding complete economic collapse and sustained destruction of capabilities, for any nation that develops such weapons. 

Kim Jong is under some type of delusional belief that he will make North Korea great while ignoring the economic principles that will take him there! His behavior is erratic and his threats are a serious sign of immaturity and a personality flaw. If he has the capability, there is a high likelihood he will use such weapons when he has a point to make, feels threatened, or his internal grip over the nation weakens.

China also has a responsibility to help deal with this situation and offer Kim Jong a final ditch effort to cease, desist, and dismantle its program. After this olive branch of opportunity to maintain Chinese relations is extended it is up to the civilized international community to act. Seek destruction of nuclear capabilities, if necessary regime change, and if absolutely necessary total serious economic hampering with substantial support for the already starving people of the country. 

Globalization Comes with New Organizational Cultures

Organizational culture adapts to the difficult but necessary transformation to a global economy. The process of changing the rooted domestic culture is difficult when time tested processes are embedded with deep beliefs of ones identity. Organizations change based on necessity but workers are often dragged behind these changes.

Globalization has an impact on the culture of all organizations that play in that arena. Change often occurs because previous work patterns become ineffective and new processes are created to meet those challenges. As processes change, the way people think changes and new cultures are formed (Rizescu &Tileague, 2017).

Developing a global culture within an organization means the organization is exposed to global pressures and traversing through growing pains to meet those new challenges. New mentalities, new ideas, and different perspectives must arise to ensure the company can compete in a bigger "ball park". 

Naturally, there will be those who will fight the process all the way and there will be those willing to learn but have no idea how to work in a global environment. Having a vision and plan for restructuring and training is necessary. If there are employees and executives fight "tooth and nail" to keep the Status Que there may need to be some personnel changes.

While it may seem like change will never come it eventually will. It is not easy to change peoples minds and have them view their roles in new ways. Yet with new ideas, processes and expectations there will eventually be solidification of acceptance. That acceptance puts the organizations on a higher level of functioning. When people are thinking beyond domestic production and acting according to a bigger vision you know that change is thorough.

Rizescu, A. & Tileaga, C. (2017). The effects of globalization on the transformation of organizational management. Journal of Defense Resource Management, 8 (1).