The Economic Recovery by Charts-Technology vs. Service

The New York Times is getting sophisticated with their online news reporting and interactive media. It seems as though they are following some of the trends displayed within the report. The article “How the Recession Reshaped the Economy, in 255 Charts” highlights industry changes over the past decade providing some great and not-so-great news. The mapping of economic data helps provide a greater understanding and analysis of market trends.

A Mixed Recovery: Jobs in the middle of the spectrum shrunk while the periphery grew. Employment in healthcare and energy grew while jobs in construction and real estate declined. 

Different Kinds of Jobs: The low end service industry and the high end technology sector experienced increases. 

Home Prices: Home prices have rebounded but new construction has not. 

U.S. Manufacturing: Manufacturing has seen a reemergence in the export laden sectors such as aerospace and medical equipment but less in labor intensive industries such as clothing.

Energy and Oil Rebound: Energy and oil industries have moved upwards.

Digital Revolution: Traditional publishers declined but those industries relying on data such as online sales, online content, and software skyrocketed.

Grooming: Nail salons, pet services, and cosmetic products moved upward.

The report doesn’t provide deep explanations as to why certain industries were successful in the new market and others were not so successful. The service industry is growing and providing more jobs to those who are entering the labor market, have been displaced, or have not gained enough knowledge to move into higher skilled jobs. Low skilled and labor intensive sectors are declining in the U.S. while being displaced to low labor cost countries. However, high technology and analytical markets that include biotechnology, cutting edge manufacturing, and digital services are gaining. 

The report helps highlight how new skills and greater education will be needed for high paying jobs in the new economy. Many of these industries are scientific, information technology reliant, and require higher levels of critical thinking to operate effectively. It is difficult for countries to easily copy this knowledge and the U.S. is gaining traction in attracting, retaining and growing these industries. 

Housing isn’t as important to the aging Baby Boomer demographic. Many are either selling their homes, remodeling them, or leaving them as part of their wills. The Millennial Generation is just starting to purchase homes and due to budget and financing constraints is optioning to purchase existing homes versus building new ones.  They have learned to do more with less-fixer uppers in descent neighborhoods are great. 

People also want to feel good even though they don't have a lot of money. They are taking their dogs to the parks, groomers, and trainers. They are getting their hair done and polishing their nails. Even though some money is being spent the process is generally more psychological. Spending a little money looking good and feeling good increases positive feelings. Household wealth appears to be slowly climbing again.

The market is continuing to transition from the Industrial Age to the Information Age. Highly technical skills are needed to ensure that new products and services are effective in competing on the global market. Those being rewarded within the economy have gained sufficient skill, education, and knowledge to move into growing sectors. Some are being displaced and taking jobs where they can find them. The service industry is growing and appears to be filling this need with greater job growth. The economic recovery is split into a camel hump gain.

 Ashkenaws, J. & Parlapiano, A. (June 5^th, 2014). How the Recession Reshaped the Economy, in 255 Charts. New York Times. Retrieved June 5^th, 2014 from http://nyti.ms/1mX3dd7

The Webinar: Era Of Big Data: Tracking Students To Completion Using Longitudinal Data

Tuesday, June 17, 3:00-4:30 (Eastern)
online webinar

Info:
In all levels of education, the emphasis on using data to help improve student outcomes has never been greater. Institutions are collecting information on student characteristics, academic readiness, and eventual outcomes. As concentration increases, it is incredibly powerful to take a close look at tracking students through completion with longitudinal data. Using community colleges as a framework, this webinar will help participants think about their longitudinal student-level and course-level data, as well as applications of the data in their work.

We will begin with the fundamentals of longitudinal data and discover how researchers ask questions on data availability and evaluations of interventions. We will then use a sample dataset that records course-taking behavior over a number of years, and use commands in Stata (a general purpose statistical software package) to run descriptive statistics and create new variables using the extant data. Finally, we will apply this approach to a real research question and evaluate an intervention.

Objectives:
- Learn the fundamentals of longitudinal data structures
- Learn how to examine longitudinal data and account for missing observations
- Learn basic commands in Stata to create descriptive statistics and new variables
- Explore how to apply quantitative data analysis to real-life research questions
- Identify their own research questions that can be investigated using their institution's data

Web address: http://www.innovativeeducators.org/product_p/2175.htm

Supply Chain Enhancement through Collaborative Quality Management

Supply chain management is a noteworthy avenue for product reach and emerging financial efficiencies. Products are sold online and distributed across the globe placing greater pressure on organizations to enhance delivery networks. Consumers in the 24/7 virtual world want to receive their products in a few days regardless of the country of origin. Research by Soltani, et. al. (2011) investigated the relationship between supply chain management (SCM) and Quality Management (QM) systems that further makes the case for improvements in inter-firm collaboration that enhances upstream and downstream efficiencies.

In the global economy the supply chain is the life blood that keeps products moving through arteries/vines that wind their way through the hearts of companies and countries.  A product built in the U.S. may move through a number of different entities and nations in adherence to negotiated treaties before delivered at the consumer’s doorstep.  Company competitive positions are impacted by how the system works together through quality improvement to ensure high performing networks (Yeung, 2008). 

A strong supply chain network requires greater collaboration of partners to successfully move products quickly, effectively, and efficiently from one continent to the next. Supply chain quality management is a systems-based approach that develops improvements in the upstream and downstream linkages between suppliers and customers (Foster, 2008).  Upstream and downstream being relative positioning on the chain but is often designated as the manufacturer who receives upstream materials and sends the products downstream to consumers. 

Understanding the upstreams, downstreams and the way in which seemingly disjointed parts work together requires systems thinking.  Systems thinking, or otherwise termed systems dynamics, are a mental concept of how the whole of the entity may be different than the sum of its parts (Metz, 2012). In the case of supply chains, each of the individual parts works together to create real value that converts to organizational profit. Quality management ensures that slack and inefficiencies are removed from the system to create better flow of information and products. 

Each supply chain requires albeit costly investment to set up, develop and maintain.  Different companies within supply chains often engage in opportunistic behaviors and become uncooperative which results in lower overall quality and effectiveness (Brown et al. 2000). Companies that monitor these relationships find greater symmetry between the varying elements and develop powerful competitive advantages. In the global world, shaving a few percentages off the costs or improving speed of a multi-national firm’s operations leads to significant acceleration of growth.

The authors found that many of the companies focused on their internal structures for five years before moving externally into their supply chains. The ability to integrate the upstream and downstream business activities into a cohesive whole requires quality-focused supply chains that build connections between intra and inter firm operations.  The development of quality was further enhanced by a global manager that was able to understand the system and make collaborative versus adversarial relationships among the supplier, manufacturer, and customer legs of the supply chain triangle.

Brown, J. et. al., (2000). Managing marketing channel opportunism: The efficacy of alternative governance mechanism. Journal of Marketing, 64 (2), 51–65.

Foster, S. (2008). Towards an understanding of supply chain quality management. Journal of Operations Management, 26 (4), 461–467.

Metz, S. (2012). Systems thinking. Science Teacher, 79 (7).

Soltani, E., et. al. (2011). Quality performance in a global supply chain: finding out the weak link. International Journal of Production Research, 49 (1).

Yeung, A.(2008). Strategic supply management, quality initiatives and organizational

performance. Journal of Operations Management, 26 (4), 490–502.

Call for Papers: Associated Asia Research Foundation

Issue: June 2014
Submission Deadline: June 20, 2014
Notification Date: within 5 days of Submission
Publication Date: June 30, 2014.

It is of great pleasure to inform you that Associated Asia Research Foundation (AARF) is publishing various International Journal in Management, Business Studies, Marketing, Mathematics, Engineering & Technology, Economics, Natural Sciences, Applied Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Education, Language, Literature, History, Geography, and various General and Corporate Laws. Technical Research Papers and Manuscripts are solicited from Private and Government Research Agencies, Professors, Lecturers, Academicians, Research Scholars of various educational institutions, colleges, universities etc.

Webpage: http://www.aarf.asia/

Wine Review: OZV’s Lodi Zin-Hardy and Sweet Blackberry

OZV’s Lodi Zin is a fruity blackberry tasting zinfandel that is both full bodied and ripe for a cool California evening. It embraces a few other undercurrent flavors such as espresso, raspberry, and espresso. Lodi Zin is sweet and goes down easy and smooth without a subtle aftertaste. It is a casual drinking wine you are likely to pull out of the cellar on a regular basis. Not yet a dessert wine in the American tradition but certainly leaning in that direction. 

Old Zin Vines is produced by Oak Ridge Winery which is one of the oldest pioneering wineries in Lodi California (1).  Originally founded in 1934, it started as a cooperative of growers that expanded their offerings through hard work and determination. They are known for their unique tasting room which is built within a 50,000 gallon redwood barrel. Imagine sipping your wine right inside the vessel getting a “birds eye” view of the operation. 

Lodi is located east of San Francisco Bay between Sacramento and Stockton, California (2).  The wine is grown on the Sierra Nevada Mountains among the rocky and thins soils that work well with Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Barbera, Riesling, Savingnon Blanc (3).  Grapes were originally introduced to the region during the Gold Rush and have since flourished into a famous wine growing region. 

OZV’s Lodi Zin is an excellent casual choice for the dinner table. It pairs well with most types of food. According to the Zinfandelic website you may want to include the following combinations (4): 

Meats: Pork, beef, lamb, Italian sausage, spare ribs, brisket and venison 

Poultry: Turkey, duck, quail, pheasant, chicken

Pasta: Lasagna, cannelloni, spaghetti

Seafood: Tuna, bouillabaisse, cioppino

Cheese: Parmesan, aged cheddar, gouda, asiago, dry jack

Oak Ridge Winery

6100 E. Hwy 12, Lodi, CA 95240

http://www.oakridgewinery.com/index.php