Week 3 student replys - Essay Example

Reply to the post of Stephen Dale, Jr. The line of business of Tempo Air is most intriguing, because it combines the benefits of high technology in the everyday lifestyle of ordinary households. The post describes how the consumption of energy for the purpose of climate control in our homes could be dramatically reduced by Tempo Air’s services. The substance conveyed by the ‘House as a System” or ‘Systems Approach’ is that homebuilding is an integral process involving every aspect from the design and construction to the extent to which the house meets the homeowner’s expectations in meeting their lifestyle (Neuhaus & Schellen, 2006).

The post gives an enlightening account of the involvement of Tempo Air in every stage of construction, and until the home is actually occupied and being lived in by the homeowner and his/her family. It is clear that inspection and testing is undertaken, and that the ultimate results have to do with reduction of energy bills, elimination of problems involving moisture content, and enhancement of indoor air quality or IAQ. What appears vague is the particular process undertaken by Tempo Air in the course of achieving its objectives.

Why is there a need for Tempo Air to be involved in the early stages of the home (or building) construction when the matter of indoor climate control is a matter that can be addressed only after the building has been constructed? Is it not just a matter of choosing the right brand of air-conditioning units and the right horsepower rating that it could deliver? The post ends with a mention of ‘segmentation’ as separating the company Tempo Air from less reputable firms. I believe ‘segmentation’ in that sense does not refer to market segmentation, which distinguishes between customer-groups.

Segmentation should refer to the groups of consumers which the company distinguishes and targets for its goods and services. ReferencesBench, D., Patuh, T., Surowiak, M. Williams, E. (2011). Market Intelligence for Industry Players.CapstonePartners:http://www.capstonellc.com/research/industryreports/HVAC%20Coverage%20Report.pdfNeuhaus, E & Schellen, H (2006) ‘Conservatism Heating to Control Relative Humaidity and Create Museum Indoor Conditions in an Monumental Building.’ Retrieved from http://www.

monumenten.bwk.tue.nl/documenten/Conservation%20Heating%20to%20Control%20Relative%20Humidity%20and%20Crea.pdfResponse to the reply of Kevin Gillin A very informed query is propounded by Kevin Gillin on the post describing St. Jude Medical, a high-tech medical devices manufacturer and distributor. The products and services of St. Jude are vital in extending the lives of people, and the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) may have material impact on the medical devices industry (Forbes, 2013) to which St.

Jude belongs. Kevin’s reply asks if there are any such shifts in segmentation seen as a result of Obamacare, and if St. Jude will be able to maintain their high-end product or if demographics shall change in the company’s strategy.The fact is that the effects of the new health care law are so vague, even experts are uncertain about the procedural matters as to how it will be implemented, let alone how the objects of the law – the people – shall be affected. What is sure is that the Affordable Care Act began on January 1 to impose a 2.

3 per cent tax on medical devices with the intention of raising $30 billion in government revenues in the coming ten years. According to senators, “[T]he medical device industry has received little guidance about how to comply with the tax-causing significant uncertainty and confusion for businesses.’ The House of Representatives has already passed a vote to repeal the tax, but the bill has been languishing in the Senate (Fox News, 2012)What appears certain is that since the medical device tax will be siphoning $3 billion a year from the industry, that is much less funds to spend on the critical R&D that sustain the high-end products.

With less funds to go to R&D, it is likely that St. Jude would reduce the number of its pipeline projects as well as embark less on those cutting-edge pioneering research that produces the marvels that extend lives. St. Jude’s portfolio of products would probably be comprised of the same products it has now with minor improvements. The company needs to survive, so it will continue producing more of the lower-cost staple equipment in health care provision.ReferenceForbes Editorial Staff (2013, Jan 2) ‘As 2013 Begins, Get Ready For An ObamaCare Tax Onslaught’ Forbes.

Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/gracemarieturner/2013/01/02/as-2013-begins-get-ready-for-an-obamacare-tax-onslaught/Fox News (2012, Dec. 11) ‘Dems join in calling for delay to ObamaCare medical device tax.’ Fox News.com. Retrieved http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/11/dems-join-in-calling-for-delay-to-obamacare-medical-device-tax/