MOD 5 Discussion Determining Which Agency Should Command an ICS Post Essay

MOD 5 Discussion Determining Which Agency Should Command an ICS Post - Essay Example The infectious disease and chemical contamination are both hazardous to public health and require emergency response based on specialized tactics and strategic planning so that they do not threaten public safety or danger to public property. The ICS personal are specially trained for such events and therefore they should take over the command of the situation once the public announcement is made on the issue. Non-medical personnel/ managers often have make important decisions during a bio-terrorist attack because it involves integrated disaster response which also makes it necessary for them to develop quick networked solution that also includes close coordination of other agencies and volunteers to tackle the situation. Medical professionals are focused on the diseases and its impact on people but lack the managerial leadership to develop a networked approach that would expedite the process of early evacuation and treatment of victims/ patients (Ness, 2006). Most importantly, the expertise of ICS in disaster situation fundamentally relies on their abilities to coordinate different agencies and programs into a single agency for fast and efficient response to the crisis (Greene, 2002). They also have necessary skills, techniques and tools that can be deployed quickly for rescuing victims. (words:

Integrative Response on Festivals Essay Example for Free

Integrative Response on Festivals Essay The organization of a festival brings a positive economic impact on the community. Not only does the community as a whole benefit from the economic effect but also the individuals gain significantly from the organization of festivals. These effects are more pronounced as the beneficial effects get replicated. A festival is a usually a series of cultural events, celebrations or entertainment organized by an association, group, person or a company. Included in these are concerts, carnivals, exhibitions or even a circus. The maximum number of days usually limited to 15 days. Shorter festivals like many church festivals are less than 3 days. From another standpoint, festival is a period of time that is set aside for feasting or celebration. On the other hand festivals are an organized series of acts and performances, say we have a film festival. Usually festivals have the involvement of the local community and are focused on a theme. It may be an annual event like the annual camping event that is held near Sydney every Easter. Usually, these events attract a number of visitors to the venue; this can range from mere 150 to 5,000. There are some unusual festivals also like the Luton Festival of Transport that attracts 1100 classic cars, buses, bikes and other interesting road vehicles. The organization of festivals brings significant economic benefits to the local community. The benefits to the local community occur because of the spending that is done by the organizers themselves and the visitors to the area. From the macroeconomic perspective the GDP of the area goes up and so also the tax collection from the community. Moreover, these festivals help create jobs and bring in additional income by way of wages and salaries. There are several festivals that have operating expenditures of over $1million and have a total attendance that is more than 5 times the strength of the local community. There are different sources of funding, some have the backing of government agencies, some have the backing of non-government agencies and some are entirely sponsored by corporations. These funds help the economy. The federal government, the local government and the municipality share the increase in taxes. The increase in GDP usually provides a direct boost to restaurants, recreation and accommodation. Moreover, the persons or groups that are involved in the cultural, recreation and community events get a boost. Examples of festivals that have brought significant economic benefits to their communities are The Blue Skies Music Festival (Clarendon), Mudcat Festival (Dunnville) and Olde Sandwich Towne Festival (Windsor). Let us take the microeconomic perspective of the organization of festivals. Most of the hotels in the area often turn away potential bookings. What does this mean? This means that there is an increase in demand for hotel bookings. There is an outward shift in the demand curve. At the same rates, more hotel bookings are demanded during festival periods. Some hotels anticipating increased demand raise the room rates. In other words there is an overall increase in the revenues for the hotels. Similarly, there is an increase in the demand for local transport and other services. This increase in demand is not just limited to those industries that are directly related to the festivals. When the performers, organizers or journalists experience increased income, then in accordance to their marginal propensity to consume their consumption also increases. This creates the multiplier effect of new expenditure and income (Raj. R, 2003). To sum, festivals invigorate the economy of the community. They benefit businesses, government and individuals. Festivals bring in a flow of funds and this removes the ennui of the local economy. Reference: Raj. R, 2003, Impact of Festivals on Cultural Tourism, retrieved on: January 13, 2007, from: www. nottingham. ac. uk/ttri/pdf/conference/raj%20razaq. pdf

A Trip To The Moon Review Film Studies Essay

A Trip To The Moon Review Film Studies Essay Nowadays, cinema is significantly commercial and digitalised. However, the unique and often entertaining black and white films of the early twentieth century should not be forgotten. They should in fact be revered as films in their own right. A perfect example of early cinema at its peak is A Trip to the Moon (aka Le Voyage dans la Lune), which was directed by film pioneer George M li s in 1902. The majority of films from this period dealt with simple scenes of everyday life, such as the knocking down of a garden wall or the arrival of a train. However M li s made the transition from these early shorts to a more modern form of montage, which led A Trip to the Moon being regarded as a masterpiece of early cinema. The first scene of the film opens with a group of astronomers holding a meeting in order to discuss how to travel to the moon. The main astronomer, played by M li s, suggests that they build some type of capsule and fire themselves at the moon. After some argument, the scientists agree and build a cannon and a bullet-shaped capsule. They are launched at the moon via cannon by a group of showgirls and land comically in the eye of the moon. Once on the lunar surface, they meet the Selenites, the alien hostile inhabitants of the moon. One of M li s main inspirations for the film would be Jules Verne s novel From the Earth to the Moon, from which he got the idea of the projected capsule at the moon. The film also contains elements from H.G. Wells novel The First Men in the Moon, for example, the underground moon cave with gigantic mushrooms and the vulnerable inhabitants, the Selenites. M li s was a master of visual illusion due to him being a professional magician and a producer of theatre. He followed the example set by the main stage magicians of the nineteenth century, such as Jean Robert-Houdin, by integrating the newest technology into his theatrical spectacles. With film, M li s embraced its theatrical possibilities and through experimentation, he made swift advances in special effects, film editing, intricate sets and costumes, and literary content. The set design of the various scenes is elaborate. The painted backdrops merge flawlessly with the constructed parts and props, creating settings with great depth. The set design, costumes, and anthropomorphic objects provide the film with a fantastical surreal appeal, which both attract and astonish audiences. M li s was one of the first filmmakers to make use of special effects, using a number of ingenious techniques to create illusions. Cinematic devices such as stop-motion photography and film splicing were used to give the illusion of objects vanishing or changing. Examples of these techniques can be seen in the Selenites disappearing into a puff of smoke when hit by the scientists and the approach of the capsule towards the moon. For the duration of the film, themes of spectacle, absurdity, and burlesque are given far more importance than scientific logic or realism (Gunning 70). For instance, in the supposedly scientific scene of the launching of the capsule, the cannon is loaded by a troupe of showgirls dressed in a burlesque version of sailor suits (Gunning 70). M li s openly acknowledged the dominance of special effects over the storyline in his films as he once wrote, As for the scenario, the story or tale, I considered it last I utilized it only as a pretext, a context for tricks or pleasing theatrical effects (Gunning 71). A Trip to the Moon is not a forgotten gem of early cinematic history, but a film of energy, imagination, exploration, and humour that still pleasure audiences today. 2. A film review of Duck Soup (1933) The film Duck Soup, starring the Marx Brothers, is a funny satire with lively gags and some of the best physical comedy ever in cinema. Although it is nowadays regarded as a comic masterpiece, the film received poor reviews when it first came out in 1933, mainly for its satirising of politics and warmongering. Even to this day the Marx Brothers are greatly revered because of their masterful ability to treat their audience to riotous slapstick comedy, puns, riddles, and deadpan humour. All of the Marx Brothers comedy films were extensions of their vaudeville days (Gardner 15). Duck Soup is a perfect example of this as the visual gags that had previously been a success on stage, were then incorporated into their comic routines in their films. The 1933 film was directed by Leo McCarey. The film stars Groucho Marx, who plays Rufus Firefly, the new appointed president of the fictional nation of Freedonia. Firefly has a questioning attitude towards work ethic, which can be seen as he attempts to decrease work hours by shortening the length of lunch breaks for the workers. Rufus becomes infatuated with Mrs. Teasdale, but he is in competition for her hand with Ambassador Trentino of the neighbouring country of Sylvania. Rufus immediately insults the Sylvanian ambassador by slapping him across the face instead of shaking his hand. War is consequently declared between the two countries. However, the plot of the film is not of any real importance as it mainly serves as a chance for the brothers to make fun of dictators, government bureaucracy and the irrationality of reckless war. Duck Soup features the Marx Brothers at their very best. Both the continuous sequence of laughs and the satirical storyline are hilarious in their own right, but the film also provides the individual comedy sequences for the brothers, which are the real highlight of the film. The film contains some of their best material, providing a variety of comic settings and dialogue and some quite entertaining musical sequences. Two of their most iconic are featured in Duck Soup the mirror sequence and the lemonade stand scene. The mirror sequence is by far the most entertaining scene in the film, where Harpo, and Chico, and Groucho are all dressed the same and they mimic each other s movements as if they re looking in a mirror at themselves. Another excellent example of Marx comedy is the peanut stand scene where Chico and Harpo engage in a quarrel with the owner of a lemonade stand next to Harpo s peanut stand. Another humorous and surrealistic aspect of the film is in the final battle scene where the Brothers are dressed in an outrageous pastiche of military uniforms that complete the anti-war attitude of the dialogue (Gardner 87). The military uniforms worn by the Brothers are from several diverse nations and from different historical eras. The film is a constant reel of comedy, from the opening scene, where we meet Groucho s character, to the final scene of the shelter being bombed. Similar to other great comedies of the 1930s, Duck Soup does not require special effects or a completely logically storyline to attract an audience. Nowadays, Duck Soup is widely considered to be a stunning success of film comedy, and the Marx Brothers best film.

Surrendering Freedom for Peace of Mind :: Technology Technological Papers

Surrendering Freedom for Peace of Mind A glance back into history illustrates many eras that have come and gone which have left their mark on the world and its people. The industrial revolution changed the face of modern society and yet there is no comparison between its effect and that of the computer. Today, it is difficult to find an area of our lives that computer technology has not touched. The recent attempt by the longshoremen in California to strike was a prime example of the fear of computer technology that many feel. These men stated that they wanted guarantees that they would not lose their jobs as the freight industry becomes more and more computerized. Conversely, the shipping magnets are trying to compete in a world where the computer dominates the way freight is handled and they fear they are being forced to let progress pass them by. We were recently asked in class if anyone could identify a â€Å"computer free† part of our world. No one offered a suggestion since it is intuitive that the computer dominates all areas of our lives. Examples range from how we travel, the way our food is grown, what we eat, how we place restaurant orders, the size of food portions, the practice of medicine, how we shop, what we buy, how it gets to our home. There are countless other examples that could help to illustrate this point. Technologies that we could not even imagine a few short years ago are now common, accepted parts of our daily lives. We have passed through eras of information, networking and e-mail. Are we quickly headed to the point where we have lost all privacy and freedom? Are we moving to the era of personal invasion? Or are we already there? And more importantly, do we care? Have we been on the â€Å"slippery slope† so long that we have lost track of where we are headed and what we are leaving behind? One of the most troubling technologies being developed are highly precise tracking devices which can be used to detect the whereabouts of humans anywhere on earth. We are all familiar with the â€Å"teathers† that our probationers wear around their ankles. They are â€Å"free† to move around and live a relatively normal life since they can sleep at home, drive vehicles and maintain employment while being tracked by a teather officer. Surrendering Freedom for Peace of Mind :: Technology Technological Papers Surrendering Freedom for Peace of Mind A glance back into history illustrates many eras that have come and gone which have left their mark on the world and its people. The industrial revolution changed the face of modern society and yet there is no comparison between its effect and that of the computer. Today, it is difficult to find an area of our lives that computer technology has not touched. The recent attempt by the longshoremen in California to strike was a prime example of the fear of computer technology that many feel. These men stated that they wanted guarantees that they would not lose their jobs as the freight industry becomes more and more computerized. Conversely, the shipping magnets are trying to compete in a world where the computer dominates the way freight is handled and they fear they are being forced to let progress pass them by. We were recently asked in class if anyone could identify a â€Å"computer free† part of our world. No one offered a suggestion since it is intuitive that the computer dominates all areas of our lives. Examples range from how we travel, the way our food is grown, what we eat, how we place restaurant orders, the size of food portions, the practice of medicine, how we shop, what we buy, how it gets to our home. There are countless other examples that could help to illustrate this point. Technologies that we could not even imagine a few short years ago are now common, accepted parts of our daily lives. We have passed through eras of information, networking and e-mail. Are we quickly headed to the point where we have lost all privacy and freedom? Are we moving to the era of personal invasion? Or are we already there? And more importantly, do we care? Have we been on the â€Å"slippery slope† so long that we have lost track of where we are headed and what we are leaving behind? One of the most troubling technologies being developed are highly precise tracking devices which can be used to detect the whereabouts of humans anywhere on earth. We are all familiar with the â€Å"teathers† that our probationers wear around their ankles. They are â€Å"free† to move around and live a relatively normal life since they can sleep at home, drive vehicles and maintain employment while being tracked by a teather officer.

Analysing The Need For Arctic Oil Environmental Sciences Essay

Global demand for energy has quickly increased as populations have increased and the demands of developing states have increased. Some estimations claim that demand for energy could increase by every bit much as 50 % by 2030 ( Hunter 2007 ) . This possible addition has every state scrambling for a stable beginning of oil and natural gas. The traditional beginnings of oil and natural gas have become less dependable. Instability in the Middle East has many states looking for new beginnings of oil, but this has become harder to happen. Many states that were one time spouses to big oil companies such as Russia and Venezuela have become less dependable as beginnings for oil ( Appenzellar 2004 ) . In 1960 85 % of known reservoirs were accessible to oil companies but now merely 16 % of reservoirs are accessible ( Rowell 2007 ) . New countries need to be opened up and explored in order to happen dependable beginnings of oil. The Arctic appears to be one of the most promising countries.Histor y of Arctic oilIn the 1970 ‘s and 1980 ‘s onshore crude oil roars took topographic point in Siberia and Alaska ( Funk 2009 ) . Alaska ‘s roar began in 1967 when oil workers for Atlantic Richfield Corporation discovered the largest oil reservoir in North America on Alaska ‘s North Slope near Prudhoe Bay ( Coppock 2004 ) . Thousands of work forces moved to Alaska trusting to do their wealths boring and edifice the monolithic grapevines necessary to travel the oil to the Continental United States. Billions of dollars were pumped into a antecedently quiet country. This one time great part is in diminution. Siberia had a similar roar in the 1970 ‘s but they are get downing to see a diminution similar to Alaska ‘s. Siberia ‘s oil Fieldss, which presently make Russia the largest manufacturer of oil, are expected to run out in the following 10 old ages ( Appenzeller 2004 ) .Future of Arctic OilSurveies show that the Arctic Ocean may incorporate a bi g sum of recoverable oil and natural gas. This includes non merely the land contained by the Arctic Circle, but besides the Arctic Ocean, which is considered to be the largest prospective beginning of oil and natural gas for the hereafter ( Gautier 2004 ) .Measure of Oil and Natural gasThe United States Geological Survey has predicted that about 30 % of the universe ‘s undiscovered gas and 13 % of the universe ‘s undiscovered oil is under the surface of the Arctic Ocean ( Gautier 2004 ) . The sum of gas in merely one of the major reservoirs is estimated to be the full gas militias of the United States ( Moran 2006 ) .Location of oilGood oil and gas reservoirs are so rare for a big portion because of the alone types of stone formations that can incorporate natural gas. The stone formation must be porous plenty to keep natural gas and oil and the formation must besides be permeable plenty for oil and natural gas to flux through the formation in order for oil to be recovera ble. Porosity and permeableness are the grounds that reservoirs are found about entirely in sedimentary stones. The bulk of crude oil bearing formations are contained in the huge Continental shelves of the Arctic Ocean. These shelves take up more than half of the Arctic Ocean, as shown by the lighter shadiness of bluish in Figure 2.These shelves by and large lie in less than 160 metres of H2O, a deepness that current boring engineering can easy bring forth ( Harrison 1979 ) . Arctic map Figure 2: Depth of the Arctic Ocean ( hypertext transfer protocol: //gdr.nrcan.gc.ca ) Sedimentary stone formations have besides been found in deeper H2O. A recent coring expedition found sedimentary stone formations in 1100 metres of H2O. This coring expedition drilled into The Lomonosov ridge, which is indicated by the pointer in Figure 2 ( Moran 2006 ) .Regulating THE ARCTIC OCEANUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the SeaThe current opinion organic structure in the Arctic Ocean is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS ) . Russia, Norway, Canada, and Denmark all border the Arctic Ocean and have all ratified this pact, go forthing the United States as the lone state that borders the Arctic Ocean that has non.Claiming LandUNCLOS regulations say that a state may exert control within 200 maritime stat mis from a state ‘s shoreline ( Holmes 2008 ) . In order to claim land beyond this 200 stat mi grade a state must turn out that the seafloor is an extens ion of the state ‘s Continental shelf ( Underhill 2005 ) . The states involved have begun passing 1000000s of dollars in order to map the ocean floor utilizing high tech echo sounder devices. Mapping is a good start but the lone existent manner to happen where a shelf ends is by happening the exact point where stone types alteration, which can merely be done by boring for samples of the seafloor ( Underhill 2005 ) . The logistics of boring for samples in the Arctic Ocean is a really hard and expensive undertaking.Major DisputesThere are several parts of major difference over the Arctic Ocean. The most of import difference is the dissension between Russia, Denmark, and Canada over who has the rights to the Lomonosov Ridge, The Barents Sea Loop Hole, and the Western Nansen Basin. The Lomosov Ridge is seen as the stepping rock for Denmark, Canada and Russia to claim the Arctic. Each has claimed that the ridge is in fact an extension of their Continental shelf. The Barents Sea is located North of Russia and Norway, and both states have submitted overlapping claims for sovereignty in this country. The two most relevant differences in The Barents Sea are over the Loop Hole and the Western Nansen Basin ( Holmes 2008 ) . Both Norway and Russia appear to be negociating a pact on their ain, so it does non look that the UNCLOS will necessitate them to do a determination. Figure 1: Diagram Lomonosov Ridge ( benmuse.typepad.com ) Russia has been the most aggressive in claiming this ridge. Russia has already submitted a claim excessively much of the ocean floor utilizing the ridge as the ground tackle of their claim s ( McKenzie 2009 ) . Canada and Denmark have been making extended seismal studies to turn out that the ridge is in fact a portion of their several Continental shelves in order to challenge Russia ‘s claim. The Lomonosov Ridge is really of import to all states involved because boring has proven that there is natural gas underneath the ridge ( Underhill 2009 ) .http: //benmuse.typepad.com/ben_muse/images/2007/08/08/lomonosov_ridge_2_2.gifDeciding Disputes Under UNCLOSThe simplest solution for deciding differences is for parties involved to settle the difference informally, but if states are unable to make so there are several other ways of settling differences ( Holmes 2008 ) . Other possibilities include the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the International Court of Justice, or an arbitrary court. Whenever a state ratifies the convention, the state chooses what forum they would prefer to work out any differences, but jobs arise when the disputing states can non hold on a forum. UNCLOS does non hold compulsory forum for challenging claims when states can non hold on a forum, so sometimes it can be really hard to happen a solution to a difference ( Holmes 2008 ) .Other GovernmentsThe UNCLOS is chiefly concerned with the spliting up of the sea bed under the Arctic Ocean, instead than with regulations and ordinances to protect transportation involvements and environmental protection. To get by with this many other organisations have been trying to make full the nothingness by doing suggestions and guidelines to guarantee that states are guaranting safety for both workers and the environment ( Berkman 2009 ) .Geneva ConventionThe Geneva Convention consists of a series of pacts made after World War II to set up â€Å" regulations of war † ( Homes 2008 ) . The 1958 Geneva Convention said that in Continental shelf differences for states with next seashores should be determined by pulling a average line between the two seashores if no other understanding can be made ( Holmes 2008 ) . Although this understanding predates the UNCLOS, every state involved in the Arctic has ratified the convention, so the convention would be used if the UNCLOS could non convert the involved states to hold.International Maritime OrganizationThe International Maritime Organization may non hold any official power, yet they still adopted a set of guidelines for transporting operations in the Arctic Ocean called Guidelines for Ships Operating in Ice Covered Arctic Waters ( Berkman 2009 ) . These guidelines are followed by every major state involved in transporting in the Arctic, but an international government organic structure needs to put official ordinances for the Arctic, because deficiency of ordin ance is certain to go a job as traffic additions.Northeast Atlantic Fisheries CommissionThe Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission regional piscary direction organisation ‘s is a regional understanding whose range is wide plenty for their understandings to cover a big part of the Arctic Basin. It is the lone official international organisation that covers pollution criterions in any portion of the Arctic ( Berkman 2009 ) . A development of this kind is needed to protect the big and alone ecosystem of the Arctic.ENVIRONMENTAL RISKSOffshore oil and gas geographic expedition in the Arctic Ocean poses several of import environmental hazards particularly in such a sensitive environment as the Arctic. Positioned at the top of the universe, the Arctic part provides many valuable natural resources such as fresh H2O, fishing, and rare home grounds for endangered species. The Arctic Archipelago is besides place to scarce populations of Eskimos and other colonists. The hazards chiefly a ssociated with offshore boring in the part involve possible oil spills and the pollutants generated during production operations. These factors can take to rough effects on homo and wildlife wellness along with the wellness of the environment.Oil SpillsDue to the recent BP calamity in the Gulf of Mexico in early 2010 and other memorable rig calamities, apprehensiveness about the oil and gas industry ‘s impact on the planet has grown. Production companies have become a mark of environmental groups all over the universe as they drill into the land and run out the Earth ‘s non-renewable resources. A immense consideration into prospective boring in the Arctic Ocean is the possibility of an oil spill, which could be particularly unsafe to the sensitive wildlife of the part. With the tough climatic and icy conditions of the Arctic, a big oil spill in the part could be a logistical incubus. The surveies and research about possible oil clean up in the Arctic focal points on the behaviour of oil in the cold clime to happen methods of remotion and simulation trials to analyse response times.Cold Temperatures and Ice BarriersResearch shows that the cold Arctic temperatures and presence of ice can assist to cut down environmental impacts and increase response effectivity. The cold Arctic Ocean changes the physical features and behaviour of oil in H2O. The equilibrium thickness of oil is greater in cold H2O intending the oil will remain centralized in a smaller country and spread less quickly. This benefits recovery by leting longer response times and raising removal per centums. Assorted hydrocarbons ‘ vaporization rates are reduced in low temperatures, giving response squads a greater opportunity to take more oil before these constituents disappear into the ambiance. Although the huge sum of ice in the Arctic Ocean hinders human mobilisation, blocks of ice can move as barriers to halt the oil from distributing, hence doing unmoved combustion and surface skimmers more effectual. High ice concentrations may besides encapsulate the spilled oil, maintaining the oil isolated from ecosystems until the toxic hydrocarbons are removed. Each of these features helps to better the effectivity of an oil spill killing ( Velez et al. 2010 ) .Response Simulation SurveiesCompanies and industry leaders have conducted several simulation undertakings to prove response times and killing processs given different variables and conditions. In their article, G. M. Skeie et Al. outlined a simulation survey to prove 1800 possible scenarios that could happen in the field. The research workers designed the survey to turn to possible results of an oil spill and analyse the effectivity of different responses. The scenarios featured variables such as â€Å" starting clip, shortest impetus clip to shore, weave conditions, and stranded oil sums † ( Skeie et al. 2006 ) . The squad calculated the environmental hazards and sum of oil stranded after fake respon se steps and used this information to compare the different response schemes. Several research plans and simulation surveies like this have been funded by â€Å" oil companies every bit good as other organisations, either independently, through Joint Industry Projects ( JIP ) , or as portion of an industry association † ( Velez et al. 2010 ) to better response methods and fix for these exigencies.Recovery SchemesThe possible oil spill recovery schemes are mechanical recovery, chemical dispersant applications and controlled combustion. Mechanical recovery methods deploy big oil-skimming vass that skim the oil off the ocean ‘s surface and utilize containment roars to forestall oil from distributing. Mechanical recovery is the most common and practical solution used in oil spill responses in the yesteryear ; nevertheless this method will confront challenges during periods of high ice concentrations in the Arctic Ocean. On the other manus, chemical dispersants, which have b een â€Å" recognized worldwide as an environmentally acceptable and extremely efficient agencies of quickly extinguishing spilled oil offshore, † ( Velez et al. 2010 ) can be applied aerially and distribute by strong air currents and beckon action. Research and field trials have proven these dispersants to be effectual in the rough Arctic conditions, despite misconceptions. In-situ ( Latin for â€Å" in topographic point † ) combustion besides offers another valuable option to mechanical recovery that can take spilled oil rapidly and expeditiously. Burning techniques are besides really effectual for scenarios with high ice concentrations or when big sums of oil are trapped in ice. By-products of firing oil have minimal harmful aquatic effects. Research shows that although the Arctic is a extremely sensitive and ambitious environment, the idea of cleaning up an oil spill in the Arctic Ocean is non hideous despite popular public sentiment. Companies and industry leaders have devoted clip and support to fix for an exigency and to analyze the environmental hazards of an oil spill in the Arctic.Operational PollutantsLarge volumes of waste merchandises and risky air pollutants are generated during seaward production operations. This subdivision identifies the environmental menaces associated with these pollutants.Drilling WastesAs Eia and Hernandez province in their article, â€Å" A major issue facing operators today is the big volume of greasy waste liquids produced during well operations † ( Eia and Hernandez 2006 ) . The waste watercourse excreted by production operations includes boring clay or fluids, produced Waterss, and bore film editings. Each of these merchandises contains variable composings of toxic chemicals that can infect the environment and harm aquatic life. Technology betterments in boring and production processs have greatly decreased boring waste volumes, â€Å" as today, industry adds 2 to 4 times more oil and gas to the US modesty base per good than in the 1980saˆÂ ¦with 65 per centum less waste being generated † ( Rana 2008 ) . However, the environmental impact due to each production Wellss ‘ waste watercourse, irrespective of the concentration of scarce toxic stuff, can non be ignored because on a expansive graduated table, these pollutants combine to bring forth a huge environmental footmark. Drilling claies are an indispensable portion of the boring and production procedure because the fluids lubricate and chill the drill spot and pipe, take drill film editings, and command bottom-hole force per unit areas. These fluids can either be water-based, oil-based, or man-made oil-based depending on the boring scenario, with oil-based fluids being the most toxic. The boring clay can incorporate many harmful chemical compounds and toxic stuffs, such as additives, oil, lubricating oil, and many radioactive elements. The waste fluids can respond with the environment through groundwater or surface H2O reservoirs, inadvertent release from intervention installations, soaking up into the dirt, or vaporisation of volatile constituents. The United States Environmental Protection Agency requires that boring claies transcending certain degrees of chemical concentrations are disposed of in onshore waste disposal installations or deep injection Wellss. However, boring wastes that do non run into this standard can either be taken to a landfill or released into the organic structure of H2O where the toxic stuff can respond with the environment ( Rana 2008 ) . Several companies have worked towards â€Å" boring and completion fluids that are greener and more biodegradable † ( Eia, Hernandez 2006 ) . One such company is M-I SWACO, which invents boring and environmental solutions for Schlumberger, a big boring service company. During the oil and gas production procedure, produced Waterss such as formation H2O, injection H2O, or other industrial Waterss are generated in the well-hole with changing degrees of hydrocarbon concentrations. These Waterss besides contain hints of heavy metals and other chemical solutions, such as inhibitors and biocides, which prevent micro-organisms from moving of course. On site separation methods aim to take oil and toxic chemicals from the produced Waterss, nevertheless fractional composings remain irrespective of separation effectivity. The staying dissolved hydrocarbons and other chemicals become pollutants when the produced Waterss are discharged into the organic structure of H2O, â€Å" volumes of such discharges reach 1000s of dozenss of oil a twelvemonth, † ( Rana 2008 ) on a world-wide graduated table. Companies frequently dispose of produced H2O with potentially unsafe composings in deep aquifers isolated from groundwater reservoirs, nevertheless inadvertent re lease is still a menace to be considered.Gas EmissionsNatural gas sedimentations normally contain unsafe gases such as methane, H sulphide, and other volatile organic compounds. When reservoir force per unit areas are high, which is surely possible in the deep militias of the Arctic Ocean, runawaies and detonations become unsafe environmental menaces because of gas emanations. Flaring is another procedure that can let go of unsafe compounds into the ambiance ; flaring is utilised to command force per unit area malfunctions and to divide oil and gas composings by firing off and let go ofing extra reservoir gases. The gases released during flame uping can include sulfur dioxide, benzine, nitrogen oxide and methylbenzene, which are responsible for several human wellness jobs. S. Rana predicts that â€Å" a individual offshore rig emits the same measure of pollution as 7000 autos driving 80 kilometres a twenty-four hours. † Another fright related to gas emanations is the add-on of harmful chemical compounds to the planet ‘s agony atmosphere and ozone bed. All the recent attending to planetary heating and the Arctic ‘s runing ice caps raises consciousness of gas emanations. Future production undertakings in the Arctic Ocean are traveling to be watched acutely for environmental errors and operational impacts. Before mass boring in the Arctic can take topographic point, gas emanations have to be reduced or eliminated wholly, or the liquescent ice conditions will decline. There are a few chief environmental hazards associated with Arctic boring: the impact on the environing environment ; the danger for the endangered and sensitive wildlife of the part ; and the hazard of harming human populations. Large volumes of toxic chemicals can organize in the Arctic if careful environmental protection programs are non taken to cut down toxicity degrees and to forestall oil spills. High concentrations of toxic chemicals can turn throughout the nutrient concatenation, jeopardizing wildlife and aquatic species, and finally endangering human populations. If gas emanations are non cut off wholly, the ambiance will endure from increasing nursery gases taking to human wellness jeopardies and endangering planetary heating conditions.Drilling IN THE ARCTICHistorically, boring economically executable Wellss in the Arctic was hard due to extreme conditions conditions, environmental concerns, and the deficiency of boring engineering. However, technological promotions have created several feasible chances to bore Wellss in countries of the Arctic that were ab initio seen as wasteful due to the high costs of boring and production operations.Onshore Drilling in the ArcticOne of the chief jobs with boring and finishing an onshore well in the Arctic is happening a manner for the rig and its workers to execute at a high degree while covering with the utmost conditions conditions and clip restraints. The Alaskan boring season was comprised of 130 available boring yearss, get downing in late December and normally go oning through late April, doing finishing a well from start to complete really hard. Access to the Arctic tundra is non possible until around mid – December, hence rig can non get down boring until late December and so normally finish boring about May 1st, which is the cause for the short boring season. The mean onshore good in the Arctic, get downing with the mobilisation of the rig and coating with the demobilisation of the rig, requires 90 yearss to finish which allows for about one well, per rig, per season to be drilled. The bulk of those 90 yearss were used in set uping up and set uping down on the well site and non the existent boring of the well ( Shafer 2007 ) . Besides, highly cold temperatures pose one of the largest menaces to set up in the Arctic, because the ability of a rig to execute in highly cold conditions and trade with onsite jobs is indispensable to the boring operation being successful. Low temperatures and ice can decelerate, or even halt, all boring on a well site and waste big sums of money because no work is being done ( Keener and Allan 2009 ) .Hybrid Coil Tubing Drilling RigOne proposed thought to rush up good completion clip was to utilize a intercrossed spiral tubing boring rig ( CTD rig ) that was smaller and quicker to set up up and set up down. A CTD rig has the ability to bore conventionally, bore utilizing a rotary drill, and bore utilizing coiled tubing doing a CTD rig an effectua l option in several different conditions environments ( Shafer 2007 ) . Furthermore, extinguishing the sum of truck tonss traveling back and Forth from drill sites to refineries more than 50 stat mis is indispensable because day-to-day transit costs could sometimes be the day-to-day boring costs ( Keener and Allan 2009 ) . A CTD rig significantly reduces the sum of tonss needed to finish a well because the rig has fewer parts and can be operational in less than an hr after geting onsite. There are downsides to the CTD rig nevertheless ; CTD rigs were non originally designed for the Arctic, lack some of the protection a larger rig provides to it workers and do non hold the ability to bore past 7200 pess. The CTD rig has yet to happen a solution to covering with the cold temperatures while remaining operational. If the temperature drops below -350F, so all the Cranes will be shut down because the Cranes become brickle due to the cold. This job has troubled oil and gas geographic expedition in the Arctic throughout history and still causes job today. During the 2006 Alaskan boring season, from January to February, the mean temperature was -350F and the maximal temperature was -150F, which lowered the possible productiveness of Wellss while increasing the cost. While these challenges are important, overall the CTD rig could be a utile solution to happening an efficient rig to bore in the Arctic ( Shafer 2007 ) .Offshore Drilling in the ArcticWhile boring a good onshore o n the Arctic ice is a dashing undertaking, successfully boring an offshore well in the close – stop deading cold H2O is an even harder undertaking. Ice direction, limited boring deepness ranges, ice – filled Waterss, limited boring seasons, and exposure to severe conditions are merely some of the major jobs that offshore boring units must fact to be successful.Offshore Boring Unit of measurements in the ArcticThe Arctic conditions are so rough that new boring units must be designed specifically for the rough Arctic conditions. The new designs must non merely be efficient, but besides economical for the company boring the well. Several different types of boring units were examined such as semisubmersible boring units, doodly-squat – up boring units, and drillships. The semisubmersible boring units were rapidly ousted because the riser column had jobs with ice buildup, several infrastructures were left unfastened to the harsh conditions, and the unit took to hanke r to transport. The doodly-squat – up rig was besides deemed as unacceptable because its lattice legs were unfastened to the environment and had major ice buildup jobs. In add-on, transit of the unit took excessively much clip. Evaluation of the drillship showed that its capablenesss make the drillship the most logical pick as a possible solution. The drillship has a big hull that protects the riser column from ice buildup, and is able to transport itself expeditiously. The drillship solution besides offers self sufficiency for periods up to 8 months ( Keener and Allan 2009 ) .Logisticss of DrillshipsThere were several facets that were considered in the designs for a new drill drillship. The first job that interior decorators dealt with was the structural design. The bulk of conventional drillships had antecedently had their infrastructure and topside constructions, such as the derrick, made individually from the remainder of the ship and so loaded on the ship once its buildi ng was finished. Most of the individually constructed pieces needed extra conditions coverings to protect the ship ‘s workers, but the coverings added important sums of weight to the ship and took up unneeded infinite ( Keener and Allan 2009 ) . Another issue taken into consideration is the altering ice conditions, which lead to the demand for a drillship that had a manner to cover with ice rapidly plenty to transport itself expeditiously while minimising transit costs. Additionally, there is a demand for a system that could maintain the ship accurately onsite while besides covering with the environmental conditions ( Allan et al. 2009 ) . While there are many logistical jobs that drillships brush with boring Wellss in the Arctic, we will concentrate on the stated jobs because they are the most relevant to the proposed solution.The Arctic Class MODU DrillshipAfter all the different jobs and possible boring reverses in the Arctic were taken into consideration, the Arctic Class Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit ( MODU ) Drillship was proposed as a solution ( Allan et al. 2009 ) .Structural DesignThe interior decorators constructed the MODU Drillship to include the individually constructed infrastructures and topside constructions and by incorporating these constructions into the hull off the ship and around a cardinal well building country ( Keener and Allan 2009 ) . By incorporating the infrastructures and topside constructions into the hull, interior decorators greatly increased the hull ‘s cardinal hull lading ability and structural unity. This design besides eliminated the demand for many of the dearly-won conditions protection constructions because the constructions were now protected by the hull ( Allan et al. 2009 ) .Ice Management and TransportationThe following component interior decorators dealt with was the drillships transit capablenesss and ice direction scheme. The hull of the MODU Drillship, combined with pod – pushers to impel the ship, proved to be strong plenty to interrupt through the bulk of the ice necessary to acquire to boring locations. Risk appraisal shortly showed that non utilizing an iceboat bodyguard would be an ailment advised determination. Therefore the usage of ice ledgeman bodyguards determined the drillships ability to hasten the transit clip to location in ice filled Waterss ( Allan et al. 2009 ) .Keeping the Drillship OnsiteSeveral different types of positioning systems were evaluated for the MODU Drillship. A moorage system proved to be the lone type that would work efficaciously. A big part of the Arctic Waterss are considered to be shallow H2O boring locations and a dynamic placement system, in shallow H2O, could non supply plenty truth for the drillship to be effectual. After several surveies with different types of stuffs used in the moorage system and the constellation of the system, a 12 point moorage system that is arranged in four groups with three lines of ironss per group prove d to be the best solution. Several stuffs to utilize for lines were tested and the usage of ironss proved to be the best solution for the MODU Drillship because the drillships could manage heavy tonss, and the environment had the least consequence on the drillship itself. The four groups would so be set up equally spaced around the drillship so that they could work every bit good as possible. While different variables such as H2O deepness and environmental conditions finally determine what the best placement system for the state of affairs, the 12 point moorage system seemed the most logical and effectual for the MODU Drillship ( Allan et al. 2009 ) .

Ebay essays

Ebay essays I have recently joined the millions who have visited Echo Bay. It is a busy place with millions of goods, and billions of dollars flowing through it. It is divided into communities, some of which are really tight knit. People come from all over the world to take part in it. It is filled with rare, exotic, and just plain weird stuff. The place Im talking about is more commonly known as eBay. There are millions of items on the web for sale, and just as many people waiting to buy them. Ill explain the basics about how to get started, and some hints on how to sell. EBay has only been a company for nine years, but it has a lot of history for that short amount of time. It is a great way to turn that junk pile in your garage into cash. Getting started on eBay is very simple. Go to a computer and type in www.ebay.com. On the main homepage go to the top, and click on the link that says sell. Follow the simple step-by-step process where it instructs you to put in your personal information. A credit or debit card makes the process simple, but it is possible to sign up without one. You will need an e-mail address as well, and to complete the process you will have to put in a code that they will e-mail to you. After the brief form is complete you are able to list what you want to sell. (eBay Inc.)The entire process from opening the page to having an item listed takes approximately half an hour, and anyone with basic computer skills shouldnt have any trouble. You can include a fairly lengthy description and one picture for the listing price of $.50. To add more features will cost extra. You can add templates, more pictures, and choose where your ad appears for more money. It cost me $.85 total to list a pair of ice ska tes, and an additional small percentage will be added after it is sold, depending on the final cost. You can sell anything over eBay. Well, almost. For logical and legal reasons you cant sel...

Mobile Banking in Saudi Arabia Towards Understanding the Factors that Affects the Sector

Mobile Banking in Saudi Arabia Towards Understanding the Factors that Affects the Sector The internet-based marketing research survey was initiated with a view of understanding the various factors that affects the usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. The conjoint study utililized a quantitative research design and subjects were drawn from the selected banking institutions.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Mobile Banking in Saudi Arabia: Towards Understanding the Factors that Affects the Sector specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To ensure reliability and validity of study results, the questionnaires for the survey were duly filled by the Heads of Product Development and Marketing or their assistants of the selected banking institutions. The results were both interesting and insightful. The study was clearly able to uncover some of the challenges that continue to bedevil the sector, which is invariably at its infancy stage in many countries across the world. These challenges include socio-cultural and re ligious barriers, age and market segmentation, security fears, lack of effective communication and marketing strategies, inability to break through the zone of being related to simple transactions, and failure to offer authentic banking experience. However, the study revealed that mobile banking is ripe for takeoff, and may indeed overtake other banking channels such as branch and ATM due to its numerous tangible benefits that will serve to catapult the sector to success and dominance. Some of these benefits include accessibility, high marketing potential, high penetration levels, better performance, convenience, lower charges, among others. These benefits and challenges will direct the future of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia Introduction Background The design, development, and production of mobile handsets have revolutionalized civilizations across the world in ways that can only rival the invention of the wheel in the 19th century. Not only has the device served as an engine for growth, but it has made life easier, convenient and more comfortable. Intra and cross-boarder communications can now be done within the comfort of the living room, and business deals are sealed using the convenience of mobile telephony (Laukkanen 127). Indeed, the use of mobile telephones has penetrated every single aspect of our social lives, whereby the devices have been personalized to offer the greatest satisfaction to users while serving their communication needs. The introduction of sophisticated mobile telephony with multipurpose and multimedia functions is reminiscent of the 1950’s, when the first color television set hit the markets; everybody was mesmerized.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More But while many studies have been conducted on the social impacts of mobile telephony on communities around the world, data on how the device has affected busine ss enterprises, specifically banking institutions in the Asian market, is still loosely aggregated. Within the last couple of decades, new technologies have been cropping up every so often, requiring banking institutions to take a stand on whether to incorporate them in their operations or wait until later. Currently, it is perfectly right to say that â€Å"mobile banking is that technology† (Costanzo 33). Some financial institutions have already expended considerable amount of money to evaluate innovative ways through which they can utilize the devices for banking purposes, while others are waiting with baited breadth to see how it works out. Still, many marketers and financial experts are in agreement that conducting banking transactions using mobile telephony presents a huge potential for growth. According to Stewart, the chances of mobile banking surpassing any other transaction conduits within the next few years are real (17). In many financial institutions, the commonly used delivery or transaction channels include Branch, Automated Teller Machines (ATM), and on-line banking. Even though mobile banking has the potential to surpass the named transaction channels in market growth due to high penetration levels, â€Å"only 10% of financial institutions currently offer a mobile banking service† (Stewart 17). Many of the financial institutions are not at ease with the cost implications involved in rolling out the technology coupled with an uncertain market base. However, in the 21st Century, the customers have assumed the role of requesting the mobile services from their banking institutions, inarguably forcing the management to make tough decisions on the investment (Costanzo 33). This clearly reveals that customers are opening up to the technology, having realized its value and potential benefits to the banking industry. Experts are of the opinion that many financial institutions yet to endorse mobile banking will reach their breaking point so oner than they actually anticipate due to the many opportunities for revenue generation offered by the service (Costanzo 35).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Mobile Banking in Saudi Arabia: Towards Understanding the Factors that Affects the Sector specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Not only has mobile banking achieved monumental success in offering financial transaction services, but bank operators can also use the service to generate extra revenue through charging for services such as sending SMS alerts to customers notifying them of their low bank balances. Consequently, the competitive pressure lies in the multifaceted nature of mobile banking The Study Context The swift pace of acceptance of modern mobile phones in the Middle East has generated prospects for fresh and innovative mobile services. According to Mallat et al, mobile banking services have shown some of the greatest potential for growth although they a re still marginally adopted in Asia, and indeed in the whole world (42). Indeed, within the Middle East context, the extensive penetration of mobile networks and the individualized nature of mobile telephones have increasingly made mobile solutions appropriate for a multiplicity of financial services. Mobile financial services has also gained steam due to the general stability of information and communication technologies in the region coupled with encouraging experiences received though the use of m-commerce payment services (Mallat et al 42). The era of mobile banking in the Middle East has matured. The region has surged in mobile telephony usage to become the second fastest expanding mobile phone market globally, after Africa. By 2006, penetration had already surpassed the 50% mark, and an estimated 150 million mobile handsets already in circulation (Blain para. 1). An estimated 70% of the entire connections in the Middle East have been concentrated in the Islamic Republic of Ira n, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. By 2007, the average market penetration for mobile phones in the three countries stood at 67%. This represents an enormous potential for growth for mobile banking services in the region. The market is evidently there as over two thirds of the population has access to a mobile handset. Saudi Arabia With a population of 28.6 million as at July 2009, Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly the second largest mobile phone market in the Middle East, representing an estimated 15% of the entire connections (Blain para. 5). In 2008, comparative figures reveal that Saudi Arabia had an average of 114.7 mobile handsets per 100 individuals. The United Arab Emirates led in the region, with 173 handsets per 100 people, and Qatar came second, at 150.4. By 2006, 79.5% of Saudi’s population was already using mobile phones (BMI 23). This reflects a huge potential for growth in mobile financial services.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Due to the large volume of people with mobile handsets in Saudi Arabia, the device can be successfully used as a channel to offer various value-added services such as mobile advertising, banking, money transfer, commerce, and information services. Indeed, the wide range of services the device is able to offer to Saudi nationals cannot be exhausted. However, mobile banking in Saudi Arabia has been slow in penetration due to a multiplicity of factors, which includes overbearing religious undertones. Indeed, the Kingdom is still lagging behind in internet banking, the predecessor of mobile banking, with projections showing that although 73% of the financial institutions have an active website, only 25% of the websites have the capacity to offer full banking services (Jasimuddin para. 1). Problem Discussion The world has become increasingly intertwined by means of telecommunication channels and computers, giving rise to faster, cost-effective, innovative, and dynamic ways of doing busin ess. The use of m-commerce in general and mobile banking in particular has taken the world by storm in the last couple of years. The latter is increasingly finding appeal across all age categories in need of banking services, and experts in the banking industry are predicting a scenario where today’s working young adults are likely to bypass online banking and go unswervingly into the confines of mobile banking, a trend that has already been experienced in Japan (Stewart 18). However, the growth of mobile banking has neither been consistent nor linear as some nations are yet to embrace the technology despite its many tangible benefits. For instance, the growth in mobile phone banking services in the Saudi Kingdom is yet to equal the corresponding growth in the mobile phones industry. A multiplicity of factors exist, which can inexorably hinder or enhance the uptake of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia yet no conclusive studies have been undertaken to identify these factors. It i s this gap of knowledge that the study sought to fill. Study Objectives The general objective for this particular study was to evaluate the factors that affect usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. The study aimed to accomplish this objective by undertaking a critical evaluation of a cross-section of the banking institutions in the Kingdom, with a view of understanding the underlying factors as to why the technology is used or not used in the banking fraternity. The following were the specific objectives: To come up with the reasons behind the slow uptake of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia To evaluate how mobile banking has been used to market financial institutions in the Kingdom To evaluate government, legal and institutional guidelines on mobile banking in the Kingdom Research Questions and Hypotheses The study was guided by the following research questions and propositions How has the marketing scenario changed since the introduction of mobile banking in Saudi Arabiaâ€℠¢s financial sector, specifically banking institutions? H1: Marketing and advertisement costs has gone down, enabling financial institutions that are actively engaged in mobile banking to save on costs Has religious orientation played a role in the uptake of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia? H2: The Saudis are conservatively religious, and are hard to open up to new products and services offered in the market What are the major factors enhancing uptake of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia? H3: Convenience and personalized services are the key major factors enhancing uptake of the mobile banking technology Value of Study The value of this study cannot be underestimated. Analysts have continually projected that mobile financial services presents the next frontier for growth in the banking sector (Stewart 17). In addition to providing a convenient and personalized channel for conducting financial transactions, mobile banking offers the capacity to provide for other revenue generating avenu es for banks such as charging for reminders. In the US, where mobile banking technology has taken root, 85% of the top 20 financial institutions offer either one or several mobile banking products and services (Stewart 18). This reveals how mobiles devices can be used as engines for growth in the banking sector. The study therefore came up with a body of knowledge, espousing the various factors that can be used to market mobile banking to the Saudi nationals. This body of knowledge can be used by banking institutions in their attempt to market the product to their customers. The study also filled the information gap that existed on the role of religion in marketing particular products such as mobile banking Study Delimitations Apart from the usual difficulties of time and financial resources, challenges arose in attempting to come up with a balanced sample group via internet protocols since there was no opportunity to make physical contact. This limited the scope of the study. Some banking institutions included in the sample lacked or had inadequate background information on mobile banking since it is a relatively new concept in Saudi’s financial sector. Still, some banking institutions included in the sample were unwilling to divulge information on mobile banking experiences, arguing that the technology was in their strategic plan for 2010, and therefore could not disclose information. This presented difficulties for the researcher Review of Related Literature Introduction This study sought to evaluate the factors that affect usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia, either positively or negatively. The increasing ownership and use of programmable information and communication devices such as the mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and others, have been credited for the immense expansion of mobile commerce and mobile banking technologies. These hand-held â€Å"devices are effective for authorizing and managing payment and banking transac tions, offering security and convenience advantages compared to online payment via PCs† (Herzberg 53). In the US, about 85% of the top 20 financial institutions are known to offer their customers either one or more products via mobile banking (Stewart 18). By definition, Mobile banking, also acknowledged as SMS Banking or M-Banking, basically entails the provision and performance of banking and financial transactions with the assistance of modern mobile telecommunication appliances such as mobile phones or PDAs by means of Short Message Service (SMS), Mobile Browser, or Client downloads (Laukkanen 125). Through the use of these tools, an individual holding an account with a bank offering mobile banking is able to access such services as account enquiries, account transactions, stock market transactions, bill payments, and accessing customized information, including advertisements. Trends in Mobile Banking The arrival of the Internet brought new and exiting ways of transacting business globally. However, mobile banking is a relatively new experience, but with the required potential to be the market leader in transaction channels in a few years to come. In 2007, TowerGroup Consultancy, located in Boston, estimated that the US had just over 1 million clients of mobile banking products (Walford para.1). However, due to its convenience, personalized services, and enhancement of client experience, the number of individuals using the technology has drastically shot up in recent times. According to experts, SMS technology offers the most unproblematic alternative since it has the capacity to reach large numbers of customers, and does not necessarily need web access. Consequently, the use of the messaging service is undoubtedly the bread and butter of mobile financial transactions. In Japan, Mobile banking has found a huge following among young adults, fresh from college, to a point where it has surpassed online banking (Stewart 18). Currently, mobile banking pen etration level in the US stands at 6.5%, but drastically going up (White 58). In the Middle East in general and Saudi Arabia in particular, the mobile banking trend is slowly gaining steam after huge spasms of minimal activity and inactivity. Indeed, most financial institutions that had implemented mobile banking once it rolled out did so with a long-term view since the rate of adoption was expected to be low (White 26). In a 2009 worldwide survey to extract the views and attitudes on mobile banking in all the continents, 60 % of respondents in the Middle East said their financial institutions offered mobile banking services against 71% in Latin America and 31% in North America (Cocheo para. 2). This clearly reveals the phenomenon is gaining speed in the Middle East. In the study, 27% of Saudis admitted to using mobile handsets to make banking transactions and payments against a meager 3% in North America. Indeed, a massive 66% of North Americans argued they were not at ease with us ing mobile devices to make banking transactions. This notwithstanding, â€Å"a projected 30% of US households will bank using their mobile phones in 2010† (Mobile Marketing Association1) These statistics are useful indicators that mobile banking is increasingly asserting its influence in banking institutions globally (Cocheo para. 6). Selected attributes on Mobile Banking Mobile Banking and Marketing/Advertising Potential According to Mobile Marketing Association, some mobile banking functions such as SMS offers massive marketing potential for many products and services retailed by financial institutions (2). SMS has the capacity to penetrate the market segment, and reach millions of customers within a split second. As such, financial institutions can effectively use mobile banking to market their own products and services on offer such as interest rates alerts, types and nature of accounts, the kind of services offered, and physical location, among others. Indeed SMS technol ogy offers the most unproblematic alternative for marketing products since it has the capacity to reach large volumes of people who may not be necessarily connected to the internet. Consequently, it can be effectively used to reach out to the rural illiterate and semi-illiterate masses. Indeed, there exists a multiplicity of practices and activities that banking institutions can engage with their customers through a mobile handset to further their competitive advantage and market their products and services to a large volume of customers using the least costs. A normal SMS is relatively affordable, easily understandable, less ambiguous, and has the capacity to reach a large audience (Mobile Marketing Association 2). These are major selling points for any product or service. Through horizontal telecommunication convergence, mobile banking can take advantage of these attributes to generate more revenue through acting as advertisement agents for other organizations wishing to market th eir products and services using the platform (Stewart 21). In essence, â€Å"efficient mobile payment solutions facilitate the sales of mobile content and generate more traffic for mobile networks† (Mallat et al 45). Convenience Mobile banking is convenient in nature since it can be used anywhere at any hour of the day or night provided the user has access to a mobile device. According to Herzberg, these devices have revolutionalized banking transactions by presenting customers the convenience and security desirous of their banking experience (53). The author argues that â€Å"convenience [of mobile handsets] can result from using their communication capabilities when paying for goods and services, whether on foot or in cars, planes, or trains, and authorizing transactions at remote servers of banks, brokerages, and merchants† (54). In mobile banking, customers can also view bank balances, transaction histories, and retrieve payment receipts at their own convenience, a nd without having to waste time visiting the banking halls. According to Mallat et al, mobile financial services are deemed significant by users due to their inbuilt time and place independence (42). Security Herzberg alludes to the fact that the security features contained in mobile banking are revolutionary, and are major sources of motivations for millions of people who depend on the mobile device for banking purposes (54). The author stresses the fact that most conventional channels of electronic authorizations such as ATM and credit or debit card transactions are subject to failure by being compromised. Online banking can also be easily compromised by hackers due to minimal security systems. Also, using a smart card hooked up to a computer can not in any way guarantee security since the computer may probably be infected by a virus, activating it to send wrong information to the smart card. All the above scenarios are enough precedents for fraud and corruption. More importantly, security has been proposed as one of the fundamental drivers for the growth of m-commerce and mobile banking. However, the next generation mobile devices, usually with sophisticated features such as built-in color display and key board, have functional capabilities and technical solutions for curtailing hacking, and hence stopping fraud. However, a significant number of customers are not comfortable with the idea of conducting financial transactions using a mobile device. In case the device is stolen, all what is needed is a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for the thief to gain entry into your finances. Reasonable Costs and better performance By far, mobile banking is the cheapest type of conducting financial transactions in recent times. In the US, an average SMS supporting 160 characters is charged $0.03 (Costanzo 34). Not only does mobile banking appeal in terms of costs, but it has an easy-to-use interface that is best suited for uncomplicated requests such as account bala nce enquiries and requests for personal banking information (Talbot 48). In Mobile banking, individuals are not subjected to the rigorous procedures of opening a bank account as they would when dealing with branch channel. Indeed, all what is needed is to open a fully functional account on a mobile handset. Unlike in branch banking whereby customers have to meander through queues and intense heat to be served, requests are processed within seconds after the signal is received in mobile banking. The location of the customer does not matter either as long as there is network receptivity and the customer has the required type of mobile device for particular applications (Mallat et al 44). Generally, all phones support the SMS application – the most used in mobile banking. It is therefore safe to argue that mobile banking has the obvious advantage of superior performance as customers spend minimal time performing financial transactions. Level of Penetration/ Coverage Worldwide fi gures suggest the rate of mobile devices uptake has more than quadrupled in the last couple of years. According to a new UN report, an estimated 60% of the world’s population has access to a mobile phone. This is equivalent to 4.1 billion people (Bhatti para. 1). Such a high penetration rate can not only assist nations to further their economic agenda, but it can also be harnessed by private institutions such as banks to expand their customer base by reaching out to the millions of subscribers using this telecommunication technology. This is the essence of mobile banking – the capacity to reach millions of people in diverse locations around the world due to high penetration level of mobile devices. An estimated 70% of the entire connections in the Middle East have been concentrated in Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. By 2007, the average market penetration for mobile phones in the three countries stood at 67 % (Blain para. 1). According to the revelations above, it is sa fe to assume that the backbone on which mobile banking is founded has already been secured. Adoption of Mobile Banking Despite the many advantages presented by mobile banking in the modern era, the rate of adoption in many parts of the world has remained predominantly low. For instance, although most leading banking institutions in Europe offers the services, only 5% of individuals with SMS and internet enabled phones use them at present (Ensor et al para. 1). The clientele of mobile banking services in many parts of the world, including the US, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa tend to be homogenous – â€Å"young, technology-savvy males with above-average incomes who already bank online† (Ensor et al para 1). Generally, customers use their mobile devices to perform simple transactions lack balance checks, account withdrawal and deposit histories, and SMS alerts. Non-users argue that Mobile banking has no quantifiable benefits, while others are t aken aback that such a service exists. This reveals the weaknesses of the strategies used to market mobile banking to potential customers. A significant number of people cite security concerns. In this perspective, according to Ensor, the solution is for banking institutions offering the service to undertake aggressive campaigns and widen awareness for simple, cost-effective, and timely mobile banking applications among young, enterprising, and technology-savvy adults. The figure below reveals how Mobile banking is limited in scope. Figure 1: Reasons for Using Mobile Banking Source: Forrester Research, Inc (2007) The Saudi Arabia Experience It is difficult to come up with comparative figures on mobile banking in the Middle East in general and Saudi Arabia in particular. This is one of the factors that shaped the objectives of this research – to come up with insightful data that can be used by industry-wide experts in directing mobile phone activities in the country. What is known for now is that mobile phone usage in Saudi Arabia have drastically increased over the last couple of years, with 79.5% of Saudis already using mobile telephony by 2006 (BMI 23). That notwithstanding, the rate of technology uptake in the provisions of financial services has not been that promising. Undeniably, the Kingdom is still lagging behind in internet banking, the predecessor of mobile banking, with projections showing that although 73% of the financial institutions have an active website, only 25% of the websites have the capacity to offer full banking services (Jasimuddin para. 1). An attention-grabbing aspect of Saudi banking, and indeed the Middle Eastern banking is Islamic banking. According to the teachings of Islam, no Muslim is allowed to receive interest accruing from bank deposits. According to Islamic banking principles, such funds are centralized within a financial institution and then the resources are used to fund a community project or any other form of in vestment (Saudi Arabia para. 3). The returns accrued from the investment are then shared out according to input. Such a system may have considerable ramifications on the growth of mobile banking in the country. According to this document, a considerable number of banks â€Å"†¦provide mobile banking facilities for outlying villages and remote areas† (para. 5). Methodology Introduction The objective of this particular study was to evaluate the factors that affect the usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. To meet the stated objective, comprehensive methodologies grounded on the basic tenets of a marketing research were formulated for purposes of collecting the requisite data that could be sufficiently used to answer the study’s basic research questions while assuring unsurpassed reliability and validity. According to McQuarrie, a marketing research can be described as the methodical collection, recording, and analysis of information or data about issues or phenom ena relating to marketing of goods or services (26). This chapter describes the design for the market research survey, the theoretical framework, and the analysis of the study population and sample size. The techniques used to collect data, and issues of validity and reliability are also mentioned in this chapter. Research Design The marketing research employed a quantitative research design to evaluate the factors that affect the usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. In most occasions, the aim of a quantitative research design is to evaluate the association between an independent variable and a dependent variable, and is therefore either descriptive or experimental (Hopkins para. 1). This study made use of a quantitative research design since the subjects – banking institutions operating in Saudi Arabia – were measured once through conjoint analysis. According to McQuarrie, a conjoint analysis is a tool used in market research to evaluate how individuals value and perceive different characteristics that make up a distinct product or service, in this case mobile banking (102). Its main objective is to evaluate the limited number of characteristics that are most significant on an individual’s choice of a product or service. It is noteworthy to state that this study utilized internet survey technique to gather the required data needed for purposes of answering key research questions. According to Sekaran, a survey has the capacity to gather requisite information needed to assess association between various variables by way of self-report since the study subjects can respond to the questions posed using technology protocols such as the internet, VOIP, or email (76). Theoretical Framework A theoretical framework, according to Sekaran, â€Å"is a conceptual model of how one theorizes and makes logical sense of the relationship among the several factors that have been identified as important to the problem† (p. 87). It must map out and connect the various interrelationships that exist between different sets of variables or phenomena perceived to outline an indispensable constituent to the situational dynamics under study. Based on the objectives of this particular study, the mobile banking sector in Saudi Arabia became the dependent variable, while a multiplicity of factors such as security, convenience, reasonable costs, better performance, level of penetration, and marketing potential formed the independent variables. Consequently, a conceptual model aimed at guiding the study was structured. It is depicted by the figure below. The Target Population and Sample The target population for this market research was limited to financial institutions offering banking services in Saudi Arabia. It is imperative to note that the survey did not limit itself to any particular region of the Kingdom since it was internet-based. Sekaran posits that a target population is inclusive of all components – subjects, article s, objects, and animals – that meet the set criteria for inclusion in a research study (85). In this perspective, the researcher employed the services of Google online to come up with a list of 80 banking and financial institutions operating in the Kingdom. Using the rule of the thumb, 50 banking institutions were sampled from the list, and requests sent via email to their respective heads of customer care enquiring their interest to take part in the survey. 10 banks declined, but the others gave a positive response. Before the invitation letters were dispatched via email, the researcher had developed a rubric for use in selecting a sample that will exhibit a good understanding of the issues at hand. To be selected for the study, all subjects, in this case banking institutions, must have operated in Saudi Arabia for a period not less than 5 years. No limitation was put on the types of products and services offered by the banks. But to meet the standards for selection, the ban ks were expected to be open to all age categories, not to particular segments or age-groups. Lastly, the banks were expected to give a guarantee that the online questionnaires were to be duly filled by the heads of product development or their assistants in the respective banks Data Collection Tools Primary data for the internet survey was done through administration of online questionnaires while secondary data was collected through a critical review of related literature. According to Sekaran, a questionnaire is basically a printed self-report exclusively employed to generate information or data obtained through written responses (102). Questionnaires are best suited to collect data in studies revolving around descriptive quantitative research designs as they are exhaustive in response and easily understandable. Questionnaires are also able to attain high response rate, take minimal time to complete, guarantees anonymity to the identity of respondents, and present an insignificant chance for prejudice since they are offered in a consistent manner. Consequently, the data or information obtainable through the administration of the questionnaire to subjects is more or less comparable in nature and scope to that acquired by a key informant interview (Sekaran 104). Secondary data for the study was gathered through a critical review of related literature. The review of literature was necessarily imperative since the research was interested in evaluating a relatively new concept in the market – mobile banking. According to May, the practice of reviewing relevant literature forms a good source of data as it â€Å"†¦represents a reflection of reality† (182). Reliability and Validity Reliability can be defined as the rate of consistency or uniformity with which the tools used to collect data are able to measure the variables or phenomena that they are intended to measure (May 108). The questionnaire developed for the purposes of collecting data thro ugh online protocols exposed outstanding consistencies in the way the respondents understood and responded to the questions. Ample guidance on how to fill the questionnaire had been dispatched beforehand to the subjects to curtail chances of data collector’s error. This ensured reliability of data collected. The bank representatives in the internet survey were also reassured on their own privacy online, enabling them to offer full-length information. Validity describes the rate or degree to which a particular data collection tool is able to measure or assess the phenomenon or variable that it had been set to measure (May 110). Accordingly, the questions included in the data gathering instrument had been thoroughly researched to ensure their capacity to measure the intended objectives in the most effective and consistent manner. The questions were set based on the review of related literature to ensure validity. Also, the questionnaire was set using simple language to ensure t he questions were understandable to the subjects. This ensured clarity in response, and hence boosted validity. Subsequently, the results arising from this study can be generalized to the study population. Data Analysis After the questionnaire were sent back from the field via email, quantitative data was cleaned, coded and entered into SPSS, a statistical software package. The data were then analyzed through descriptive statistics such as frequencies and cross-tabulations to enhance effective interpretation of results. The techniques of choice modelling were used to direct the process of harnessing the data into meaningful interpretations. According to McQuarrie, choice modelling endeavours to mould the decision-making procedures of a person or a segment of a population in a particular context (154). Afterwards, the resulting frequencies and percentages were harnessed, interpreted and presented in various forms, including text and figures developed using Microsoft’s Ms Excel . Qualitative data generated by the unstructured questions were coded and analyzed using qualitative content analysis to assist in quantifying emerging features, trends, and concepts. Sekaran explains qualitative content analysis as a statistical procedure utilized to methodically code and analyze answers that were given in either verbal or written communication to facilitate the quantitative measurement of variables. Results Introduction This particular study was interested in evaluating the factors that affect the usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. The results were both insightful and interesting, and provided significant information and data that can be used by service providers, marketers, and mobile device manufacturers in a concerted effort to penetrate different market segments of the society. Mobile banking had experienced a low adoption rate, not only in Saudi Arabia, but also in other countries such as the US, Britain, Canada, Italy and France (Ensor et al 2). Howeve r, by the turn of the new decade, the market had started to warm up to this new banking channel, with the affluent working, technology-savvy young adults forming the largest proportion of the consumers of the new technology. Of the 50 banking institutions selected for the study, 10 turned down the request citing administrative and business concerns. It is therefore essential to note that this market research study attained 80% response rate. The statement of results from the field data will be presented in this section, followed by a broad discussion of the results based on the study objectives and propositions. Statement of Results 72% of all the banks included in the study offered some form of mobile banking product, while 40% of those who didn’t said they were piloting the service, anticipating rolling it out in the near future. Only 25% of those who didn’t offer the services felt that it offered no tangible benefits to Saudis, with another 20% of the banks lacking mobile banking arguing that it was quite difficult to sell the concept in the Kingdom due to religious connotations. The statistics reveals a multifaceted interplay between socio-cultural values and the channels of marketing, discussed comprehensively in the analysis section. Generally, over two-thirds (67.8%) banks have been transacting business in the Kingdom for the last 30 years. Uptake of the technology was however an issue of concern for many banking institutions, with only a partly 12% of them reporting that over 30% of their customers depended on mobile banking. Many heads of product development taking part in this particular study could not really understand the situational and marketing dynamics behind the slow uptake of mobile banking in the Kingdom as over half (54%) said they had conducted intensive campaigns to market the product through print and electronic media yet the rate of adoption remained relatively low. Majority of the banking institutions were in agreement t hat less than 10% of their clients depended on the new technology. The rest of the distribution is revealed in the figure below. Figure 3: Percentage Number of Customers Depending on Mobile Banking In the conjoint analysis, a clear relationship existed between the age factor and mobile banking. When requested to accurately indicate the ages of customers with mobile banking accounts through documentation, it was revealed that over 80% of mobile account holders were below the age of 30. Only 5% of the customers with mobile accounts were above 40 years of age. This again points to the need for marketers to consider the age factor while marketing their products and services so that they do not expend limited organizational resources marketing products and services to the wrong segment of the market. The statistics appeals more to the dynamics of market segmentation. Security issues topped the reasons why these new technology had failed to break the ice in Saudi Arabia as it was cited b y an overwhelming 72% of the banking professionals who took part in the internet survey. According to the review of related literature, security concerns topped the list of concerns as to why the market had failed to respond positively to mobile banking technology despite its many benefits. Lack of effective communication channels between the banks and the customers was also an issue of major concern to 44% of the professionals taking part in the survey since they felt that banking institutions were not working overboard to market the technology despite the usual production of pamphlets, which customers never cared to read even after picking them. Lack of effective and aggressive marketing strategies to boost the product in the local market scene was selected by 36% of the banking professionals as the major reason why the adoption level for mobile banking had been slow. These two revelations points to the need for banking institutions to have effective marketing and communication st rategies. Religious indoctrination and failure to offer authentic banking experience were selected by 32% and 26% of the subjects respectively. The rest of the distribution is captured in the figure below. Figure 4: Reasons for Slow Adoption Levels for Mobile Banking An overwhelming 88% of the banking professionals whose banks had already initiated mobile banking services felt that the technology had more potential of marketing the products offered by their respective banks than any other financial transaction channel on offer so far. 68% of the respondents whose banks did not offer mobile banking services agreed with their counterparts that mobile banking has the most capability of marketing other products offered by banking institutions judging by the high penetration of mobile handsets in Saudi Arabia. Only 8 % of the entire sample felt that customers never cared to read advertisements messages sent directly into their phones by banking institutions. However, the general underst anding was that mobile handsets were becoming important mediums for advertisement, and as such, they could be effectively used by financial institutions to market their range of products and services to their customers According to the study findings, mobile banking in Saudi Arabia is used to perform uncomplicated financial transactions such as requests for bank balances (64%), requests for transaction histories (46%), airtime loading (38%), alerts on large payments or bank deficits (36%), and paying bills (24%). This coincides with the scenario depicted in the review of related literature that mobile banking has not mutated into a serious channel of banking although all indicators suggest that it is headed to become the preferred mode of banking in the future. On aggregate, 78% of customers with mobile accounts use Short Messaging Service (SMS) for their financial transactions while the rest use mobile internet or downloadable programs. Two-thirds of the respondents were satisfied that the Saudi kingdom was doing enough to stimulate growth in the industry through offering incentives for growth such as tax breaks. 76% of the banking professionals said they were happy with the Saudi kingdom for allowing the business environment to be guided by the principles of free market economy rather than government interference as it is the case in many Islamic nations. This, according to the banking professionals, had spurred considerable growth in the banking fraternity in general and in mobile banking in particular. Lastly, majority of the subjects felt that that mobile banking had an immense potential for growth, and it was indeed headed in the right direction. Indeed, 52% of the subjects were positive that mobile banking will overtake other banking channels such as branch, ATM and online services by 2015 due to its capacity to penetrate the most remote areas of the country. Other factors that will play a significant role in the technology’s projected growth inc lude accessibility and ease of use, affordability, high coverage, convenience and security. The distribution is best captured in the figure below. Figure 5: Major Growth Influences in Mobile Banking Analysis and Discussion This study had been commenced to evaluate the factors that affect usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. Several issues stood out from the study findings that confounded the argument that Saudi Arabia’s mobile banking sector was ready for take off, but was still been faced by a multiplicity of challenges. This is expected since mobile banking is a relatively new concept. The researcher had formulated 3 research questions and a similar number of hypotheses to guide the study process. The analysis of the results based on the key study questions is presented below. According to Allen, the decision of an organization to enter into a new business area is always a challenging one to make due to the multifaceted factors implicated â€Å"and the uncertainties o f predicting future events† (22). Before entry into a particular market segment, many organizations undertake a critical evaluation of the financial gains expected, and when the economic gains will finally be attained. In the same vein, only few organizations are willing to invest massive financial resources for long-term benefits. In many countries, including Saudi Arabia, mobile banking is viewed as a long-term investment, expected to churn out profits and assert itself in the market some 5-10 years to come. This is the major reason why many Saudi banks, according to the study results, developed cold feet on rolling out the technology – financial returns were not expected anytime soon. Influence of social-cultural and religious values in marketing of the mobile banking product; age factor and the dynamics of market segmentation; and security fears have actively played a role in hindering the adoption of mobile banking in the country. Many financial institutions adhere to the principles of Islamic banking, a form of banking that curtails receiving of interests accruing from bank deposits (Saudi Arabia para. 3). The socio-economic and religious values shape personal values, which in turn affects customer attitudes and behaviour towards a particular product or service (Vinson 44). Consequently, adoption levels for mobile banking in Saudi Arabia will remain low if socio-cultural and religious values practiced imply that the product goes against their own fabric. According to industry trends, mobile banking is mostly embraced by the affluent, technology-savvy working young adults with incomes that are on the higher end (Ensor et al 2). According to the study results, this was not factored in when conducting advertisement campaigns in Saudi Arabia, and hence the slow take off. Experts are of the opinion that no single organization can actively be able to satisfy the needs and requirements of all customers since the requirements changes with age (†Å"Learn Marketing† para. 1). In this perspective, a more market-focussed approach may be needed to increase adoption levels. Security-wise, customers are cautious about the prospects of hackers gaining access to confidential financial information. In case of theft, all what the thief needs is a PIN to gain access to the customer’s finances (Herzberg 54). According to the study results, lack of effective communication and marketing channels between the bank and customers, failure to offer authentic banking experience, and failure to grow past simple financial transactions has also negatively affected the growth of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. Effective communication and strategic marketing goes hand-in-hand if any product or service is to penetrate a particular segment of the market (Schultz et al 19). During their marketing campaigns, the financial institutions failed to instil the concept that mobile banking is still a form of banking. As such, many customers want t o see the inside of the banking halls to believe that they are indeed transacting business activities. The noise that mobile banking has been unable to break loose from performing small and often insignificant transactions has been reverberated across the world, not only in Saudi Arabia. From the study, it is clearly evident that mobile banking deals with small transactions such as checking account balances, Receiving accounts alerts, reviewing recent transactions, transferring money between individual accounts, and paying bills. A study conducted in Europe to evaluate the impact of mobile banking in 7 European countries – Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, France, Spain, UK, and Germany – also came up with similar reasons (Ensor et al 6). On the brighter side, Saudi Arabia’s mobile banking sector has real prospects for growth in the coming years. According to experts, mobile banking is destined to become the preferred marketing channel by 2015 (Stewart 16). In a 2009 worldwide survey to generate the views and attitudes on mobile banking in all the continents, 60 % of respondents in the Middle East said their financial institutions offered mobile banking services against 71% in Latin America and 31% in North America (Cocheo para. 2). By 2006, an estimated 79.5% of Saudi residents had access to a mobile device, the primary medium used in mobile banking. These statistics reveals a sector of the market economy that can achieve monumental growth if the right mix of ideas and stimulants for growth are all incorporated in the right proportions. According to the study, some of the positive factors that may affect the usage and uptake of mobile banking in the Kingdom include: accessibility; immense marketing potential; high penetration level; superior performance; low charges; convenience; enhanced security; and market-friendly incentives and regulations by the Saudi kingdom. Indeed, Herzberg posits that the mobile handsets have revolutionalized banking transactions by presenting customers the convenience and security desirous of their banking experience (53). From the above discussion, it is safe to ague that all the study hypotheses have been proved right. Conclusions and Recommendations Conclusions This study had been commissioned to evaluate the factors that affect the usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. Towards this objective, an internet based market research survey was conducted, using heads of product development of selected financial institutions as the study subjects. The study revealed that although Saudi Arabia had a huge potential for growth in mobile banking, various forces and challenges kept holding the process back. Some of the most pertinent issues revealed after the initial data analysis and interpretation include: social-cultural values and religion; age factor and the dynamics of market segmentation; security issues; lack of effective communication channels among the banking staff and their customers; inad equate marketing strategies; and failure by banking institutions to offer authentic banking experience to customers According to the study results, the banking industry in Saudi Arabia is however bound to change drastically in the coming years due to mobile banking. The service has many benefits that can be transferred to customers, which includes accessibility, security functions, convenience, affordability, high penetration rate, and huge potential in marketing. These are value-added benefits that customers will be able to enjoy in the future if the mobile banking trend moves in the right direction. So far, mobile banking is overwhelmingly used by young affluent adults. It is just a matter of time before the full effects of the technology are felt across the world Recommendations Many recommendations can be suggested due to the fact that mobile banking is still in its infancy stage. However, the most important recommendation right now is for the financial institutions to segment t he market according to needs and requirements approach. Advertisements for products and services are a costly agenda for organizations across the world; but they become even costlier if they do not target the right audience since financial resources ends up been virtually wasted. Second, Banks that are already offering the service must step up their campaigns to ensure that all their customers know about the product. As it stands now, a huge proportion of individuals with bank accounts have no knowledge that mobile banking exists. Third, the Saudi Kingdom should be encouraged to offer more incentives to emerging technologies such as mobile banking and e-commerce, especially when such technologies can be effectively used to spur economic growth and enhance the welfare of mankind. Future Research Areas Further research is needed to come up with the reasons as to why customers prefer to perform simple transactions in mobile banking unlike in other traditional banking channels such as b ranch and ATM. 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