System evaluates promotion success
A system that offers both manufacturers and their sales forces documented information about the success of their promotions is available from Arbitron/SAMI. Known as the SAMI Promotion Evaluation System, this service can answer specific quantifying questions regarding promotional strategies and decision. To address such questions, the system begins by calculating what volume would have occurred in the absence of a particular promotion or promotional event. This base volume is referred to as a Baseline. Once the Baseline is determined, the Promotion Evaluation System can provide reports that quantify the effects of in-store trade support (display presence, feature advertising, and shelf price reduction).
Interface for A-CROSS and ACS QUERY
In conjunction with its acquisition of the marketing rights to Strawberry Soft-ware Inc.'s A-CROSS cross tabulation software program, Analytical Computer Service, Inc. (ACS) has developed an interface between A-CROSS and ACS-QUERY, called Q-LINK, which loads the answer test and card column definitions from an ACS-QUERY questionnaire into A-CROSS and creates tables and a dummy banner for each question.
Quality management program expanded
Total Research has expanded its management programs designed to measure, monitor, and improve customer satisfaction and quality management. Under the new program, clients will be offered a broader perspective on customer perceptions and behavior related to the quality of their services, products, and organizations. Increased research and consulting will focus on such quality issues as product design and function, and customer-focused organizational development as well as service.
LOS norms available for PC
The 1988 CPH A Length of Stay norms are now available in software format for users with IBM compatible PCs from Healthcare Knowledge Systems (HKS). The new Electronic Length of Stay (eLOS) software gives users the same data contained in the annual Length of Stay by Diagnosis and Operation books published by CPHA for the last 25 years and now marketed by HKS. Users specify the patient's condition by ICD-9-CM code, diagnosis or operation group, or key words; the system prompts them for a few more details and then pulls up the appropriate LOS table. eLOS is positioned between the CPHA LOS books, for manual look-up, and the CPHA LOS tapes, which incorporate the data files into the user's mainframe system. It runs on IBM ATs, PS/2s, or true compatibles with hard disk and 640k memory. The eLOS norms reflect more than five million patient discharge records from short-term U.S. hospitals - CPHA's traditional PAS participants plus other providers around the country. Clients can purchase software for one or more geographic regions or for the U.S. as a whole.
Software package for electronic form design and management
A new software package that can design and manage electronic forms has been introduced by Digisoft Computers, Inc. The software, Telescript, is tailored for telephone interviewing and can automate marketing research, telemarketing, customer service and similar applications using local area networks. Telescript includes an interface into PC databases where a user can both store and recall information from within any script. In addition, it can create questionnaires with conditional branching and other logic, and is flexible enough to support text, numeric, computation, date, time and other responses of a questionnaire. It can also add columns and perform calculations on screen. The package supports 1-100 users working simultaneously and can monitor and control all Telescript activity. A supervisor can sign on from any workstation and change jobs, users, scripts, and more while work is ongoing. Telescript will report all activity, including call length, disposition, and operator effectiveness. For more write Digisoft Computers, Inc., 245 E. 92nd St., New York, NY, 10128.