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    <title>The Research Design Associates Blog</title>
    <description>All posts from the Research Design Associates Blog.</description>
    <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/</link>
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    <pubDate>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:01:00 -0500</pubDate>
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      <title>Web Content: The Great Business Equalizer</title>
      <description><![CDATA[If you ask a small business owner about competing with the legacy business with 4,000 employees and unlimited marketing budget, you’re likely to hear that that they can’t and won’t compete in that space. What all small businesses need to know is that the Web in all its forms is as much available to them as it is to the ‘big guys’. The key is to use the Web tools that will generate market share. Here’s a quick look at the tools and strategies that make that possible.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Small_business_equalize_market_through_the_web.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:01:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Small_business_equalize_market_through_the_web.html</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>I Love Networking!</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I’ve learned that sometimes, when things come naturally to you, it’s not always the same for others. I learned this most poignantly with networking. Meeting new people and helping to facilitate connections is a favorite activity of mine. Because of this skill, I was asked to craft a list of tips for some friends who were looking for pointers, so I thought I’d share, just in case any of it applies to your circumstances:]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Pointers_for_successful_networking.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:35:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Pointers_for_successful_networking.html</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>E-Mail Marketing: A Must for Small Businessses and Non-Profits</title>
      <description><![CDATA[he ones I do pay attention to are from my local small businesses that have been late entries to web-based anything. Three are great examples of different ways to use this powerful marketing tool: one is a local branch of a national franchise bakery that has done very well in my neighborhood; another is an upscale ladies wear store with a minimal web presence; and the third is a non-profit sports organization.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/small_businesses_take_on_loyalty.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:41:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/small_businesses_take_on_loyalty.html</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Youth in Revolt: Reversed</title>
      <description><![CDATA[As a young businessperson, it’s encouraging to be reminded that your efforts and your voice matter. As it turns out, over 50% of the world’s population is under age 27, which puts me just barely in the minority at the tender age of 28. Regardless, it’s eye-open to recognize this statistic and not take for granted being young. The World Economic Forum  joins forces with communities to identify, mentor and empower the leaders of tomorrow. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/youth-in-revolt-reversed.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:44:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/youth-in-revolt-reversed.html</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Saudi Arabia Has Real Business Opportunities</title>
      <description><![CDATA[There are some real business opportunities for companies in Saudi Arabia.  Saudi Arabia has approximately 26 million people and that is anticipated to reach 50 million people in the next 25 years.  The Saudi government has committed over $625 billion in expansion. When entering a new market it is important to know the business environment.  Take the time to learn the culture and understand the geopolitics of the region from Saudi Arabia’s perspective. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/saudi-arabia-has-real-business-opportunities.html</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:15:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/saudi-arabia-has-real-business-opportunities.html</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Help for Audited Medicare Providers</title>
      <description><![CDATA[CMS contractors audit providers of Medicare services on a contingency-fee basis to find improper overpayments. With intense pressure to investigate fraud, and audit contractors incentivized with contingency fees to find improper overpayments, the audit system itself is ripe for error and abuse.  Statistical analysts at Research Design Associates have expertise in challenging the sampling and extrapolation process. Often working with law firms representing providers in Medicare overpayment disputes, we investigate every phase of the process.  Errors in sampling design and/or statistical analysis can generate hundreds of thousands of dollars of incorrect extrapolated overpayments.  It is worthwhile considering a challenge to audit statistical methodology since a successful challenge could nullify the extrapolation.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/help-for-audited-medicare-providers-109.html</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:20:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/help-for-audited-medicare-providers-109.html</guid>
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      <title>RAC Attacks: The Current Landscape of Medicare Audits</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Improper payments for health care are estimated to range between 3% and 10% of total health care expenditures nationally. The Medicare program has introduced “recovery audit contracting” (RAC) as a way of assuring that proper payments are being made for services, identifying fraud and abuse. The goal is to reduce fraud during 2009 to 2012 by 50%. With intense pressure to investigate fraud and audit contractors incentivized with contingency fees to find improper overpayments, the audit system itself is ripe for error and abuse.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/rac-attacks-the-current-landscape-of-medicare-audits.html</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:55:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/rac-attacks-the-current-landscape-of-medicare-audits.html</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Business is booming in Saudi Arabia</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The three-day forum discussed opportunities for greater economic collaboration between the US and Saudi Arabia and provided an unparalleled business networking environment. The energy, education, medical sectors as well as woman owned business markets. All are experiencing dynamic growth and providing real opportunity for US businesses able to partner in these markets.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Opportunities_for_business_partnerships_available_now.html</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:31:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Opportunities_for_business_partnerships_available_now.html</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Don’t Write Off or Write Down That Excess Inventory This Year End!</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Many businesses face difficult decisions at the end of every year to write off excess or aged inventory in an effort to have the financial statements accurately reflect the financial position of that inventory. Don’t take that financial hit this year! You have alternatives that will not impact your balance sheet or income statement at all. You have the opportunity to take those assets that have been a balance sheet headache and trade or barter them for prepaid assets such as media. There are many corporate barter exchanges that make trades like these every day and it is an absolute win-win for all parties involved. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Barter_banking_alturnative.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:25:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Barter_banking_alturnative.html</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Ashby Green</title>
      <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/ashby-green.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2011 09:32:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/ashby-green.html</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>7 Reasons To Barter In This Or Any Economy!</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Barter is simply the trading of goods or services for other goods or services with no cash involvement. To promote bartering and make it easier for companies to interact, barter exchanges were established. These systems enable bartering to be taken to a new level by offering "barter credits" which are used like cash within that specific network. When you "sell" something you get paid in barter credits which you can then use to "pay" for something from another vendor if necessary or bank until needed at a future time. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Barter_banking_alturnative_to_cash.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2011 08:04:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Barter_banking_alturnative_to_cash.html</guid>
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      <title>Horse vets in the cloud</title>
      <description><![CDATA[My goal was to demystify what moving to the cloud might mean for them short and long term. Short term there’s enormous opportunity for ambulatory medicine; real time access to medical records and  billing, current research and in depth medical information, communication with clients and collaboration with a world of colleagues. Long term, it is where business will be conducted.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/horse-vets-in-the-cloud-99.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:51:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/horse-vets-in-the-cloud-99.html</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>My bank went bust</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Much to my chagrin I found out that MY small local bank failed last Friday. was interested in a bank serving the local community and accountable to it in preference to multinational investors. I’m a bit stuck on real estate loans backed by land and not multiply sold paper. I remain troubled by the creation of the image of wealth or security in the absence of that value during the housing bubble. No I’m not harking back to the gold standard. We do need new financial vehicles. However I want my checking account, credit card and debit card fees to reflect the cost of those transaction, not to be building a pool of money to drive risky Wall Street commoditized investments. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/keep_on_community_banking.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:06:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/keep_on_community_banking.html</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guest Bloggers</title>
      <description><![CDATA[From time to time our friends help us out and write articles for the Research Design Associates. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/guest-bloggers.html</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:48:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/guest-bloggers.html</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>The Nitty-Gritty of PCI Compliance - credit card data security</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I get calls often about PCI DSS (also called PCI Compliance) which boils down to the regulations that all merchants who accept credit card transactions follow to be sure they’re best protecting their customer’s credit card data.  While these standards have been in place since 2005, my sharing of this information with business owners often comes as a surprise. Apart from the cost to merchants and roll-out efforts, it will take continued education and open-mindedness by business owners to recognize the gravity of credit card security as well as the large possible infractions for breaches (maximums around $250,000/breach/month) which can be paralyzing to most businesses.  ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Credit_card_security_complience_and_payment_technologies.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 09:55:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Credit_card_security_complience_and_payment_technologies.html</guid>
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      <title>What Do the New Debit Card Laws Mean for You?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[With the passage of the Durbin Amendment new debit rates became effective on October 1. The amendment lowered the interchange rate (wholesale costs) for debit transactions all the way down to the .05% and $.21 per transaction fees. The new law was meant to save some businesses money, so be sure to contact your merchant service provider to see if these savings apply to you and to insure that they are being passed on to you.  There are plenty of business and consumer choices.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Debit_card_fees_for_business_and_consumer.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 30 Oct 2011 09:51:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Debit_card_fees_for_business_and_consumer.html</guid>
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      <title>Credits Unions vs. Banks: Do Your Homework</title>
      <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/credits-unions-vs-banks-do-your-homework.html</link>
      <pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:52:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/credits-unions-vs-banks-do-your-homework.html</guid>
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      <title>Credit Unions - Meeting Members' Needs</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Credit Unions offer real banking alternatives. Notable is its strong support for business accounts, a hard-to-find service in many other credit unions. Business deposit accounts and lending are supplemented by merchant card services for credit and debit card transactions and Automated Clearing House (ACH) electronic transfers – services usually associated with fee-charging commercial banks. Funding comes from member accounts - $1. per month per deposit account provides a $25 million source for community college and university scholarships, grants to state museums and the national guard, as well as an innovative teacher housing project. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/banking_alturnative_for_business_and_personal_accounts.html</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:41:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/banking_alturnative_for_business_and_personal_accounts.html</guid>
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      <title>No Fees, Please - We're Credit Unions!</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Millions of Americans were able to relax when a certain behemoth financial institution announced this week it would begin to charge five dollars a month for customers to use debit cards for non-ATM transactions. Why? Because as much as the profit-driven banks like to ignore them, credit unions with their 91 million members will never follow that model. Since 1909, credit unions have provided service based financial safe havens for their members.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Make_your_money_work_for_you_not_for_your_bank.html</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:59:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Make_your_money_work_for_you_not_for_your_bank.html</guid>
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      <title>Police Lineups Under Scrutiny</title>
      <description><![CDATA[In my last blog I wrote about the New Jersey Supreme Court landmark decision that requires significant changes in the way courts evaluate identification evidence at trial and how they instruct juries. Eyewitness identification issues again have been headline news: Eyewitness testimony was the key evidence used to convict Troy Davis who was executed in Atlanta last night. There was no physical evidence linking Mr. Davis to the 1989 killing of a police officer in Savannah, Ga. Seven of nine witnesses against Mr. Davis recanted after trial. Six of the witnesses said the police threatened them if they did not identify Mr. Davis. The new rules mandated by the NJ Supreme Court for conducting identification procedures, however, should go a long way in reducing the pressures and influences on witnesses that may contribute to mistaken identifications. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Court_changes_line-up_rules.html</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:23:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Court_changes_line-up_rules.html</guid>
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      <title>Landmark Court Decision Mandates Changes in Eyewitness Identification Procedures</title>
      <description><![CDATA[In August, the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a landmark decision that requires significant changes in the way courts evaluate eyewitness identification evidence at trial and how they instruct juries. The court acknowledged a "troubling lack of reliability in eyewitness identifications" based on an exhaustive review of the scientific research conducted since the 1970s.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/traditional_eyewitness_procedures_questioned.html</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:21:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/traditional_eyewitness_procedures_questioned.html</guid>
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      <title>Does multitasking make you stupid?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Digital natives are constantly switching attention from a variety of inputs. While rapid engagement with a variety of stimulation through multiple sources of web input, what happens to the “quiet” engagement. Where do we learn the skills necessary for the creative, insightful and inventive thought? How do we learn to lead and support leaders if we are mainly engaged in reception? Hopefully we’ll observe, collaborate and learn how digital immersion impacts education; gaining insights about development in the digital age. Otherwise, today's youth will wonder “What took you so long?”]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/insights-problem-solving-engaging-with-the-new-media-leaders-of-the-future.html</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:34:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/insights-problem-solving-engaging-with-the-new-media-leaders-of-the-future.html</guid>
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      <title>Business communications, social networking, leadership and concentrated creative thought</title>
      <description><![CDATA[He warned that multitasking, immediacy and constant interruption may be the enemy of solitude, concentration and long stretches of time without distraction or interruption are essential to formulate ideas, to think flexibly, creatively, and independently. And yet the impact of technologies on complex collaborative problem solving, rapid access to information and the sparking of innovative ideas among those with a collective vision can generate remarkable knowledge. How do we accomplish these focused actions and interactions while adapting to the new socially networked norms? Older brains (or those on the grey side of the digital divide) are going to have to adapt to the opportunity if their institutional memory is going to be reliant to the future.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Clash_of_cultures_and_ideas.html</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:28:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Clash_of_cultures_and_ideas.html</guid>
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      <title>Moving or Expanding Your Company</title>
      <description><![CDATA[This past season we worked with a firm that was interested in expanding its operations into Georgia. As always the first step is to define the markets for the firm in the new location. A firm needs to sort out the market share and opportunity that the new location is expected to provide and to understand the fit between workforce needs of the business and workforce assets of the new location. Once the choice of locations can be narrowed to a list of two or three locations, then a firm should explore the tax incentives of each state. ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Workforce_match_and_tax_incentives_in_the_new_locale.html</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:28:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/Workforce_match_and_tax_incentives_in_the_new_locale.html</guid>
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      <title>Steps toward developeveloping new and international markets</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Growing new markets is a key component to future revenues. Finding new vertical markets and developing then strategically. Assessing international market opportunities and obtaining assistance from state trade representatives. Steps to access state support for exports.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/steps-toward-developeveloping-new-and-international-markets.html</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:31:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.researchdesignassociates.com/blog-article/items/steps-toward-developeveloping-new-and-international-markets.html</guid>
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