Category: Uncategorized

Refer to the blog post on cnet.com by Leslie Kats, she talks about the solar-powered school in rural South Africa that is introduced by Samsung. Basically, the solar-powered classroom is a shipping container that has installed solar panels, which can generate up to nine hours of electricity per day. Furthermore, the classroom itself is filled with Samsung electronic devices including notebooks, tablets and Galaxy notes. The classroom in South Africa mainly provides to the students in Africa who are not as fortunate as students in other countries. The project allows them to experience the technological development. Moreover, the portable school can offer students in Africa an excellent learning experience on some simple computer skills. Since the solar-powered school in rural South Africa was built last year, a lot of students are able to access the internet and get helped with their educations.

I am really impressed by the solar-powered school designed by Samsung. The project is operating as social-responsibility initiatives and Samsung tries to transform its advanced technology into a helpful practice environment in order to create more opportunities for the future generation in Africa. Samsung’s target is to reach 5 million students with its solar-powered school in Africa by 2015. By developing this kind of classroom, the education system in Africa area will be improved greatly. Therefore, Samsung should continue with their new innovations not only can satisfy modern people’s desire, but also able to help those people in need just like the demonstration of the solar-powered school for helping African students.

Reference: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57542623-1/samsung-solar-powered-school-shines-in-rural-south-africa/?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=

As we talked about sustainability this week, the largest furniture retailer, Ikea, is planning to shift to renewable energy by 2020. Ikea will move toward more energy-efficient products such as induction cooker and LED light bulbs. As the guest speaker addressed in class, design innovation products help customers with environmental issues. The new force of energy-efficient product can help with the reduction of gas emission. Furthermore, Ikea will be cutting half of its gas emission of the operation by 2015.

On the other hand, Ikea will be growing more trees than it uses for beds and cupboards. Ikea will be investing money into solar and wind power to produce most of its group’s energy in the future. This action plan definitely takes a step in regard to sustainability development for the environment. Also, it saves money for both the consumers and Ikea. The reduction of energy of household appliances for consumers will be saving money for them and be considered as an increase in income. The renewable energy will be saving a large amount of money for Ikea as well. This great strategy is supported by many environmentalists, and after the introduction of the Ikea’s “green” plan, Ikea is being seem as a significant role model for other companies.

Reference:http://www.smh.com.au/business/carbon-economy/ikea-assembles-plan-to-go-green-20121023-2837d.html

As we all know the unfortunate disaster of Hurricane Sandy took place in New York at the end of October had a great impact on US election 2012 as well as the American economy. According to “The New York Times: Hurricane Sandy impact extends to the supply chain could impede holiday sales” by Michael Johnsen, some warehouses for storing were forced to shut down and the distribution centers had to slow down the delivery. Apparently, Harricane Sandy affects the supply chain severely in America, and it definitely causes a great loss (about $3 trillion in output, equivalent to 20% of the gross domestic product).

As the instructor mentioned in class, the supply operation is very important when delivering goods and products to different countries. Most of the companies might rent warehouses near the port or far from the port by weighting the transportation fees and the renting fees of both options. Once the weather such like Sandy affects the supply chain, the supply chain operation managers require being decisive and having quick reactions in respond to the disaster. After the storm, the American economy is a facing a difficult timing in regard to housing issues, dealing a heavy blow to the national economy.

Reference: http://www.drugstorenews.com/article/new-york-times-hurricane-sandy-impact-extends-supply-chain-could-impede-holiday-sales?utm_source=GoogleNews&utm_medium=Syndication&utm_campaign=ManualSitemap

Recently, china and Japan are having a large dispute about Diaoyu Island which does not only affect the political powers but also heavily affect the economy in both countries. Some of the main exports from Japanese such as automobile and electronic devices are facing a dangerous challenge. The majority of Chine people are refusing to purchase any Japanese products. Even more extreme case, there are people continuingly destroying their Japanese-made products. There are protests for Japanese product almost everywhere. These two countries are experiencing a cold war, and it affects the economy of both countries at the same time. This is because China is the largest export and Import County in the world, and China is one of Japan’s largest exporting countries. During this period, Japan’s export rate to China decreased by 14 percent.

As one of the news on Chicago and tribune business news mentioned: “Almost a quarter of Japanese manufacturers are rethinking their investment plans in China and some may shift future production elsewhere after the spike in tensions between Asia’s two largest economies.” The Japanese market in China seems to have downgrade timing, so they need to switch their market segmentation into another country. On the first and, Japan is able to solve their problem in a short term. On the other hand, they are losing a huge opportunity market which its economic system is growing in the fastest pace amongst the world.

Reference: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-23/business/sns-rt-us-japan-china-firmsbre89m1gs-20121023_1_japanese-companies-china-and-japan-china-dispute

Seeking the right timing for Twitter IPO

In the previous class, we have talked about how the Initial public offering for Facebook was overvalued; therefore they had lost 50 billion dollars in the last three months.

In July of 2006, this new rising useful tool to build up social network called Twitter was being created. It already has about 140 million active users so far. Compared to Facebook, Twitter has created more interactions amongst the people who have common topics and interests.(point of parity) It built up a platform for people ranging from youngsters to people in middle age to comment on different issues and you can get immediate responses from other people who “followed” you.(point of difference) The source of Twitter revenue comes from the advertisements for companies such as Starbucks and BestBuy, and the total revenue of Twitter is about 140 million dollars in 2010. Now, the question of an IPO is “a decision we’ll make when we think the time is right for us,” he said. I think it is a smart decision for them to hold for the IPO for now as this new rising company is still setting up some new features and mobile advertisement recently.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/business-technology/

http://www.twitip.com/twitter-versus-facebook/

One of the biggest headlined news which caught all eyes of audiences around the world just like a talking dog on YouTube has caught most eyes, was when Apple Company sued Samsung for being a copyist of Apple’s very own iPhone on their hit android phone called the “Samsung Galaxy SIII”. Apple has filed a lawsuit on Samsung’s imitation which has caused Samsung $1.05 billion. Even though it caused a loss of a huge amount of money, it’s all worth it. Samsung’s Galaxy smartphone sales helped the company earn a large amount of $4.33 billion in just three months after its launching.

The sales of Samsung’s Galaxy SIII soar over the recent sales of iPhone 4s. Despite the loss of reputation after the lawsuit, most people around the world will still be eying on the SIII over the iPhone 4s. This is because the Samsung Galaxy SIII is a practically better phone with the amount of price people pay for it. I think the features on it are equal or even better than the iPhone 4s and people can get it with a lower price. Apple might pick on Samsung again and sue them again for imitating on other stuff, but Samsung won’t mind losing another few billions of dollars because the launching of that phone already helped them earn large amount of profit in billions in just a few months.

Reference:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/profit-loss/samsung-profit-soars-on-android-smartphones-galaxy-s3-sales/story-fn91vch7-1226436615047

http://www.pc-tablet.com/5278-apple-sues-samsung-galaxy-iii-bigger-version-iphone-4s/