A-Okay!

http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=1951940111 &sid=1 &Fmt=3 &clientId=6993 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD

With the introduction of Apple’s iPad, there have been mixed reviews.  In this way, the company will face a number of challenges when it comes to enticing consumers to buy their latest addition.

First off, Apple will need to convince consumers that the iPad is more than just an enlarged iTouch.  As of now it seems to mimic a lot of iTouch features, and if there are no new additions, Apple will want to consider adding new features should they release another model in the future.  As well, they will face problems with the price. If consumers are under the impression that this is simply a bigger iTouch, they will be unwilling to pay the extra cash for a larger version. Therefore, Apple may want to consider lowering the price should there be less of a demand. Additionally, should sales not do well, Apple will face the challenge of maintaining popularity- that is, if the company can’t come up with enticing products, consumers will look elsewhere and sales will suffer. Again, if they want to maintain strong sales, Apple will need to modify the product to draw in the public.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/toyota-recalls-437000-prius-hybrids-globally/article1460824/

I recently read that Toyota is recalling 437,000 Prius and hybrid vehicles on a global scale.  According to reports, brakes were insufficient in winter driving conditions, as were gas pedals on occasion.  Thanks to a staggering 8.5 million recall number at this point, it looks like Toyota’s status as one of the most powerful automobile companies in the world is taking a blow, as is their ration of strengths and opportunities to weaknesses and threats in their SWOT analysis.

This new recall is exposing Toyota to a number of threats.  Competition such as Honda or Ford, for one, could very well gain a greater market share should consumers want a more reliable car with fewer safety hazards. This could lead to a loss in sales and revenue and, in turn, lead to a loss in market dominance.  Additionally, Toyota is exposing its own manufacturing weakness and a clear flaw in their system thanks to the obvious problems with their products.  Their failure to issue a statement of how they will clearly fix the problems associated with the recall just goes to show Toyota’s inability to provide reassurance to consumers, or appropriately respond to company crisis as well.

Recently we read an article about Zara and its cost and supply-efficiency compared to competitors.  The article dictated that Zara never invests in large TV ads or campaigns, nor  in celebrity endorsements.  Instead, it focusses more on word of mouth, as well as in-store sales and shop windows to promote their products.  While this in theory would appear to be a good idea, there are a few associated challenges.

For one thing, regardless of how many people see the windows or hear about the chain from others, the media reaches many more people by far, and therefore investment in media-related advertising would result in more people obtaining information. As well, word-of-mouth can be just as negative as it is positive– if a customer has a bad experience at the store and passes such information on, fewer will be as inclined to purchase.  And, the very fact that there are no celebrity endorsements may prompt consumers to think,”hmm nobody seems to want to endorse this company, why?”, and therefore question the quality and/or popularity of the products amongst celebrities and the general public.

The idea is solid, however these challenges must be addressed in order for Zara to further succeed.

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http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Facebook+snooping+return+haunt/2424965/story.html

I came across this article just recently, but the debate has been ongoing ever since social networking became a huge part of modern culture.  The question is: is it ethical for employers to use the personal profiles of potential employees as determinants of whether or not they should be hired?

The article informs of the various risks for both employers and employees associated with this controversy- a business must take into account the risks involved in such a process (i.e. human rights lawsuits arising,etc), as well as addresses the need of an employee to filter his or her profile, asking themselves: “would I want an employer to see this material?”

While this article doesn’t necessarily DEBATE whether or not employers are ethical in performing background checks in such a way, it brings up the main ethical issue of relating social behavior to work behavior.  Should an employer be allowed to disregard the impressive resume of a candidate after seeing them passed out in a drunk stupor on Facebook? Or should this candidate’s personal life be irrelevant to the hiring process and focus on their job performance and what they could contribute to the company?

The argument continues…

Well hello there!

I see you have stumbled across my blog- fantastic! Well, to start off, allow me to introduce myself:  My name is Jackie Murchison, and I am a student in the Sauder School of Business at UBC.  I hail from Surrey (just outside of  Vancouver), and currently am in my first year of pursuing my undergraduate degree.

Here, you will find my most recent Comm-101 course posts and more.  All will be covering a variety of topics and issues within the business world, and perhaps give my own personal opinion/ insights into such 🙂

I’ll keep you posted and…enjoy!

– Jackie Murchison