Robin Huynh's Blog

Toyota has announced yet another recall. This time, it is 1.5 million cars mainly Lexus and Avalon models in Japan and the US due to brake fluid and fuel pump problems. About 740 000 Lexus, Avalon and other models for repairs in the US and 599 000 in Japan. The problem seems to to be a compounding weakening of the break power because of a defective brake master cylinder. This incident is probably one of the worst things that could happen to Toyota. They had already been scrutinized for previous issues within the past few years. Toyota’s reputation had already been tarnished and they had been trying to elevate their brand name again. This recall will definitely damage Toyota’s reputation. People will associate the name “Toyota” with defects, recalls, scandal, and bad quality. Toyota’s US market share has shrunken 15.2 percent in the first 9 months of this year. Further shrinkage would not be surprising to me. Toyota has a lot to work on to reclaim their spot in the automotive market.

This article looks at the issue of brand vs. product (as discussed in class) as well as reputation. Yet another round of recalls from Toyota may cause people to lose loyalty in them and deem them unreliable. In class we discussed how a brand carries along with it a reputation and the continuous recalls by Toyota certainly has and will continue to damage their image.

SOURCE: ALJAZEERA

For years, people have been illegally downloading media for free through LimeWire. LimeWire is a program that allows for peer-to-peer transfer of files. To put it simply, people upload their media and other people attain copies of them through LimeWire; completely free. Earlier today, the US court shut down LimeWire saying it infringed copyright laws on an enormous scale. People all over the world are wondering what to do. The US court thinks that people will switch to actually BUYING their music. However, a few of my friends have already found alternatives programs that work similarly to LimeWire. For example, FrostWire, BearShare, and Ares are all variations of peer-to-peer file transfer programs. The deactivation of LimeWire by the US Courts was a useless decision. I don’t think this action will help the music market much since people will just search for other ways to download music for free. Downloading free music has been done so much in this society that it is a norm even though it is illegal. LimeWire’s “customers” will just flock to alternatives. LimeWire shut down? No big deal.

In class, there has been some discussion on businesses and their competition. The shut down of LimeWire sheds a little light on the competition of the music industry and competition that exists between peer-to-peer programs found on the internet.

SOURCE: TELEGRAPH

On May 26, 2010, Apple became the most valuable technology company in the world after passing Microsoft. Wall Street valued Apple at $222.12 billion and Microsoft at $219.18 billion at the end of the day.

Personally, I am happy for Apple. Like I said in a previous post, Apple has built a name for itself and as a result, fame and respect. Not only have they created a positive reputation for their brand, they have also lived up to their expectations and up to their name. Apple’s excellence was truly recognized on this day. May 26, 2010 was being marked as an “end of an era and the beginning of the next one.” I will not be surprised if the word “Apple” or “Mac” replaces the name of the products they sell in a few decades. It’ll be just like the example discussed in class with Kleenex and tissue paper.

SOURCE: THENEWYORKTIMES

G20 leaders who met at the Summit conference in Toronto are faced with a split. They are all there discussing the global economy and its recovery. European nations are looking to cut their budgets while America wants to increase spending to stimulate the economy. The idea of a bank tax was also introduced and encouraged by Germany, Britain, France and the US. However, it has lost interest from a number of countries including Canada, Russia, China, India and Australia.

With my experiences with group work (especially this year in Comm 292 and Comm 101), conflicting ideas can pose a number of problems and can slow down the group’s production as well as flaw overall performance. The effects of the disagreements in the G20 are parallel to the effects in groups I have been involved in in the past. It just goes to show that opposing opinions are existent on different scales and in many fields. This article reminds me of the many times our instructors have commented against each other (finance vs accounting). Although there is a disagreement, all parties are required for success. Finance needs accounting and vice-versa! Working in teams generates great learning (and problem-solving) opportunities and is essential for business!

SOURCE: ALJAZEERA

This is a Toyota Corolla. If I’m on the streets, I will see this car every 15 seconds. If I were in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, this would be a different story. The state has recently banned the sale of the Toyota Corolla due to safety concerns. Toyota has certainly been under fire recently. They have a record-breaking debt of $16.4 million dollars to the United States for failure to notify them of defects, along with abundance of recalls and now the abolition of Corolla sales in Brazil. Things don’t look too bright for the famed Japanese carmakers. Toyota blames their defects on their recent rapid expansion. In 2008, Toyota overcame General Motors by becoming the world’s biggest carmaker.

This article once again concerns the issue of brand vs. product (as discussed in class). Toyota is a company whose reputation is parallel to Apple’s. However, it is in the field of automotive vehicles. With the recent international recalls, will brand loyalty prevail or is Toyota in for further decline?

SOURCE: TRINIDADANDTOBAGOGUARDIAN

In an article published on THE TIMES OF INDIA, the writer comments on how the Apple iPad looked like a giant iPod touch when it first came out. As the article progressed, the writer described his experience with the iPad and how it turned out to be a device he actually was quite impressed by. The iPad surpassed all past tablet computers with its many features.

While reading this article, I thought of how Apple’s iPad had gained it’s hype and response. I think that because of Apple’s continued reliability, service and quality, the iPad had gained much more popularity. Apple’s products are only so great in the eyes of the general public because the Apple brand has created a positive name for itself throughout their years of operation. The name translates into a reputation respected by people all over the world. (I remember sitting in class and hearing the difference between a brand and a product; the brand has a reputation) Without Apple’s world-reknowned reputation, I don’t think the iPad would be as successful as it presently is.

SOURCE: THETIMESOFINDIA

In this article published by AL JAZEERA, the United States of America seeks to finalize a massive arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

USA plans to sell fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and expand the Saudi missile defences. This is the largest US arms deal totalling to about $60bn.

The US claims that it is “seeking to build and strengthen its allies in the region” and that the US economy is not the main concern. However,  the deal is a major job creator. It is expected to create 75 000 jobs for Americans.

The main ethical issue lies within the American’s true reason for dealing arms to Saudi Arabia.

Is the US only negotiating this deal for their own economic benefit? Their supposed reason for the deal is “to support Arab allies against Iran”.

The US has occupied the Middle East for years. The Middle East is an oil heaven. It makes sense.

The Saudi-American Arms deal gives the US another reason to be in the Middle East. I guess it will just be added to their “reason list” which includes the famous, “Fight against Terrorism”

SOURCE: ALJAZEERA