Nike lately announced the launching of its updated version of the “FuelBand”, a device which allows people to track their activity level, including the hours of sleep that they get. Nike decided to improve its FuelBand just to keep up with other companies with competing devices. But WHY? The question isn’t just why update, but why have a device like this in the first place?

Nike is known to be a sportswear brand, mainly focused on clothing and footwear. Personally, I am a customer who is loyal to the Nike brand, for the value proposition that it offers, including the consistent quality of its products, encouraging people to be achievers, as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle. I believe that trying to integrate technology with a healthy lifestyle is actually very contradictory, as huge dependence on technology is actually negatively affecting human beings’ health. Human beings should seriously take a break from technology, especially when exercising or walking while wearing NIKE CLOTHES AND SHOES!

I feel like this issue with Nike is very similar to the case of Amazon discussed in class. As Amazon tried to start streaming TV shows and movies to compete with Netflix, it eventually failed because it had tried to expand beyond its niche in the market.

Therefore, Nike should remain inside the niche that it fills in the market, and not diversify too much, to develop good corporate strategy, as strategy does not only consider what a business should go into, but what a business should avoid going into, so that it can maintain its competitive advantage.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-10-15/sorry-nike-youre-a-tech-company-now#r=read

http://globotext.com/the-nike-values-proposition/

Reading about Financial Accounting Fraud has led me to thinking about a concept that I’ve encountered earlier: window dressing.

Nope, it is not the kind of window dressing above that you’re thinking of. It is this kind:

Window dressing is basically the “legal manipulation” of a firm’s financial data to make it look more appealing and flattering, according to the country’s laws. It is used for many reasons, including, but not limited to: showing the firm as profitable and sustainable, improving the liquidity position of the firm, showing less liabilities, mainly to impress and attract investors, financial lenders, and employees-mostly managers.

But then, what makes window dressing different from financial statement fraud?

Financial statement fraud is intended misrepresentation of the financial position of a firm in order to deceive and manipulate the users of financial statements. It is seen that financial statement fraud is making major changes to the figures, whereas window dressing is making minor changes that heavily impact the firm’s image. Still, what makes window dressing legal while financial statement fraud illegal? One thing is for sure, in my opinion, is that for both, it is a matter of being unethical towards stakeholders, who deserve to know of the actual financial position and performance of the firm.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/19470942/Window-Dressing

https://www.cga-pdnet.org/Non_VerifiableProducts/ArticlePublication/FinStatFraud/FinStatFraud_p1.pdf

So throughout the Marketing and Accounting meet Operations lecture, an overarching concept we were discussing was the disadvantages of holding too much stock and inventory, and the advantages of having just the right amount of stock. The advantages include less costs of storage, more flexibility in responding to changes in preferences and tastes of customers, and less wastage if the products don’t sell. However, can forecasts accurately predict the level of demand? No matter how much market research is conducted, there is still a significant level of inaccuracy and uncertainty. This brings us to the benefits of holding too much stock! Yes, there can be benefits. Holding too much stock enables businesses to respond quickly to a sudden increase in demand. This also ensures a less time-consuming process of having to get raw materials from suppliers, and go through the production process, therefore ensures less loss of sales. Storing inventory also allows firms to buy in bulk from suppliers, thereby reducing costs of factors of production.

As I was opening a Google tab to search for ideas for my blog post, a creative idea popped into my head. Why not write about Google? What are Google’s Points of Parity with other search engines like Yahoo! and Bing? And what are its points of difference? What makes it so unique? What makes us want to “Google” everything instead of “Yahoo!” everything? Its points of parity, of course, mainly consist of it being a search engine for acquiring information, a place for advertising, and so-forth. What is more important is what makes it a valuable brand. Google is  first very easy, quick, and simple to use, yet provides a very large base of information, ranging from to scholarly articles, to news, to images, to books.. the list goes on. Google continues to develop its services and continues to be innovative as it has no contracts with external parties, which enables it to be as innovative as it wants to. It has established a loyal relationship between it and its customers. For example, it changes its doodles according to worldwide events, and plays April Fool’s pranks on people. Google has definitely made its brand relevant, credible, and distinctive.

http://www.programmersparadox.com/2008/03/17/googles-unique-advantage/

http://www.google.ca/about/company/history/