Do you agree or disagree with Al Gore’s viewpoint from the “An Inconvenient Truth?” Take this is a rhetoric question, because regardless we can all agree that he
might be another presenter extraordinaire. It may seem boring to watch a movie on Vice President, Al Gore, touring a Powerpoint Presentation on global warming; however, this topic of extreme importance, but not extreme excitement for most people is taken to a new level as Al Gore wins an Academy Award by bringing forth this engaging delivery. Corporate presenters should take note of the following lessons of a presentation so powerful that it appears on the Oprah Winfrey show, in theatres, best selling DVDs, and wins an Oscar. First, visuals rule over text whether it’s through the form of photographs, videos, diagrams, or data graphs. Second, the number of slides is irrelevant. After watching his presentation it would not seem as if 266 slides were needed to make his point. Third, focus on the audience, and not yourself. Fourth, direct the audience to your point. Fifth, use a remote. These points very closely relate to the presentation given in
class that focused on the following five points towards a successful Powerpoint: set goals, develop content, structure content, design content, and deliver your presentation. Overall, an exceeds expectation presentation should make an impact on your audience.

Video: Al Gore – Global Warming in 10 mins

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Fall 2010 Ad Campaign Photo - Joel Primus models his own line!

Naked Boxer Brief appeared on Dragon’s Den in attempt to launch a men’s underwear line. Joel Primus, an entrepreneur, presents a simple line of boxers, briefs, and boxer briefs. Based on an article I came across titled, “Naked Boxer Brief – An Xpress Review by Guys’ Underwear Blog,” I am able to analyse Joel Primus as an entrepreneur and his business. This male underwear blog describes the Naked brand in a positive tone in regards towards its brand image. As Naked is selling at higher price points around $38-$44 for different styles, Chris, author of the blog states that “Of course, products with an above average price usually carry the image of an above average quality, but they don’t always live up to that image. Naked does.”
Further, he goes on to say that the main point of his review is that Naked underwear is one of the highest quality brands on the market today. During Joel Primus’s presentation during class, he had mentioned to always start high in the market and then you will be able to enter at lower levels with ease. For example, Primus sets his product at a level such as Holt Renfrew, where his product will be valued higher compared to if it had begun in Wal-Mart. This enables Primus to charge at a higher price point for his product. In order for Primus to succeed as an entrepreneur his advice is to always be passionate about what you do and believe in it.

Based on the article posted by KPMG on, “People and Change,” the third-largest accounting firm describes their wide range of services concerning organizational structure, optimization, human resources management and change management for various companies. These services relate to concepts we have learnt in class. For example, KPMG is considered a big firm with an organizational structure depicted through the diagram below:

Out of these two structures, KPMG is diagram (B) because it is a “Big Firm;” therefore, the company will be able to hold more people and positions at each level. Ultimately, this means that an individual would rather work in (B) compared to (A) because it’s easier to advance, holds more opportunities, and there are more people for you to outshine. Organizational structure (A) includes small or boutique firms where there are very few people at each level and less opportunities.

Thus, KPMG’s organizational structure optimization team has the ability to assist companies in solving tactical issues. Head of Management Consulting, Howard Polinski, says that there are “seven tests for organizational structures” using KPMG’s internal methodology. These seven groups of services include: organizational structure diagnostics, development of a corporate centre model, development of a compensation system, change management, corporate culture assessment, and communications management.

Apple is considered to be entrepreneurial because the company exhibits many characteristics based on the class reading. Apple’s main entrepreneurial element is innovation; other ventures include the company’s wealth creation generated by several million dollars in profit, rapid wealth generation in a short time frame, high risks, and the competitive advantage that innovation ensues over small businesses. Innovation is an emphasis that entrepreneurs highlight, which is an input factor that Apple capitalizes on. Apple is one of the foremost companies in technological advancements as the retail giant constantly develops new products, new production methods, new markets, and new forms of organization. Based on Schumpeter’s definition of entrepreneurship, the function of an entrepreneur expects that the cost of inputs is recovered by the superior returns received from the value that consumers place on the innovative factors of the product or service. Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, was an entrepreneur’s inspiration; he revolutionized the information technology industry. Thus, Jobs was deemed as “the most innovative entrepreneur of our generation” (Globe and Mail).

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The external business blog, “Five Stocks Building Future Yields,” states an interesting view on five companies currently building higher future yields: Wal-Mart, McDonalds, PepsiCo, Philip Morris International, and Medtronic. This blog was useful in clarifying the decision-making process of investors. Investors consider not only the price of the portfolio today, but if it will maintain purchasing power in the future and create a long-lasting dividend producing portfolio. After discussing finance in class, a stock is a legal contract signed between an investor and a company; investors receive access to future cash flow. Cash flow is usually presented as dividends, which is a return on capital where profits are paid out to shareholders of a corporation. I have learnt from this blog that future dividend income is dependent not on the yield, but on the payment that the security distributes. Investors should evaluate a company’s ability to generate higher-earnings over time. Companies generating high-earnings in the future will be able to increase dividend payments. Without this crucial step anyone could collect a portfolio of stocks that have a high current yield. A main concept learnt in class defines finance as paying more money today to generate higher-earnings in the future. For example, Wal-Mart stores are a good investment as the company has raised dividend for thirty-seven years now, whilst differentiating themselves from competitors by offering the lowest retail price to customers. Wal-mart maintain this competitive advantage through its scale of operation by commanding lower prices from suppliers indicating low supplier power because Wal-Mart has the power in this relationship.

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The $35 Tablet

Rebakah Ho, a Commerce 101 and Section 102 student recently wrote a blog on “The $35 Tablet.” Rebakah analyses how similarly to the Nano, the tablet was created as an inexpensive Indian innovation for students in poverty. She concludes that the tablet, “Might not be efficient. With a 3-hours battery life, it can’t be used all the time, and if a small village has no internet access, it might not be useful at all.” I agree with Rebekah’s breakdown of the cost-benefit analysis of a resource produced with good intents to improve education, but the functions may prove incompatible due to low-production costs. However, with proper strategies and tactics the tablet may increase sales and business efficiency. Marketing strategies should target developing nations whose demography could utilize a low-priced device to improve their lifestyles and educate themselves beyond their community. Long-term objectives should focus on the future generation of students, which could affect the firm’s overall direction by not targeting the working class such as Apple’s iPad. Short-term tactics such as implementing promotions would increase student awareness of the tablet; back-to-school and student discounts will attract the tablet’s target market.

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The new and improved iPhone 4S? Read to find out more...

Joanna Zhu, a Commerce 101 and Section 101 student, captured my attention with her blog about “The iPhone 4s. Deal with it.” She commends Apple’s marketing strategy of introducing the iPhone 4S only 16 months after the release of the iPhone 4. Joanna summarizes that the “the iPhone 4S isn’t meant to be an upgrade for iPhone 4 users – it’s a lure to get new iPhone users in the door, to entice any Blackberry or Android users whose carrier contracts have just ended after their 2-year contract period and are in the market looking for a new phone.” According to Joanna’s analysis I am able to understand the concept of why the iPhone 4s was released in that time period. Thus, I am able to apply Porter’s Five Forces of Industry Attractiveness. In the cellular war industry, barriers to entry include Apple’s loyal consumer basis. Customers who purchase Apple products are likely to upgrade their current device with the newest available product. Also, competitors entering the mobile service network require large capital investments. Threats of substitutes include other Smartphone companies such as Android, Blackberry, and Google. Since Apple maintains global brand recognition, mobile companies compete to carry Apple products, increasing the company’s buyer power. Apple is a large publicly traded company, so the company is able to purchase materials for production at a lower rate; this benefits Apple’s supplier power. 

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The brand positioning perception of Ferrari is a “global brand,” so consumers spending may say, “I am a global citizen – I can buy whatever anyone else in the world can buy” (CNN). Ferrari’s brand is a status symbol consisting of extreme performance, driving, design, and power. Consumers perceive Ferrari as “I’ve made it, but I’ve still got it” (CNN). So, it comes as no surprise that Ferrari is integrating in India – the world’s next economic superpower. Ferrari’s presence towards the burgeoning super-rich increases as, “the move marks the 58^th market for the brand, which has steadily been growing its presence in Asia” (CNN). Entering India causes key parts of the business plan to surface for this initiative; accordingly market examination, operations, and social responsibility are examined. The target market in India consists of an extremely narrow percentage of the population capable of affording a supercar. Penetration of India’s market causes an even greater disparity in wealth in a country where, according to the World Bank, “27.5% of the population lives below the national poverty line and 16% do not have access to sufficient clean water” (CNN). Business operations should be considered in terms of how Ferrari will deliver and produce the products in India; meanwhile, social responsibility should be heightened as labour costs in India are significantly cheaper causing consumers to question the ethics of the company.

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Video: Ferrari India “Magic Discovery Tour”

Comparison of the major competitors in the smartphone war

Blackberry and iPhone are head-to-head competitors in the mobile device network. According to The Globe and Mail article users state their preference over the smart-phone war. Founder and CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Brian Scudamore, is dedicated to his iPhone, “I FaceTime when I am on business trips and away from family, and my iPhone also helps me remain paperless.” After discussing value proposition in class it’s important that the iPhone has features that will provide customers personal conversation with other customers afterwards. Lauren Friese is a Blackberry supporter and founder of TalentEgg.ca. Blackberry allows Lauren to use her e-mail via Google Apps for Business and to sync documents through Dropbox. Lauren says, “My Blackerberry is good at what it does, which is to help me stay connected to work and life no matter where I am.”  Blackberry’s target market caters to the working class who need easy access to email and work, as well as users who desire the distinct BBM feature. Brand positioning for both iPhone and Blackberry is clear in the consumer’s mind. Blackberry’s points of differences include BBM, direct email, and a full keyboard; whereas, iPhone includes a complete web browser, a network of apps, and FaceTime.

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In the Rupert Murdoch scandal, his tabloid newspaper “The News of the World” was publishing material illegally. This information was found by private investigators hired by News of the World to ferret out headline material (thestar.com). For example, at the site of where soldiers were killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, telephone numbers of the soldier’s families was found on file by a private detective hired by the newspaper. This information was reported by The Telegraph. Rupert Murdoch’s News International was also accused for hacking into people’s (chief executives, lawyers, celebrities, etc) personal telephone lines and messages to gain headlines for the newspaper. The main ethical issue results from the immoral fact of how the company obtained confidential material for the newspaper. News International violated the public’s right of personal privacy as well as corporate responsibility towards honesty, respect, and integrity.

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Video: Pie Attack!