According a blog post on Maclean’s, Apple and Samsung met in the San Jose courtroom for a billion-dollar patent fight. The lawsuit started when apple sued Samsung for copying important iPhone features, and at the same time, Samsung is fighting back by claiming that Apple patents were derived from Samsung technology. I think that the overlap in the research and development sectors of both companies is inevitable. The current social trend is forcing Apple and Samsung to produce products that allows productivity, social networking, as well as entertainment. On a touch-screen mobile phone, there is only so much you can do to meet these demands in the short-term. Undoubtedly, in trying to meet this criteria Apple and Samsung will invest in similar technology and produce phones that gives similar value propositions. Instead of fighting each other for patent rights and spending millions of dollars on lawsuits they should both devote time and energy to research and development. The two companies should each individually find their points of difference. They should invest more time and money into thinking about the future, and what kind of technology will lead to a new era of mobile phones. Specifically, Samsung and Apple can allow a more decentralized working environment that fosters innovation, as mentioned in class.

http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/11/13/apple-vs-samsung-in-billion-dollar-patent-fight/

Connor Wilson mentioned that Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snapchat refused Zuckerberg $3 billion dollar offer. I also believe that Evan Spiegel should accept Zuckerberg offer but simultaneously agree upon a contract that can potential benefit both parties. The two companies should work together but not unite as one. If Snapchat were to be completely assimilated by Facebook than it will not longer remain the same company. For example, if Snapchat’s culture becomes assimilated than some of its original innovation and creativity can be washed away. Through compromising, the two companies can negotiate an agreement that benefits both parties so that Snapchat’s value propositions will not be affected. Furthermore, in terms of brand positioning, Snapchat already has the first-movers-advantage in the field of photo messaging application. If Facebook were to takeover than it will be both costly and inefficient for Facebook to operate. Additionally, it will be difficult for consumers to perceive the two companies as one when there is already a separate established brand image for Snapchat. As mentioned in class, it is best for companies to do what they are best at so that both companies’ brand image can be solidified.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/connorwilson1/2013/11/14/why-young-ceos-are-overly-optimisitic/

Logan mentioned in his blog post that car companies are launching new hybrid cars to be more eco-friendly; and Ferraris are not the exception. Sports cars are known to have spirited performance and nimble handling. They are also known to require high fuel consumption. As gasoline prices rise higher and higher, car companies such as Ferrari and Tesla are creating cars that are more electricity-based. I think this new trend will be the future of cars after thinking about it in terms of the triple bottom line theory. Hybrid cars are being environmentally friendly which satisfies the environmental criteria. Hybrids are also accommodating the rising gasoline prices for consumers, which satisfy the social criteria. Lastly, Hybrid cars are receiving massive attention (as Logan mentioned in the blog, LaFerraris were sold out before they went public), which satisfies the profit criteria. The current trend is favoring hybrid cars, not only because they are fuel efficient, but also because consumers are becoming more conscious of their environment.

As mentioned in class, innovation happens for a variety of reasons, and one of them is a new social trend. 50 years from now, gasoline prices will rise to a point where it is no longer economical to drive a car. Thus, more electricity-based cars are coming to save the day.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/loganlan/2013/10/08/the-tree-huggers-ferrari/

Adeo Ressi is an entrepreneur who founded the Founder Institute that trains prospective entrepreneurs so that they can be successful in startups. He believes that there is high failure rate for new entrepreneurs because they do not receive right training. His program selects applicants through a personality test. Those accepted learn to develop their ideas and run their business through a mixture of workshops or in other words entrepreneurship immersions. Founder Institute takes a 3.5% stake in the start-ups in turn. Ressi successfully reduced the failure rate form 90% to 10%.

Founder Institute’s entrepreneurship immersion program is what I believe an advocate of Lean Startups. For an entrepreneur to be successful he or she must be willing to take risks and get out of comfort zones to test hypothesis. Although a solid, step-by-step plan can be helpful, but more importantly, entrepreneurs should learn to be experimenters. These workshops serve as a tool that helps entrepreneurs to change their traditional ways of thinking and physically test assumptions to reach goals. Business-hypothesis-driven experimentation can allow the time frame needed for start-ups and product development to be significantly shortened. This time-efficiency can work hand in hand with the physical training to improve the success rate amongst new start-ups.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/business/smallbusiness/an-entrepreneur-who-manufactures-entrepreneurs.html?ref=entrepreneurship&_r=0

McDonald’s Corp. has recently announced that the introduction of new products on the menu has decreased service speed in any local stores. Originally, the company intended to add more variety to their products in order to increase consumer satisfaction. However, the fast introduction of new items made it challenging for many stores to keep up with the service speed. The service speed slowed to an all time low at 189.49 seconds.

McDonald’s has a centralized business model that allows little creativity for its employees. Striving to be more decentralized and innovative, McDonald’s have creatively brought new menus to the table. However, this degree of decentralization slowed the speed of the service time and created consumer dissatisfaction. It is important for McDonald’s to apply innovation along with its centralized business structure. For example, before launching new products, McDonald’s should enforce its service speed through employee training and investments in machinery capital. With better machines and well-trained employees, productivity and efficiency can be improved to match up with those needed for the new menu items. Thus, without delaying the service time, menu-items that are more health-conscious can enhance McDonald’s brand image as well as increase consumer’s satisfaction.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303789604579198432499699844

In the US, thanksgiving means Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but in China November 11^th (Single’s Day) triggers the biggest online shopping spree of the year. The e-commerce websites Taobao and T-mall operated by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Is holding the November 11^th annual sale that generates more revenue than the Black Friday sale in the states. The total merchandise volume last year topped one trillion Yuan ($160 billion); this amount is larger than Amazon.com and eBay combined. Alibaba’s net profit is around $707 million and its revenue in the second quarter increased by 61%.

What accounts for Alibaba’s huge success is its successful management of business technology. Alibaba sees the growing number of consumers on e-commerce websites and so initiated its own online shopping platform. Alibaba created Alipay, an online payment and escrow service that allows for safe and secure online payments. This new technology increased consumer satisfaction and allowed for increased business growth. Alibaba’s new development exemplifies how business successfully employs business technology. Although Alipay does not directly increase productivity and growth for Alibaba, but it indirectly leads to faster, safer, and more efficient online transactions that creates an increase in sales revenue and thus business growth as a whole.

Recently Wal-Mart Stores has revamped its legal practices in Asia and started to acquire more Chinese markets. Wal-Mart received many negative attentions in the previous years regarding the safety issues with the Bangladesh factory and the violation of laws in India. However, they are continuing with their plans to invest in China. The company said that they will put down $82 million dollars to upgrade Chinese stores.

In my opinion Wal-Mart is facing many obstacles because most Chinese consumers do not perceive Wal-Mart as a high-end foreign brand anymore. They can still recall the incident in Chongqing where ordinary pork was mislabeled as an expensive organic one. Additionally, Chinese consumers are also aware that Wal-Mart stores are built like warehouses with poor shopping environment. This could hurt Wal-Mart’s image as a sophisticated foreign brand. Hence, Wal-Mart faces many threats in the legal department, as well as its brand positioning.

However, there are some existing opportunities for Wal-Mart such as the online shopping services. Recently, online stores like Yihaodian and Taobao are receiving a lot of positive attention.  Chinese consumers enjoy the convenience of online shopping. If Wal-Mart can sell its products through Taobao or open their own online store then their sales will increase dramatically. This is also an opportunity for them to restore their image as a foreign brand with superior quality.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303722604579116923897616240.html

Target, after following its lead retailer Wal-Mart, decided to offer prepaid mobile service to its costumers. The $35 plan consists of unlimited calling and texting. After using Target’s mobile plans for six-months costumers will automatically receive a $25 Target gift card.

In terms of brand positioning, it’s obvious that Target is not the “first” in the field. This can be potentially problematic because the easiest way of getting into the mind of the consumer is to be the first. It is often easier for consumers to recall who is the first in the field, but not who is second. Although target’s value proposition is unique but it is not the first unique position in the mind of the consumer, (where as Wal-Mart has already positioned itself as the first). Furthermore, people generally associate Target Corporation with discount retailing and not mobile services. It can be difficult for consumers to believe Target is capable of producing efficient mobile services when they have only known Target for discount retailing. Brands should not compete with other brands that have already positioned itself as the best in a specific category. Since Rogers have already placed itself as being one of the best in the mobile service provider field, it makes little sense to compete with Rogers and other mobile service providers in this category. Based on these too points it may seem disadvantageous for Target to debut as a mobile service provider.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57605798-94/target-follows-walmart-with-launch-of-prepaid-mobile-service/

People are all lining up for the new golden iPhone with eager anticipation; none of them will pay attention to the once all mighty BlackBerry. Apple announced that the golden iPhone is officially sold out online while BlackBerry Ltd. Announced that they have $900 million worth of unsold phones.

Due to the massive loss BlackBerry is now facing, the company decided that it would cut 4,500 jobs in order to write off the loss of nearly $1 billion. The jobs represent approximately 40 percent of Black Berry’s workforce.

We, as consumers, may wonder what made Blackberry, a company that once dominated the smartphone market fall to such turmoil. Many of us agree that it is because BlackBerry lacks the technological innovation to attract newer consumers. They failed to foresee the new “App dominated society” that was based on Android and Apple software. Even when it eventually became clear for them that Blackberries were not working, they have only tried to imitate Apple and Samsung with their new Z10 model. For Blackberry to be truly competitive in the market they must have something beyond what Apple and Samsung can offer at the moment. Greater technological innovation is absolutely instrumental for Blackberry if they wish to stay competitive in the market.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/trading-in-blackberry-halted/article14440386/

This article highlights Zuckerberg’s attempt to tackle health issues in third world nations by providing them with the Internet. He partnered with seven prominent information-technology companies to create internet.org seeking inexpensive ways to provide Internet and computers.

While many activists believe Internet access is not a priority for people of those nations, however, Zuckerberg maintains that by providing the Internet people can better educate themselves about health problems such as diarrhea and malaria. Moreover, Internet can provide online consultations for people who face problems such as homosexuality and domestic violence.

In my opinion, corporate social responsibility is becoming an offering that many companies should engage in, in order to stay competitive. Zuckerberg is engaging himself in activities that are aligned with his branding concept. For example, by simply engaging in this project he is bringing more attention to Facebook and enhancing his company’s image. I believe that Zuckerberg is creating a global broadcast network to shed light on many important social issues as he allocates his resources towards this project.

In our world, today, many of us are tempted to act unethically for our businesses to profit. However, we do not see the potential opportunities and benefits ethical actions can bring. We, not only, enhance the company image for our stakeholders, but we also profit from increased consumer loyalty.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Commentary/2013/Sep-12/230952-zuckerbergs-dream-internet-for-all-those-in-the-world-without-access.ashx#axzz2eeAfAaWi