...3.0 Using two case studies of firms headquartered in two different countries, show how the growth of trade and investment links among several Asian economies is related to the strategic production and location decisions of firms and how firms took into consideration the main factors affecting such decision. 6 3.1 First Case Study of Firm; Toyota Motor Corporation Headquartered in Japan 6 3.2 Second Case Study of Firm; Apple Inc Headquartered in U.S. 7 3.3 Comparisons between Toyota Motor Corporation and Apple Inc. 7 3.4 Factors Toyota and Apple took such strategic production and location decisions 8 4.0 Conclusion and Recommendation 9 5.0 References 10 1.0 Introduction East Asian region has been seen as the world’s fastest growth centre for decades with the emerging of East Asian Tigers- Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan- shows that the world’s economic centre of gravity is gradually shifting East (Ando & Kimura, 2005). The World Bank (1993) listed this as “East Asian Miracle”. With more and more acceptance of globalization and trade liberalization in East Asia had formed international production network (IPN) – the cross-borders trades of parts and components to other countries or regions before the assembly of final product is completed (Saslavsky & Shepherd, 2012) – that caused East Asia countries to experience economic growth (Milberg & Winkler, 2010). Based on the above description of IPN, this paper describes the reasons why MNC in...
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...The Discipline of Market Leaders Customer Value Model (Porter’s generic strategies with particular reference to Apple Inc) Table of contents Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………. Porter’s three Generic Competitive Strategies…………………………………………………………. Cost Leadership…………………………………………………………………………………………… Differentiation………………………………………………………………………………………………. Focus or Niche strategy…………………………………………………………………………………... Apple Inc……………………………………………………………………………………………………. Identification and Critical Evaluation of the Company’s Existing Strategies………………………… Apple Inc Cost leadership Strategy……………………………………………………………………… Apple Inc Differentiation Strategy………………………………………………………………………... Apple Inc Focus or Niche Strategy………………………………………………………………………. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………….. References…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1.0 Introduction A firm's relative position within its industry determines whether a firm's profitability is above or below the industry average. The fundamental basis of above average profitability in the long run is sustainable competitive advantage. There are two basic types of competitive advantage a firm can possess: low cost or differentiation. The two basic types of competitive advantage combined with the scope of activities for which a firm seeks to achieve them, lead to three generic strategies for achieving above average performance in an industry: cost...
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...The Goals Of Sports Products Inc Assessing the Goals of Sports Products, Inc. Case Study Paper What should the management of Sports Products, Inc., pursue as its overriding goal? Why What... Premium * Case Analysis: Assessing The Goal Of Sports Products, Inc. Case Analysis: Assessing the Goal of Sports Products, Inc. Submitted by: Group 1 Acebedo, Gladys Bandiola, Penuel Bautista, Jherwienne Cruz... Premium * Assessing The Goals Of Sports Products, Inc. Assessing the Goals of Sports Products, Inc. Assessing the Goals of Sports Products, Inc. Establishing and monitoring goals of any organization can be a... Premium * Assessing The Goal Of Sports Products, Inc. Maples University of Phoenix Finance for Decision Making FIN/419 Thomas Ster November 19, 2012 Assessing the Goal of Sports Products, Inc. Loren Seguara... Premium * Assessing The Goal Of Sports Product the firms stock price is falling. The management of Sports Products, Inc. should pursue its overriding goal by understanding the objectives needed for the firms... Premium * Assesing The Goal Of Sports Products, Inc specific recommendations would you offer the firm? Ans: From the information available in the case study, we get a picture that this company has some major problem... Premium * Sports Products, Inc. basis of the information provided, what specific recommendations would you offer the firm? Principles of Managerial Finance, 12th Edition, by Lawrence J. Gitman... Premium *...
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...Individual Project 3 Robert F Murphy MGT680-1204A-02 Abstract This paper assumes the role of a member of a team of managers wanting to know how to go about introducing a new product. The paper will discuss if it is better to use a late-mover theory or a first-mover theory through the use of positives and negatives of each which will be supported by examples of sixteen companies. Finally, a decision will be made as to which style should be used and why. Introduction Within this paper the late mover theory and the first mover theory will be defined. Once they are both defined each one will be shown to have advantages as well as disadvantages. All of these advantages and disadvantages will be supported with real life situations and businesses that have used both for the positive as well as the negative. This analysis is being done because the head company wants to know which theory to go with in terms of releasing its new product. Unfortunately, the product is unknown as well as many other facets of the company. The benefit to that is the decision can be made with an unbiased approach and only the facts will hold true within this report. Advantages & Disadvantages of the Theories The “First-mover” theory and the “Late-mover” theory are both ways of attacking the global marketplace with regard to product placement as well as the best time to strike. Many corporations in the world will come up with similar or even...
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...Preliminary Draft September, 2005 All authors contributed equally and are listed in alphabetical order. The paper has benefited from comments made by seminar participants at the Harvard Business School. All remaining errors are ours. * Abandoning Innovation in Emerging Industries Abstract Existing models of industry evolution describe a smooth pattern of emergence over time in which the number of firms in an industry increases, hits a peak, decreases as a result of a shakeout, and then stabilizes as the industry reaches maturity. Although this model has been well-accepted and the basic empirical finding holds true across a range of industries, we propose that the finding is not as robust as is generally assumed. We introduce an alternative pattern of evolution in which, during the emergent stage, an industry experiences a sharp decrease in the number of firms – a “mini shakeout” – before increasing again, reaching a final peak and undergoing a major shakeout as described in the extant literature. Using panel data across multiple product innovations introduced in the 20th century, we first show the pervasiveness of the mini shakeout phenomena. We then examine why some industries are more likely to experience a mini shakeout. Finally, using detailed quantitative and qualitative data on the emergence of handheld computers and digital cameras, we investigate why some firms abandon...
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...Case Study Summary: Apple Inc is one of the most successful and valuable brand in the world. With their wide range of innovative and user friendly products ranging from iPod to iPhone, MacBook’s etc. Apple surely enjoys a huge market share and a loyal customer base. The huge success can be attributed to its ability to proactively think ahead of the market and leapfrog its competitor’s. But before achieving the huge success it had its own set of failures in the PC industry. Apples complete transformation from Apple computers to Apple Inc makes it a perfect example of successful change story. ABSTRACT: The purpose of this research is study how technology and innovation based firms like Apple Inc. has achieved success by adopting various change initiatives and walking the talk. Apple has always believed in his vision and values of believing in technology. It also aims to understand how Innovative firms like Apple Inc. have been successful by being proactive and what are the drivers of change and the change models that led them to embrace and imbibe the culture of innovativeness to stay ahead of the market. An attempt is made to relate the best model that is reflective of Apple’s change strategy (based on the factual information). Introduction The two most important factors that drive today’s intensely competitive world are technology and obsolescence, being directly proportional to each...
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...Caramel Apple Recipe with Homemade Caramel For this recipe you need a candy thermometer and real butter. Hey, it's Halloween... don't skimp on the butter. This caramel apple recipe makes enough caramel for about 8 to 10 medium sized apples. My favorites for candy apples are Fuji, as they're the perfect combo of crisp, tart, and sweet... but you can use whatever apple you like best. To make this a cinnamon caramel apple recipe, stir 1/2 to 1 tsp. of ground cinnamon into the caramel while cooking. Ingredients: 1 C. real butter 2 C. dark brown sugar, packed 1 C. light corn syrup 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 8-10 medium-sized apples, sticks inserted in tops Instructions: 1. Over medium-high heat, stir together the butter, sugar, corn syrup, and condensed milk in a heavy sauce pan. 2. Bring to a boil. 3. Cook about 30-40 minutes (don't stir often, as you'll risk crystallization), until the caramel darkens and thickens. It should reach the "firm ball" stage of candy-making. This means that, upon dropping the caramel into cold water, a firm ball forms. This ball shouldn't flatten when you remove it from the water, but should still easily change shape when you touch it. With a candy thermometer the temp should read 245-250 degrees F. 4. Remove finished caramel from the heat. 5. Stir in vanilla extract. 6. Dip apples into hot caramel. In order to get as thick a caramel coating as possible, dip each apple at an angle and rotate within...
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...Apple Company Apple incorporation is an American company established in 1971 by Steve jobs and Steve Wozniak. The company’s headquarters are located in Cupertino, California. Apple Incorporation specializes in designing and developing computer hardware and software but has recently diversified into other consumer electronic goods. Apple Incorporation is the second biggest information technology company by revenue with an estimated revenue of US $414 billion. Apples’ success in the technological sector, stems from it’s; commitment in providing best computer and other electronic experience to its clientele by providing quality products from extensive innovation and creativity. This paper will examine some key ideas, strategies and concepts that this company employs in its operation that makes it a success in the information and technology industry. It will also discuss some of the lessons and ideas businesses need to incorporate into their operations, in order for them to realize success like Apple Incorporation. To begin with, Apple employs vertical integration and diversification strategy in its business operations. This strategy makes it hard for any other technological companies to compete with it. This is because this strategy makes apple to diverse its business operations but connect them into one big company (Adams, 2012). For instance, Apple has segmented its company into a software company, hardware company, retail company and services company. Most corporations...
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...Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 8 ( 1991 ) 67-83 Elsevier Towards a new theory of innovation management: A case study comparing Canon, Inc. and Apple Computer, Inc. Ikujiro Nonaka Institute of Business Research, Hitotsuhashi University, Kunitachi, Tokyo, Japan Martin Kenney Department of Applied Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA Abstract This paper argues that innovation can be best understood as an information process which is then concretized as a product that meets demand. Two very different firms, Canon Inc. and Apple Computer Inc., are used as case study illustrations. Innovation does not proceed through logical deduction, but rather is furthered by the use of metaphors and analogies. The bureaucratic and staid structures of the firm can be challenged and broken up to provide the space for innovations to emerge. The leader’s role in the innovating firm is as a catalyst and facilitator, not as an allknowing despot. The importance of innovations is not merely in the new product, but also the “ripple” effects of innovations which can propel the firm into a self-renewal process. Keywords: Innovation management, High-technology, Case study. 1. Introduction Increasingly, corporate competitive success is hinging upon the effective management of innovation. Innovation has been the object of considerable academic study from a variety of perspectives. However, innovations are usually considered as objects. We...
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...dollar of revenue have decreased by 21.5 percent since 2008. And we’re still the only company in our industry whose entire product line not only meets but exceeds the strict energy guidelines of the ENERGY STAR specification. Environmentally conscious materials. In addition to eliminating toxins and designing products with highly recyclable aluminum enclosures, Apple works with environmentally conscious materials including recycled plastics, recycled paper, biopolymers, and vegetable-based inks. We have also found ways to reengineer secondary materials to the high standard of our designs. For example, our fan assemblies in Mac Pro use advanced materials derived from repolymerized plastic bottles. Speaker assemblies and internal brackets in the Apple Thunderbolt Display are made from recycled PC-ABS. In 2012, our latest achievements included the AirPort Express enclosure, which includes biopolymers derived from industrial-grade rapeseed and recycled PC-ABS. And the aluminum stand on the iMac is made using 30 percent recycled content. Our packaging designs for many products use pulp fiber from post-consumer paper streams, and we use vegetable-based inks for in-box materials. And not only are iTunes Gift Cards recyclable, they are made...
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...the organizations in order to compete in the market effectively, especially with a multinational approach to get a competitive advantage over others in the global environment. Competitive analysis is an important component in environmental scanning. In this paper, the internal and external environments of three popular companies will be studied and contrast the ways in which companies analyze their internal as well as external environment and the strategies formed accordingly to get a competitive edge over others. Three popular companies selected in this paper are Coca Cola, Proctor, and Gamble (P&G), and Apple Inc. All three organizations are related to different industries and carry out different businesses. The competitive strategies and their measurement guidelines will evaluate their internal and external environmental perspective. Determine what competitive advantages each company has and what strategies each company is using. Coca Cola Company is known in the beverage industry, P&D is known in the consumer product industry and Apple Inc. is known for their technology. All three organizations are one of the top market giants in their respective industries and have competitive advantage over other firms in their relevant industries. Coca Cola strongest competitive rival in beverage industry is Pepsi. Both have competing efficiently in the market; however, Coca Cola has many competitive edges over others. Because of a competitive environment, Coca...
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...prospects for upward mobility towards competing on brand with established Western firms. The resources of generally favourable national ratios in manufacture are an advantage that can be negated in key sectors by Western firms which aim to relegate their Chinese partners to permanent junior assembler status by leaving them with nothing to invest in or no investment funds. This can be done in two ways. The first option is illustrated by the Sino-foreign joint ventures in car assembly (like SAIC) which hold more than 75% of the Chinese domestic car market and make almost no exports. Here, the dominant Western partner retains the intellectual property and know how in product and process, so that the Chinese subordinate may make profits but has no easy pathway to upward mobility through own account strategic investment in, for example, power train manufacture. The second option is illustrated by electronics assemblers like Foxconn International Holdings (FIH) which can derive little benefit from assembling premium products like smart phones for sale in Western export markets. The instrument of subordination here is the contract with the dominant Western partner which ensures the assembler makes little profit so that the Chinese Apple Business Model: Financialization across the Pacific 16 | subordinate again has no easy pathway to upward mobility because, just as in a failing Western firm, reinvestment finds are limited and defensive restructuring takes priority. The...
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...as well as elasticity of demand and supply of this good. The paper also details the affects of some complements and some substitutes for in market. Introduction In this research paper we will analyze the supply and demand of the MP3 Player market. We will start by getting acquainted with the general scope of this market by looking at characteristics such as the state of the market, the competition, and market share. When analyzing supply, we will consider certain market trends and economic principles such as the various determinants of supply and its elasticity. Likewise, we will consider variables and statistics when discussing demand. We will also analyze the differentiation between a complement and a substitute in this market, and why it is important to consider various interpretations in this regard. Market The MP3 Player market has been growing steadily over the past decade. As of 2006, 20% of Americans over the age of 12 own an MP3 Player and 6% of people own more than one. Over a five year period, ownership of MP3 Players has almost doubled (ISPOS.com)1. Because of the great demand, many firms have been working hard to establish their brands using unique selling propositions. These firms include Apple (iPod), ScanDisk (Sansa), Creative (Zen), Sony (Walkman), Microsoft (Zune), Archos, and Samsung. Competition amongst these brands has been competitive yet imperfect. Because of the large number of firms and the different sizes of each one, one may consider activity...
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...activities, mainly when they are trying to decide about extending the scope of the ’company’s actions beyond its core business (Pearce & Robinson, 2013). Apple is a known for their innovation and brand recognition. Apple products are easily identifiable in the stores and they make sure that their products are integrated to provide the best use and experience for their customers. Because the market is so competitive, Apple should stay focused on how to sustain their status as the next generation of technology leaders. Due to the similar products and new products entering into the market, Apple is faced with challenges from other competitors they must look to grow their vision. If Apple expects to continue to grow, they will need to make sure they grow at a pace that will not jeopardize their brand identity or their potential revenue market growth. The paper highlights the strategic choice and evaluation of Apple, Inc. Generic Strategy According to the text, generic strategy is “a core idea about how a firm can best compete in the marketplace” (Pearce & Robinson, 2013). In order to run a successful organization, the organization must have a strategy for its direction. According to Porter, advantages of strategies will help to achieve competitive advantages compared to rivals. There are three different models that firms can pick from: cost leadership, differentiation,...
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...Ethics in the workplace: Is business Ethics an Oxymoron? If the main purpose of a company is to maximize returns to its shareholders, then should deviating from this path be considered unethical? Ethics has several different rolls with in the workplace and an organization. While the most essential rules of conduct are handed down from the state, having an ethical way of doing business provides long term sustainable returns by reducing risk-taking and in many instances actually increasing business. In essence a corporation is never a single autonomous entity but a hive of people, each with the ability to act in either morally upright or corrupt fashion. A culture of morally duplicitous behavior attracts others who share the same conduct. A company is therefore defending itself and its future wellbeing by investing time and effort in the present. The best understanding of the full scope of ethical dilemmas in the workplace is best analyzed by first determining the ethically judged. While many organizations have codes of ethics, it is also true that individual employees also must maintain their own ethical agenda. It is therefore impetrative to analyze all parties involved and work to discover their motives. The values in being perceived as ethically minded are numerous, research shows that those judged more ethical are also perceived to be better candidates for senior leadership within an organization. It is also clear however that ethics is far from a flawless science. Ultimately...
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