This seems to be appropriate to today's discussions.....an example of diversification. One extra credit point for a meaningful comment.
DenverPost.com - A wee distillery for Nebraska?
Showing posts with label strategy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strategy. Show all posts
Friday, February 09, 2007
Monday, May 22, 2006
Wall-Mart pulls out of Korea - Yahoo! News
Wal-Mart pulls out of Korea - Yahoo! News
What's interesting here -- toward the end of the article, it mentions that Carrefour is also bailing out of South Korea. The British (Tesco) are doing ok, but they're in a joint venture with a South Korean firm, Samsung (whose Shinsegae subsidiary bought the Wal-Mart operation).
The next step, China. The Wal-Mart folks say that the proceeds from the sale of the Korean units will go towards increasing their presence in China. Only problem is that the Koreans are saying the same thing:
Stay tuned here for updates.....as far as success in China goes, I'd put my money on the South Korean firms.
What's interesting here -- toward the end of the article, it mentions that Carrefour is also bailing out of South Korea. The British (Tesco) are doing ok, but they're in a joint venture with a South Korean firm, Samsung (whose Shinsegae subsidiary bought the Wal-Mart operation).
The next step, China. The Wal-Mart folks say that the proceeds from the sale of the Korean units will go towards increasing their presence in China. Only problem is that the Koreans are saying the same thing:
"As a result, E-Mart will increase the number of outlets to 102 including seven in China and will take on all 3,356 workers hired by Wal-Mart."
"With the acquisition of Wal-Mart stores, we will secure the ground for our stable business at home. This will also help us step up our operations in China," Shinsegae president Koo Hak-Seo told reporters."
Stay tuned here for updates.....as far as success in China goes, I'd put my money on the South Korean firms.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Technology Update: Western Union Stops Sending Telegrams
The age of the telegram is over. When I think "telegram", I think old black-and-white tv and movies. Perry Mason sent telegrams, as did Sam Spade. Ah, well, the telegram has gone the way of the rotary dial phone, the manual typewriter, and the Manhattan......
Nostalia aside, I'm surprised that it took this long.
LiveScience.com - Era Ends: Western Union Stops Sending Telegrams
Nostalia aside, I'm surprised that it took this long.
LiveScience.com - Era Ends: Western Union Stops Sending Telegrams
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Microsoft, Google, and Sun Microsystems
News today:
Google, Sun Challenge Microsoft's Office
Note in the 4th paragraph that Office is referred to Microsoft's "cash cow". This is a perfect example; Microsoft, of course, has the vast majority of market share and most people have an office package (so not a lot of market growth).
But the really interesting question is whether or not Sun & Google can displace Microsoft. [Note here that the 2 companies are hoping that their partnership will create synergy -- remember that concept? Some feel, though, that the big winner here will be Google, that "partnership" really isn't in the picture]
Microsoft has a big competitive advantage here. Its office suite is on most everyone's computer, meaning that:
Google, Sun Challenge Microsoft's Office
Note in the 4th paragraph that Office is referred to Microsoft's "cash cow". This is a perfect example; Microsoft, of course, has the vast majority of market share and most people have an office package (so not a lot of market growth).
But the really interesting question is whether or not Sun & Google can displace Microsoft. [Note here that the 2 companies are hoping that their partnership will create synergy -- remember that concept? Some feel, though, that the big winner here will be Google, that "partnership" really isn't in the picture]
Microsoft has a big competitive advantage here. Its office suite is on most everyone's computer, meaning that:
- Support and help (college & continuing ed classes, magazine articles, etc.) assume you're using Microsoft Office -- so if you go with a different product, where's the support?
- Most companies and schools use MS Office -- if it's on the computer at school, you might as well have the same program at home.
- Sharing files -- passing on a document to co-worker for editing, for example, is possible because everyone is on the same platform.
Here's the big if, though. We also said that competitive advantage had to be sustained, as well as created, and that sustainable competitive advantage depens on innovation. Ok. What Google and Sun are talking about is a competing way of distributing software.
Your comments???
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Random thoughts about technolgy and Microsoft
Seems that the iPhone is now out; Apple and Motorola have developed a phone that will allow you to store and play 100 tunes.
Apple unveils iTunes phone
This I'd never have envisioned, but the entire point about major change is that it's something that we couldn't imagine in advance. Did any of us need a computer of our own before Bill Gates and Microsoft????
Speaking of Microsoft.......they filed another appeal today in the long-running battle between Microsoft and the EU over anti-trust issues. In this case, on of the major issues is whether or not Microsoft will have to open up its source code. We'll be talking bout this tonight in International; for the Principles folks, this is a good example of how any international involvement adds a huge amount of complexity to your external environment.
Microsoft Files Appeal Against EU Ruling
Apple unveils iTunes phone
This I'd never have envisioned, but the entire point about major change is that it's something that we couldn't imagine in advance. Did any of us need a computer of our own before Bill Gates and Microsoft????
Speaking of Microsoft.......they filed another appeal today in the long-running battle between Microsoft and the EU over anti-trust issues. In this case, on of the major issues is whether or not Microsoft will have to open up its source code. We'll be talking bout this tonight in International; for the Principles folks, this is a good example of how any international involvement adds a huge amount of complexity to your external environment.
Microsoft Files Appeal Against EU Ruling
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