The Final Class

I wish it was recorded...
The final class for my college life was about my group presentation. I think I did ok. But, I really hope it was recorded...
Luckly, i took some pictures. so, i like to share with you all here...

anyway, i like this professor. he's really great. i love to read his posts. it brings me wisdom and opens my eyes. actually, this is a very practical class. i think that's why i really like it...
here, i would like to thank my team, Jessica, Marina, Nick and Varun. I also like to take a time to thank Jennifer who helps our team to success.
Of course, I won't forget our great professor Edward Kurpis. so, i will post his picture here ...

Thank you all... and wish you all a great holiday

Communicating via Blog

Before the BPL class, I create my own blog for other purpose. However, I have never done any entry on it since I have been so busy.
I like to create my own blog. But if it is homework, it is kind of difference. I did learn about others by the blogs. But it is not the most effective way. Actually, just a few people visit my blog since my name is at the end. People usually go from the top and ignore the rest of the people since they are busy.
I feel that the purpose of the professor is really great. It really achieve something, but not enough. I think the reason is that everyone is so busy. Most of the time, we just want to finish it as homework. We just want to get it over. We didn't really think so much... Also, some of the blog topics are very challenged. We need to do some research in order to write a good one.
I think, if we can create a blog for our class together, it may have different results. I like to post my comments on our professor's blog. I also like to talk about the others' comments and give different opinions. In this case, we have less work but we really take a time to think deeper. It's a quality time. It's worth. So,if we can all dicuss on these topics, it may have benefit us more. In this way, we may be able to communicate each other in a better way.
I like the blog, but i don't like it as homework. So, I believe I will continue my blog after this class. Also, I think I can make my blog better in the future since it is not homework that I must finish with a deadline. Also, I can write whatever I really want to write. I believe it will be much better.
After all, I like the blog. It helps me to achieve some of the goals of our professor, but it also gives me a lot of work. But, I believe I will continue blogging...

Diagnosing strategic problems

Gap
Gap was very popular in the U.S. People love its styple. Gap becomes a big corperation.
However, our world is fast changing technology environment. If you don't update yourself, you will fall behind. If you are slow, you will lose in the game. I believe that's why Gap is not doing good these years.
Compare to Gap's rivals, it doesn't have much product varities. Gap also has a problem for product changes. Gap takes a long time to introduce new products. I think that's why it falls behind H&M these years.
H&M doesn't have a long history as Gap, now H&M has surpassed Gap. When Gap is still selling the old products, H&M has changed to new products a few times. Gap is losing its loyal customers because of limited choices. Our customers now like new things everyday, especailly clothes. Therefore, Gap's customers go to H&M or other rivals. When it lost its customers, its profits also drop so much. As profits drop, it will be hard to finance the operation and engineer study. This will goes like a circle. Limited products and slow product changes will make Gap lose more and more customers. So, more profits will be taken away by its rivals...
At the result, Gap has to close some of its stores or sell off its stores around the country. So, I believe these two symptoms contribute to the stategic problems. Gap needs to introduce more products and faster to compete with its rivals.

Managing strategic business policy

Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. is a very successful company now. However, it may change in the future. Why? Because it is a high technology company. If you can maintain the advantage of your technology, you will lose everything very soon. I think this is a threat for the future of Apple. If the CEO of Apple resign, it may be another big threat to the company. Also, Apple computer is not doing as well as their MP3 players. their computers are not having enough market shares yet.
Right now, Apple is so successful because of its MP3 players. However, Apple can't maintain its market shares as before anymore. Many big corperations are now investing a lot more money in the music industry. Another revolution will come soon... Another price war will come. Now, the corperations are fighting on price. they try to make their MP3 players lower than Apple but have almost the same function or even better. Price war will just get even worst in the future. it's like 100% sure if you go to the stores and look back the history. The products are getting cheaper but better.
I think, Apple should invest more money on the energineer study and products development projects. They should also look for different projects to invest for diversification since they are now having a lot of cash on hand. Apple should look for merging or partnership since their Iphone is very popular now. Iphone is a very good example to extend their product lines with their great technology. They should look for more new products as Iphones. This will let Apple always be on top.

Competitive Advantage

Apple Inc.
Once again, I like to pick Apple. Why? Its stock price rocked... What did Apple do? Well, let's take a look at the way it competes with its rivals.
Apple is always being the first mover in the market: from its MP3 players to its Iphone. Sony used to dominate the MP3 market with its walkman players. This has been history since Apple made its first move: suprised the industry with its Ipod. its Ipod suddenly dominates the whole market. it's so hard for any company to catch up since consumers have fell in love with Ipod, so is Apple Inc.
Its Ipod has the Niche dominance. its features and fuctions secure its market position. everyone in the MP3 industry just wants to copy Apple products... it's so late for them.
Now, Ipod has the most market shares in the MP3 industy.
Lately, Apply has its Iphone in the market. Although Apple is not a cell phone producer, its Iphone is way above its rivals. Iphone's niche guarantee it a position. As the sale of Iphone growing, its market share is also being heavier... so, its stock price rocked...

MTA
If i have a choice, i will not use MTA service at all. it's serve is the worst i know so far. it can never compare with subways in Japan, H.K. Singapore and many other places in the world...
MTA is protected by the Government. its monoply status is the root for such a bad service. no matter how bad MTA becomes, we still need to use it. there's no can compete with it.

Google
Why Google? because its stock price is flying like a rocket... from its IPO price 88 dollars to now 700 dollars, it just takes about 3 years... which company can do that?
Now Google surpass Yahoo and Microsoft and becomes Number one. it's like the Monoply in the search engin industry. Google's niche, like google map and gmail, gives its users a lot of benefits. Google is expanding so fast that no one can catch up with it. So, its market shares is surging. It dominate the distribution channels and bring it such a great profit.

Business Strategy

Cost leadership: Dell Inc.
Dell Inc. is definitely a leader on its cost operation. First of all, it has a limited inventory. Because of this strategy, it can safe a lot of money on buying inventories or storing them They won't waste any money. Also, they will start making computers when they receive orders. So, they can save a lot of money on the whole process. Because of their low cost operation, they can provide cheaper but quality computers to customers.

Differenciation: Apple Inc.
Apple Inc. is a very special company. From Apple computer to its famous MP3 players and now its iphone, they are very unique. First, its Apple computer is very different from any other brands from design to its operation system. Its ipods are even more different. No company can have such great design. It's a very unique product that attracts millions of consumers from the world. Now its iphone even more special. Its unique once again attracts everyone's attention. Their products are superior all of its competitors and bring Apple Inc. huge profits.

Focus:Zipcar
Zipcar is a rental company that focus on some big cities only, like Boston, Chicago, London, and N.Y. The cost of renting their cars are cheap. Also, they give out great service.

Porter's 5 Forces

I think, Porter's 5 Forces is a great model for industry analysis. However, I really don't know if people in the field of finance use this model or not. Also, I don't know how useful it is in reality. It just seems good to me in theory.
Because of my knowledge level and limited experience, I don't see Porter's 5 Forces is helpful to me or do me a great deed. I feel that it is so complecated. I don't really know how to use it. Even I can follow all the guidelines, I believe I still can figure out which industry will be the best or good. Also, if we have to do all of these things to all the industries by using the Poter's 5 Forces model, it is going to be horrible. I don't think it is very applicable to me. There are a lot of information that required by the model is not accessible for me, an average person or lower then average.
I think, if I am an investor, I don't think I will follow the Porter's 5 Forces. I just want to know which one is the most profitable industry in the past, now and the near future. Also, i would like to know some key reasons behind them. I think it will help me more in this way. Also, it is much easier for me to find the answer. Furthermore, time is important. By the time we finish our analysis by the Porter's model, I think the best opportunities are gone already.
Porter's 5 Forces sounds good to me, but it is not applicable to me.

I think the Oil and Gas industry has very high barriers to entry. First of all, without really know about the industry but a very few information, we can think in this way. Oil and gas industry is one of the most profitable industries in the world now. Also, it is the most profitable time in history. Rationally, everyone one to take a piece of it, can it? Of course not, if everyone can take a piece of it, we all become rich, not just a very few people in the u.s. are rich, but the majority is poor.
Second, Oil and gas industry requires huge of capital and other investment.
Third, Oil and gas are getting less and less. It's so competitive itself. It's not easy to find more resources in this world. They are limited resources.
Fourth, govement has great influence in this industry. There are all kind of regualtion to blog people go into this industry. Also, OPEC is controlling this industry. It is just so hard to get into this industry in this day.
Although Oil and gas industry is one of the most profitable industries in the world, it is one of the most difficult industry for entrying.