What Chrome OS has on Windows that Linux doesn’t
July 11, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Google’s Chrome OS isn’t the first operating system to challenge Microsoft Windows’ commanding lead. But it’s got an advantage that other rivals such as Linux lacked: the Web.
Source: CNET News
Date: 7/09/2009
Keys: Marketing, new product development, new technologies
Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10282442-2.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think Chrome OS will succeed where others have failed to take significant market share away from Microsoft?
- Which factors support confidence in Google’s potential to succeed and which suggest great difficulty?
- Which strategies would you suggest to Google if it is to persuade current Window users to switch over to Chrome?
- What would you recommend to Microsoft if it is to defend its long dominant leadership in this software category?
- What do you think this product category market will look like in five years – in terms of the number of competitors, market share, and brands?
Brand Barbie gets a makeover
July 11, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Pushing 50, the iconic doll had lost her mojo. Richard Dickson is making her hot again.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 7/10/2009
Keys: Marketing, target market, branding, re-positioning, consumer behavior, new product development
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the reasons given for the successful rejuvenation of sales?
- What other reasons do you think might also have contributed to this change for the better?
- What would you do to expand on this success? Explain your thinking.
Ford: Consumers want green cars
July 6, 2009 by admin
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
The Ford chairman says higher gas prices and better quality hybrids have led to changes in buyer behavior.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 7/01/2009
Keys: Marketing, consumer behavior, new product development
Link: http://money.cnn.com
Questions for discussion:
- What are some of the reasons Bill Ford thinks consumers have avoided buying into “green cars” in the past?
- Do you believe the green products offered today will be successful in the marketplace? Explain your answer.
- What product features do you think are of greatest importance to customers? Explain how you think a customer would make their decision.
Job market takes turn for worse
July 6, 2009 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
Employers cut more jobs than expected in June and unemployment rate climbed for the ninth straight month, hitting 9.5%.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 7/03/2009
Keys: Economic activity, business cycle, government
Link: http://money.cnn.com
Questions for discussion:
- What does the high level of unemployment suggest about the current and future state of business activities? Explain your thinking.
- Why are the numbers of unemployed people an important concern for predicting the future of economic activity?
- Is there a positive side to these high figures? Explain your answer.
Fisker’s good Karma
July 6, 2009 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
Among the different alternative-fuel strategies playing out, Henrik Fisker is betting big on plug-in hybrids. At a recent dinner speech, he said plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs, will be the dominant type of car for the next 10 to 15 years. And he has reason to hope that will be the case as his start-up company, Fisker Automotive, launches the Karma sedan, with its PHEV power train, in June of next year.
Source: CNET News
Date: 7/02/2009
Keys: Marketing, new product development, new technologies, management
Link: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10278455-48.html?tag=mncol
Questions for discussion:
- Does Fisker Automotive represent a real threat to the giant automobile firms like Ford and Toyota?
- What do you think the target market will like about this product?
- Is there anything the customer will not like?
- Do you believe the product will succeed in the marketplace? Explain your answers.
Anti-Smoking Campaign Hits Up Music Site for Social Media Outreach
July 6, 2009 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
The anti-smoking Truth campaign has turned to ad-supported music site Imeem for its most extensive social media effort thus far, a multi-band concert that was streamed live on the site following a month of interactive promotions.
Source: Clickz.com
Date: 6/29/2009
Keys: Advertising, social marketing, Internet technology
Link: http://www.clickz.com/3634240
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think this sort of approach to “social marketing” issues like anti-smoking, will be more successful than other communication strategies? Explain your answer.
- What do you think is the best way to persuade people in this target market not to smoke tobacco? Explain your answer.
- Do you think “fear-based” advertising works? Why or why not?
