Archive for February 2013
Top 6 – February 2013
Why do Americans generally get paid more to do business than to do engineering or science? Is it that there is greater opportunity in helping people interact with each other peacefully through trade than in helping them interact with the forces of nature, or is it that our priorities are out-of-whack? Predictions are often wrong,…
Read MoreBombardier CSeries: How will Boeing/Airbus Duopoly Respond?
The much-anticipated Bombardier CSeries commercial airplane line provides a uniquely positioned offering, boasting 20% fewer CO2 emissions, 20% fuel savings, and 15% less cash operating expenses than comparable alternatives. With expected fulfillment of initial CSeries orders occurring in mid-to-late 2013, Bombardier poses a significant threat to the once dominated duopoly market of passenger fleet 100…
Read MoreApple Takes a Beating — What Did You Expect?
Apple has had a beating both in the market and the press lately. Despite record quarterly profit, they lost their number-one stock spot to Exxon Mobil. By some prognostications, Samsung is rising in the smartphone market, and Huawei is taking a stronger foothold on the price-sensitive emerging-market field, while Apple is stumbling. Well, for those who failed to sell Apple at above $700 prices and now see it below $450, what did you expect?
Read MoreIs Your Board of Directors Considering the Right CEO Strategic Business Priorities?
Business guru Harvey Mackay stated, “The Japanese have a very simple way of describing the typical American marketing plan: READY? FIRE! AIM.” Sadly little has changed in American business. This is a major reason why the American economy is in constant crisis, and obsolete marketing departments built on late twentieth-century dogma now resemble the spending habits of Communist central planning: disconnected from reality, economically inefficient and lacking accountability to the right things.
Read MoreAn Intriguing Possibility – Legalize All Drugs
Two academic giants, Nobel Prize Winner (in economics) Gary Becker of the University of Chicago and Kevin W. Murphy another U. of Chicago economics professor, argue that we have lost the war on drugs. So is it time to legalize and tax this industry?
Read MoreLow price guarantees have adverse effects on consumer behavior
A study conducted by Reims Management School (RMS) reveals that consumers are often put off by promises of lowest prices which are coupled with high refund guarantees – contrary to the usual strategies of many top retailers.
Read MoreEconomic Price Optimization with Globally Linear Demand — Both Useful and Useless
Economic price optimization has a lot to tell us, but not necessarily the price which optimizes the firm’s profits. Economic price optimization relies on a defined demand curve. Unfortunately, defining the demand curve with sufficient precision and reliability for decision making can be done for only a subset of challenges. So if this method is not useful for pricing in many cases, what use is it?
Read MoreThe Sales Rep Motivational Disconnect
When it comes to personal selling, the 21st century sales representative is a different animal from the 20th century version. The 21st century salesman is a professional consultant who should be far more interested in establishing a long-term relationship with the customer based on giving the customer advice on how best to buy. Because the sales rep. is so crucial to the success of the firm, it is mandatory that she or he be properly motivated.
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