Research Articles Base: Swatch Case Study

Airplay International Shipping Weekly

Question: http://www.ameinfo.com/106620.html 17-07-2006 Aqua’s main port to relocate New swatch Airplay International Shipping Weekly 13 Jul 2006 AQUA’S main port is to be relocated to the industrial zone in the southern port area, freeing up prime coastal real estate and allowing for much-needed expansion of port capacity. According to a master plan drawn up by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, the duty-free zone will become a regional hub for business and leisure, said Aqaba Development Corp (ADC) chairman & CEO Imax Factory. The enlarged southern port’s capacity will grow to 100M tones a year as the result of two major expansion phases in the next 30 years, compared to the present maximum capacity of 30M tones/year. The current handling volume stands at 22M tones. “We started to worry about volume, and there is no room to expand within the present location,” Factory explained. “The other issue is that, with all the billions [of dollars] worth of urban tourism projects, ADC has attracted north of the main port area, we have a conflict of identity.” Following best international practices, Jordan’s only sea port will be broken up into separate business units to be offered for bidders, mainly on a joint-venture basis using the public private partnership model. These units including the container terminal, a ferry terminal, marine services, a grain terminal and general cargo and to-do berths, in addition to an industrial terminal dealing mainly with phosphate, potash and fertilizer exports, which are Jordan’s main mining exports. The ADC chief said general cargo, to-do, industrial and grain terminal might be offered as one package to interested operators. A decision about the oil terminal will be taken later this year, Factory added. Total investment for this plan is estimated at .5Bn and the project was originally scheduled to be concluded in 2020. However, Factory is optimistic that the work can be expedited and completed in 5-7 years. A new terminal for cruise ships will built where the main port is currently located, as part of major mixed-use development comprising integrated tourism, commercial, residential projects as well as public use facilities. The cruise terminal will also be tendered in due course, with an estimated value of Bn. Read the above articles. Discuss how further decisions related to the expansion of Aqaba relocated port could best be taken by Aqaba Development Corporation. You do not need to do further research on Aqaba port. You should write in the format of a referenced essay of not more than 2000 words. You should make reference to the course materials. Student Guidance Overall Objective of the TAM (learning outcomes) The TAM is designed to develop understanding and knowledge of: â€¢ how organisations make strategic decisions: rationality and routines, decision methods and decision processes We are looking for the student to demonstrate their understanding of the key concepts in decision making, as well as their appreciation of the influence of societal factors which they support by the effective presentation of evidence. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Airplay International Shipping Weekly

Question: http://www.ameinfo.com/106620.html 17-07-2006 Aqua’s main port to relocate New swatch Airplay International Shipping We...

Aqua’s International Shipping Weekly

Deadline: 8th May 2006. Question: http://www.ameinfo.com/106620.html 17-07-2006 Aqua’s main port to relocate New swatch Airplay International Shipping Weekly 13 Jul 2006 AQUA’S main port is to be relocated to the industrial zone in the southern port area, freeing up prime coastal real estate and allowing for much-needed expansion of port capacity. According to a master plan drawn up by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, the duty-free zone will become a regional hub for business and leisure, said Aqaba Development Corp (ADC) chairman & CEO Imax Factory. The enlarged southern port’s capacity will grow to 100M tones a year as the result of two major expansion phases in the next 30 years, compared to the present maximum capacity of 30M tones/year. The current handling volume stands at 22M tones. “We started to worry about volume, and there is no room to expand within the present location,” Factory explained. “The other issue is that, with all the billions [of dollars] worth of urban tourism projects, ADC has attracted north of the main port area, we have a conflict of identity.” Following best international practices, Jordan’s only sea port will be broken up into separate business units to be offered for bidders, mainly on a joint-venture basis using the public private partnership model. These units including the container terminal, a ferry terminal, marine services, a grain terminal and general cargo and to-do berths, in addition to an industrial terminal dealing mainly with phosphate, potash and fertilizer exports, which are Jordan’s main mining exports. The ADC chief said general cargo, to-do, industrial and grain terminal might be offered as one package to interested operators. A decision about the oil terminal will be taken later this year, Factory added. Total investment for this plan is estimated at .5Bn and the project was originally scheduled to be concluded in 2020. However, Factory is optimistic that the work can be expedited and completed in 5-7 years. A new terminal for cruise ships will built where the main port is currently located, as part of major mixed-use development comprising integrated tourism, commercial, residential projects as well as public use facilities. The cruise terminal will also be tendered in due course, with an estimated value of Bn. Read the above articles. Discuss how further decisions related to the expansion of Aqaba relocated port could best be taken by Aqaba Development Corporation. You do not need to do further research on Aqaba port. You should write in the format of a referenced essay of not more than 2000 words. You should make reference to the course materials. Student Guidance Overall Objective of the TAM (learning outcomes) The TAM is designed to develop understanding and knowledge of: â€¢ how organisations make strategic decisions: rationality and routines, decision methods and decision processes We are looking for the student to demonstrate their understanding of the key concepts in decision making, as well as their appreciation of the influence of societal factors which they support by the effective presentation of evidence. Support from the Tutor about the assignment: Specific analysis should be drawn upon Chapter 1 – 5 by relating it to the case. The importance on decision making for businesses and projects are essential Scenarios of decision making is also important ???? Think and create !! 1- You need to understand the current decision taken by the development team 2- You should explain how decision could be best taken for this project 3- You should make reference to rationality and routine decisions methods and decision processes – referring to B300 module is very essential 4- 10% mark will be deducted if 10% word count has been exceeded. 5- YOU MUST reference your work or else you will not get higher than 65% . Redevelopment of the Port of Aqaba, Jordan ICON is currently working with the Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Aqua’s International Shipping Weekly

Deadline: 8th May 2006. Question: http://www.ameinfo.com/106620.html 17-07-2006 Aqua’s main port to relocate New swatch Airplay ...

Swatch Watch USA

HI Vic, Please see attachment for the case study for “Swatch Watch USA”, please make up paper in total 9 pages to cover below 6 questions. Please let me if writer has any questions. I would like to have the paper by Wednesday (8/22). Please confirm order. I will make payment to the account as usual. 1. Swatch is a unique success story. Why has the company been so successful? Was it important that the Swiss Swatch industry recapture the lower end of the market? Why? Why not? 2. Do you see any parallels between the decline of the Swiss watch industry and other Western industries? 3. Evaluate the cultural dimension of the Swatch Story. taking into account such practices as the willingness to bring people from other industries, to delegate authority to younger executives, and to employ new media such as rock concerts and music videos. 4. Swatch created a new market – can they continue to expand the market? What must they do to defend their position in this market? 5.What do you think of Swatch’s chances for success as a total fashion enterprise? Do you agree with management’s extension of the swatch brand name to other products? why? why not? 6. Swatch is a classic example of marketing success through creativity. What lessons can be learned from their experience? reds, remarks: Hi Vic – I can’t order through your email as usual, as the message rebounded many times this morning. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Swatch Watch USA

HI Vic, Please see attachment for the case study for “Swatch Watch USA”, please make up paper in total 9 pages to cover below 6 ques...

Swatch watch

Swatch Watch U.S.A.   1. Swatch is a unique success story. Why has the company been so successful? Was it important that the Swiss watch industry recapture the lower end of the market? Why? Why not?             The Swatch watch was originally intended to re-capture the entry level market share lost by Swiss manufacturers during the aggressive growth of Japanese watch companies such as Seiko in the 1960s and 1970s, and to re-popularize analog watches at the time when digital watches had achieved wide popularity. The launch of the new Swatch brand in 1983 was marked by bold new styling and design. The quartz watch was redesigned for manufacturing efficiency and fewer parts. This combination of marketing and manufacturing expertise restored Switzerland as a major player in the world wristwatch market (             The two primary reasons for the success of Swatch is the perfect marketing strategy of the company and the quality and the design of each and every watch they are launching. The company has different varieties of watches for different age of their target customer, and because of the quality of the product, Swatch watch is no longer just a simple everyday watch but one of the hot collectible items in the world today. The company also makes sure that they have a series of new watches with different styles for every season, every special occasion and every event in the world.             The design of the watch is also remarkable, because of the talented designers the company hires. A customer can choose from a variety of designs that fits his/ her moods and even culture. That is the reason why the Swatch watch is not only popular in the United State but in the whole world. The watch designers are making sure that every design of every series will meet the expectation of the customers.             Fine watches were more than great accessories: They are investments that can become heirlooms. As one watch manufacturer’s advertising slogan states, you never actually own it; “you merely look after it for the next generation.” That’s why after-sale servicing of the timepieces is critical to its longevity ( 2003). That is the reason why those first edition and series of Swatch watches are now worthy and rare.              Before, Swatches are available in every store and available in affordable price, but now, it is the opposite. This is due to more than one factor including the artistic design of the Swatch watches like new innovations, marketing strategies and strategic distributions system set up by Swatch Inc. Swatch capitalized on the idea of product line extensions and variations like no other company has. Swatch, Inc. knew that in order to keep its interest up beyond the 80s craze it had to make some changes (             It was important that the Swiss watch industry recaptured the lower end of the market. By doing this, the sales and the industry of the Swiss watch will not die and it will still be visible and available in different stores, and ordinary people with the average income can still experience and use the quality and fashion of the Swiss watch, but if we are going to talk about Swatch recapturing the lower end of the market that will be a far cry from now.             2. Do you see any parallels between the decline of the Swiss watch industry and other Western industries?             Asia is becoming active in manufacturing and exporting of their products. China who is now involved in the global manufacturing market and she is beginning to establish and create the image as the World’s manufacturer. Technology is also part of the expertise of Asia; Japan is now one of the most advanced countries in terms of machines and different infrastructures. Most of the products of China are now available in different parts of the globe in very low prices, almost half of the price of products from other countries.  However the quality is another topic.             Example of this is the decline of the shoe industry in America in 1992. This is because of the North American Free Trade Area. Mexico, now, can offer cheaper shoe ware. Because of this, the production of shoes in America declined about 2 percent from 182 million pairs a year. Slippers declined by 4 percent to 32.6 million pairs; men’s footwear by 3 percent to 42.2 million pairs; and women’s footwear by 3 percent to 59.8 million pairs (Byron, 1992). Because of the low-cost shoe wear from Mexico, the shoe industry in America decline. This is just like the current situation of the Philippines. Because of cheap shoes from Korea and China, the shoe industry here began to decline. Most of the time, the consequence of low-cost products is low-quality, because most of the raw material used is of low-quality. Other examples are the textile and clothing industry, and if not because of the use of technology and marketing strategy, these two industries will never recover.     3. Evaluate the cultural dimension of the Swatch story, taking into account such practices as the willingness of taking into account such practices as the willingness to bring in people from other industries, to delegate authority to younger executives, and to employ new media such as rock concerts and music videos.             Swatch is also connected to events that will convince the people specially the youth to be in sport as well as to promote the culture of a certain place and the people in that place. A great example of this is the connection of Swatch to Olympics. Swatch was the official timekeeper of Olympics 1996, 2000 and 20004. Swatch is also launching new designs of swatch watch every Olympics. This will not only promote the world event, but also promote the culture and the history of the Olympics. This will also show the unity of the world and how the world gathers to promote sport in the world.             Swatch is also into entertainment and music, in partnership with MTV. They are giving different contests like the latest one which is the MTV’s best shows ever. This is a contest for the MTV viewers that will measure the creativity and sense of humor of the viewer to create the craziest and wackiest ping-pong obstacle. The winner will receive a brand new kaleidoscopic Swatch Puzzle Motion watch .  This will not only help the MTV channel gain more viewer but also help the viewers to see the lighter side of life, by joining in a somewhat useless contest but enjoying it and using their talent on it.             Another is the Swatch FIVB 2007 World Championship, in partnership with the International Volleyball Federation. Through this project, Swatch supports the growth of public and media interest in beach volleyball, appreciated worldwide as one of the most rapidly developing summer sports             Swatch is also doing alternatives Olympics featuring crazy and unique entertaining sports events against the clock that will take place in three Asian cities at busy citadels             With the help of Swatch to other organization in improving their technological capability, Swatch helps each organization to improve the performance of that organization to do better about the activity or objective and to meet their goal in serving the world. 4. Swatch created a new market – can they continue to expand the market? What must they do to defend their position to the market?             Swatch was the savior of the Swiss swatch industry and the most successful wristwatch of all time. It had survived from a very difficult economic problem and become the pioneer of the Swiss watch industry in the world again. From 1983, its already 24 years of existence, and the fact that the company is still here, Swatch watches are still in the collection items of the collectors and still in the wrist of other users, then Swatch will continue to grow and expand.             Swatch has diversified its offerings from one kind of watch. It now sells more than a dozen different types of watches, including the Irony series that features metal-bodied watches; the Scuba series that features diving watches; and the Skin family, thin and flat bodied watches. The company even offer an Internet-connected watch that can download stock quotes, news headlines, weather reports and other data. This is belong to the Paparazzi series . In addition to that, Swatch is now offering Flik-Flak for children and diamond-decorated Swatches for grown-ups.             Swatch must continue their performance and work. They must continue to surprise the customer to maintain the excitement factor that will catch the attention of the customer. The company must continue to research about their target market and must use new and latest technology that will fit the taste, the needs and wants, the climate and other geographical factor of the target customer. They must maintain the quality of the timepieces where they were known before up to now.             The company must continue on what they have started and continue to maintain the study of change and the factors that will affect the taste and needs of their target customer.     5. What do you think of Swatch’s chances for success as a total fashion enterprise? Do you agree with the management’s extension of the swatch brand name to other products? Why? Why not?             The plan of the Swatch to become a total fashion enterprise is a 50/50 situation. Because swatch was known as a Swiss swatch company for a very long time, it will be hard for the customer to adopt the idea that Swatch is now a total fashion enterprise. There will be questions that will ask if the quality of the new line of products is as good as the watches, because the people are used to the thinking that Swatch is for Swiss watches only. Also, the competition of the product that they want to plunge to is fierce, because there are already lots of names that are well-known in the sports wear clothes and eyewear. It will be hard to compete with these giant names such as the Adidas.               I agree with the management’s extension of the swatch brand because it will only mean that the company is expanding and they are doing this for the satisfaction of their customer. This will also mean improvement to the part of the company and it will add asset and money in-flow to the company.             This management’s extension will also help the company to advertise their timepieces using their planned extension product such as notebooks, pen, eyewear and other sports wear. It will also add publicity because product like this will not cost much, this will serve as a vital advertisement.             Business is a matter of experimenting and learning, the company will never know if this will click if they will not try it, and most of successful businesses has all started in slow sales and then bloom. The same way as, it will surely hit the financial status of the company if the extension will flop, but at least there is always a lesson learned. The company may apply what they have learned in that mistake and apply it for their future decision-making and future plans.          6. Swatch is a classic example of marketing success through creativity. What lessons can be learned from their experience?             The first lesson that other companies can learn from the example of the Swatch is the quality of the product. The quality of the product is always the main reason why customers buy what they need and what they want. That is the basis why most of them are looking and buying their goods and product from a known and trusted name in industry. Just like Swatch that built a quality impression to customers, up to now, their customers are expecting for quality timepieces. Another reason is that the company uses a well planned marketing strategy by grouping well their target market and giving each group different approach. The company also hired talented artists to design their products in accordance to the wants and needs of the target market. Also all the designs are up-to-date and will surely catch the attention of the customers, making it not only a collectible expensive watches but also watches that will match the mood of the customer and the mood of the world. No wonder that it became a fashion hit during 80s up until now. Another is the use of modern technology and art in one. Just like the Internet watch that will be connected to the Internet to get important data like the weather as well as the internet time. This will not only catch the attention of the previous Swatch users but also those computer and Internet enthusiasts and technology-thirsty-individual.             The continuous change and launching of different products is also one of the most important activities of any company. This is to ensure that the customer is still seeing something new that will urge them to continue to support the products.             Advertising is also one of the factors of success of the Swatch watch. According to  of Orion Pictures, “it is the thing you look for, ache for.”  Advertisement serves as an attention caller of the product. This will help the company to show and introduce the product to the target market. By the use of colorful and animated advertisement of Swatch, it became successful.                               Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Swatch watch

Swatch Watch U.S.A. 1. Swatch is a unique success story. Why has the company been so successful? Was it important that the Swiss wat...

Innovation and Technology

Innovation and Technology Introduction             Innovation is very important in any organization. This is because innovation enables organizations to take advantage and prevent threats offered by the different changes in both macro- and micro-environment. Innovation is all about mobilizing knowledge and technological skills, together with the experience that are used in order to establish novelty in the offerings of the organization, in the ways in which it will creates and delivers those offerings (Trott 2008). One of the most important factors which affect innovation is technology. As a result technology and innovation are considered as two important and relevant cycles that every organization must implement in order to achieve business empowerments, at the same time, gain efficiency. These two factors are considered at the primary balancing factors towards the success of production handling and logistics. With this, it can be said that innovation and technology cycles are connection, not just because of their similar view, but also its function side – focusing on the efficiency of the organization and success of production. This is because, innovation is considered as the positive result of technological advancement, innovative products are not possible without the compliance with the technology based cycles including Information Technology Systems and knowledge.   Interrelation of Innovation and Technology Cycle             Huge companies compete over time by actively shaping and improving their innovation streams. Such streams include incremental innovation such as thinner mechanical watches, architectural innovation such as continuous aim gunfire, the ITE hearing aid or the SMH’s Swatch watch, together with the discontinuous innovation such as Seiko’s quarts movement substituting for mechanical movements. By actively managing the streams of innovation, companies can take advantage of essentially emerging markets for current technology and practically introduce substitute products, even they cannibalize the current products, create new markets, at the same time, the competitive rules. In order to understand how the managers cope with the contradictory requirements of the said innovations, together with the shaping of evolving streams of innovation, it is important to understand technology cycles or the patterns of the technological change where in early product variation is followed by the emergence of an standard of the industry , together with the period of incremental technological change punctuated, in turn, by a succeeding technological breakthrough (Tushman & O’Reilly).               One of the best example regarding the effective connection and interaction between technology and innovation is the Dell computers production. The products have a strong base of technology and innovation functions due the complete packaging. This includes small parts that have passed the control standards upon the process of testing. With this, the laptop of Dell by the end user by manifested via OS applications as well as wireless Internet options and applicability (Adner & Levinthal 2001). In addition, the cycles of innovation is also considered as the key factors which affect the success of efficiency of an organization focusing on the production aspects. For instance, gas and oil plants will not be able to produce adequate enough of produced oil without the use of technology that will work in time and focuses on the different innovative cues that are direct and impulsive. Thus, it shows the imperative role of the different innovative cycles into the areas of production, at the same time, the process of generating the technology that are based on the applications of the cycles with connection to the normal product cycles and notions (Adner & Levinthal 2001). In the case of Dell, the company had been able to focus on innovative technology regarding their PC products, at the same time, focuses on the services sectors which had helped in order to identify and show the different innovation process that takes in the entire technology being adopted in the organization. Therefore, the connection between the innovation and technology cycles starts with the product based improvement, because it help to increase the effectiveness of the services being offered by the organization, move the different processes of innovation, which will help in order improve the quality of production which will lead to product innovation via the success of technology.               Above all, both innovation and technology cycles affect the effectiveness of an organization in production via the actual applications where the innovation is seen in different field of knowledge, primarily the creative production and the dynamics of technology and innovation (Khazanchi & Lewis 2007). Based on this, it is important to focus on the connection of these two aspects in order to ensure the success of the entire production process.     References Adner, R & Levinthal, D 2001, ‘Demand Heterogeneity and Technology Evolution: Implications for Product and Process Innovation’, Management Science, vol. 47, no. 5, pp. 611 – 628.   Khazanchi, S, Lewis, M & Boyer, K 2007, ‘Innovation-supportive culture: The impact of organizational values on process innovation’ Journal of Operations Management vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 871 – 884.   Trott, P 2008, Innovation Management and New Product Development, 4th edn, FT Prentice Hall, Harlow.       Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Innovation and Technology

Innovation and Technology Introduction Innovation is very important in any organization. This is because innovation enable...

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