For the custom messenger bag, what are the key competitive dimensions that are driving sales? Are their competitive priorities different for the new laptop bags sourced in China? The biggest competitive dimension that is driving sales of the custom messenger bag is the customization of the bag by the customer. This allows the customer to design the bag by choosing its layout and colors and creates a personal connection between the customer and the bag. This attachment is then capitalized by combining it with quality material and fast shipping.
Identify the situation that this business is facing ReignCom has experienced great success abroad in other countries, but they now want to increase their presence in China, which is experiencing a boom in the MP3P market. The challenge is they need to decide if they want to build their own plant and market their MP3P under their own brand or outsource it to an existing/new partner or give other companies the license to use their brand. The CEO, Moon wants to create the most efficient supply chain that will be beneficial to his company. Consider and evaluate how this business should manage their supply chain in the future. As part of your analysis, answer these questions: o Can the old strategy continue to work in the future?
The competitive priorities of the custom the laptop bags produced in China are no different than the messenger bags produced in San Francisco. Both manufacturers in China and San Francisco main concern is to give customers a high quality and affordable custom bags; and by maintaining such standards, Timbuk2 will keep these bags in high demand by their customer base. The volume or rate of production of custom both San Francisco and China are essentially the same. The skills required by workers in San Francisco and China are even handed; both manufacturers have hardworking craftspeople. The level of automation is also even handed in San Francisco and
Global Supply Chain Management and Strategic Sourcing Case Study Questions Question 1: Based on the risk factors associated with the Bugabyte and the Bugabyte Lite, which product do you think Grunwald and Vogel will recommend as the best candidate for assembly outsourcing? This case study is embedded on procurement management and global sourcing. This is supported by the move of Metrovox outsource various functions from suppliers in China where it purchases the components of both Bugabyte Lite and Bugabyte for its assembly plant in Germany. In an effort to maintain its market position and competitive advantage, Metrovox was compelled to improve its previous product-Bugabyte by developing video capability. The new development had great impact on production such that it was delayed thus delaying delivery of the product by 30 percent.
The heavy dependence on retail stores leads to widespread availability of counterfeits which provides a unique challenge and directs towards the importance of having own-stores to ensure the legitimacy of the products. Another problem Shanghai Tang faces now is the need of shift of customer focus from European and American buyers to Chinese customers which will expand the customer base of the company. Even though a lot could be done better the management process of the company is excellent which includes the following i) Design Process: The mixture of both the core collection and seasonal collection maintains a balance between trademark products and the newness factor. The focus on theme and the creative designer as the core adds a lot of value to the design process. ii) Brand Considerations: Focus on the Shanghai Tang DNA leverages the brand equity that has been developed till now but on
Gobi Partners: Raising Fund II Case Review Background: Gobi Partners, founded in 2001 by three former WIH employees, is considering opening a second fund. The GPs, known across the industry for their due diligence, presents the idea to the advisory committee for guidance. Although the committee does not approve or deny Fund II, they seem to support a second fund under certain conditions. The GPs are faced with difficult circumstances and personal to global financial conditions; all of which could lead to fund failure. Gobi targets Chinese based, digital media, early stage investments.
The heavy dependence on retail stores leads to widespread availability of counterfeits which provides a unique challenge and directs towards the importance of having own-stores to ensure the legitimacy of the products. Another problem Shanghai Tang faces now is the need of shift of customer focus from European and American buyers to Chinese customers which will expand the customer base of the company. Even though a lot could be done better the management process of the company is excellent which includes the following i) Design Process: The mixture of both the core collection and seasonal collection maintains a balance between trademark products and the newness factor. The focus on theme and the creative designer as the core adds a lot of value to the design process. ii) Brand Considerations: Focus on the Shanghai Tang DNA leverages the brand equity that has been developed till now but on the other hand it limits the creativity of the designers.
P5 Explain how internet marketing has made a selected business more efficient, effective and successful. The opportunities for business efficiency based on the increasing availability of the web technology which gives Perfect Paints all kinds of opportunities to speed up the interactions with both suppliers and customers. Therefore this can lead to a number of efficiencies. Firstly, the supply chain efficiencies is when a business will always be both a buyer and a seller, buying products from other businesses, buying product from others and selling to others or private consumers. A company like Perfect Paints has to buy the materials it used before it can sell finished products.
Intercultural Business Communication between America and China With globalization going on, China and America, as the first and second largest economic country, have been interacting closely in terms of economy. As we all known, culture plays a critical role in business communication. Understanding the other party’s culture can lead to success of business, while cultural misunderstandings in business activities can be destructive. Therefore, to achieve fruitful results from business interaction, we need to be familiar with both American and Chinese culture. This paper will start with the cultural values of America and China with theories in the field of intercultural research, then focuses on business protocol in these two cultures, and finally offers some keys leading to effective intercultural communication.
Let me start this case study with a quote from the case: »The foreign impression is that the Chinese act as if they are in the driver's seat.« After carefully reading the case of the failed joint venture negotiations between Electrowide and Motosuzhou, it seems obvious that in order to succeed in a global economy, Electrowide would need to locate production in Asia – the fastest growing economy. So, Chinese companies indeed are »in the driver's seat«, meaning that the foreign companies, which want to enter the Chinese market, have to adapt to their culture in order to succeed there. Not only have to foreign companies try to adapt to the Chinese culture, but they also have to fully understand it. This is obviously not the case with the Electrowide's approach to the joint venture negotiations with Motosuzhou. Electrowide's three-person team to carry out the task of purusing a JV with the Chinese counterparts has a shortage on three areas: 1) business skills (none of them have degrees that would aid in international business relations), 2) language skills (only Ms. Morgan spoke conversational Chinese, but traditional Chinese society is male-centered, so her Chinese can be of little help) and 3) intercultural competence.