As long as the industry’s pace was slow the company bloomed, but once the industry started to raise its pace and the world moved to the digital area, Kodak began its sinking. Now we can point on several factors that eventually brought Kodak to bankruptcy: 1. Complacent corporate culture that did not able the company to adjust to the changes in the market and act fast enough. Only after a while Kodak began purchasing companies to diversify its business, but since those capabilities came from
Kodak has been known for its pioneering technology and innovative marketing. The company successes have been focused on four principles: mass production at low cost, international distribution, extensive advertising, and a focus on the customer. The history of Eastman Kodak Company began in 1880 when George Eastman, founder of the company, in a rented loft of a building in Rochester, N.Y. began commercial production of dry plates for photography. The name “Kodak” was born in 1888 when the Kodak camera was marketed with the slogan, “You press the button, and we do the rest." In 1892, the company became Eastman Kodak Company of New York and introduced the first Brownie camera brought hobby photography within financial reach to the consumer markets.
Fujifilm, a Japanese competitor, on the other hand, has been successful in the United States and global markets over 80 years of innovation collaborating in industrial society, people’s health, and global environment protection. How that impact in change management between Kodak and Fuji Films My recent research on Eastman Kodak and Fuji Films are the following: George Kodak was started one of the first to successfully mass-produce dry plates for photographers and then put the first simple camera into the hands of a world of consumers in 1888. So what he was demonstrating the great convenience of gelatin dry plates over the cumbersome and messy wet plate photographic prevalent in his days. Dry plates could be exposed and developed at the photographer's convenience. In 1880; Eastman began commercial production of dry plates in a rented loft of a building in Rochester, N.Y.
When comparing Kodak and Fujifilm you will find that their core of business were similar and revolved around photography and imaging. In the beginning Kodak had an edge on the competition because they began14 years earlier and had solid reputation. Kodak began in 1881 under the name Eastman Dry Plate Company and Fujifilm since 1834 under the name Fuji Photo Film Company. Both companies have had to evolve with technological advances, market changes, and management strategies. Kodak has struggled through these changes in the recent years.
Some people lean toward Canon because it is such a prominent name in the industry although Nikon has done a great deal of work to ensure their name is at the top with Canon. They are both popular and reputable brands and in comparing the brands on paper, there is no right or wrong choice. Each company has designed cameras to fit your needs; it boils down to price, personal choice and brand loyalty. Owning either will not make you a better photographer, but one brand may address your requirements more than the other. We will be looking at the entry-level
If the Kodak has the organization in place to utilize these resources and capabilities, they have a sustainable competitive advantage. I Kodak Company Kodak Company was founded in 1880 in Rochester, New York and engages in the imaging technology industry. The company operates in four segments: Digital and Film Imaging Systems, Health, Commercial Imaging, and Graphic Communications. II KODAK’s Situation For most of its history, Kodak focused on film technology and became a world leader in film and film camera sales. In the mid-1970s, Kodak controlled 90% of the film market.
Organizational Changes for Kodak Abstract In 1888 George Eastman put the first simple camera into the hands of the people in the world; he was quoted saying that “he wanted to make photography as convenient as the pencil” and with those words he led the way turning an awkward and complicated process to an easy and accessible process to nearly everyone. Though the years the Eastman Kodak company has led the way in the photography world with new products and processes that make photography simpler, and more enjoyable to use. Organizational changes in Kodak George Eastman founded Dry Plate Company in 1880, later in 1888 he changed the name to Kodak, later that same year Mr. Eastman put the first simple camera into the hands of the consumer. Today Kodak is one of the top photography companies in the world. In the year of 2000, exactly 100 years from the day that George Eastman Introduces the brownie camera(first simple camera), a group of Kodak researchers, and inventors of business strategists met at the company’s Rochester headquarters to speculate on what the next 100 years might bring to their Kodak company.
Competitive Capabilities: Prior to 1990s Kodak had invested huge in R&D. Moreover, its century of innovation and development of photographic images gave Kodak tremendous depth of understanding of recording and processing images. Central to Kodak’s imaging capability was its color management capability. In the digitizing color and transferring digital images to paper, Kodak possessed a powerful set of complementary technologies in sensing, color management and thermal printing. Market advantage: Through its wider distribution network, it has been able to maintain a huge market coverage and accessibility. It had worldwide distribution presence - primarily through retail photography stores, film processors, and professional photographers.
It’s noted he gave $100 million to charities and organizations such as in medical and educational arena. He was a forward thinking businessman because he patents the roll film and when his competitors grew, he turned them into partners who aided in affordable cameras and photographs for all. “… Eastman had a goal to make photography ‘as convenient as the pencil,’ Kodak continues to expand the ways
Also, in an industry where the printing of photos is decreasing, it is imperative for consumers to be made aware of the quality and affordability of professional printing in order to maintain market share and profit. If consumers believe it is expensive to print photos, they will be inclined not to print and store pictures on a disk or print at home with a low quality printer. Strategic position After conducting a thorough analysis of Kodak’s financial statement, it is evident that the assets owned by Kodak are not being used in an effective nor efficient manner (Refer to Appendix A). This is evident after taking a close look at the company’s returns on investment which were recorded between 1998 through 2000. This was recorded at just fewer than 10 percent.