Homework #8

Using Fig. 4.1 as a guide of environment scanning, map out an outline of the possible thought process of Apple’s launch of the IPad. Where did Apple need to be within all the categories of the waves of change?

 

While launching this new product, Apple needed to do an environmental scanning, which is the process of continuously monitoring the environment and events and responding accordingly.

With the Ipad, Apple needed to be in the wave of pop culture where trends change really fast. The Ipad is a hot product because it is a mix of 2 successful products: the Iphone and the Macbook. Apple also needed to be in the technology wave with this Ipad because the introduction of new technologies and changes in their popularity tend to be frequent. Actually the Ipad is a really innovative product. The commerce wave is also important to consider but Apple is really good at selling and marketing its products. Finally, Apple needed to be in the social wave, where people are used to buy these new mobile technologies and use all these apps.

 

Examine Fig. 4.4, and Table 4.3, Fig. 4.9 Summarize the best possible combination between a country and product. For example what countries would be the best markets to sell the particular product and why? Defend your answer.

 

In order to be good at selling products online, you need to understand customers’ online buyer behavior. First of all, you have to consider the percentage of technology equipment of a country. If the people don’t have access to technology, or if only one third of the population has access, then it will not worth it. It is important too, to look at the leaders in e-commerce. For example, Denmark is first and the US second.

Second, it is important to look in the amount spent and the number of purchases. Give priority to the countries, which spend the more money or buy the more products. Finally an e-commerce company has to look at the percentage by category that bought offline after researching online. This will allow seeing exactly what kinds of products are bought.

Taking the example of the Ipad, Apple will have more chance to sell it online to customers located in Denmark rather than in Hungary. In Hungary, perhaps people are more willing to buy it directly in stores.

 

 

Regarding Ecommerce and Globalization, explain using your own words what Don Da Plama the author of Common Sense Advisory Report found about Global localization. What makes localization successful for global companys?

 

Today, a global company needs to adapt its global products locally. The process of adapting globally marketed products to local specificities is called glocalization. A web site may need to support customers from a range of countries with different product needs, language differences and cultural differences. According to Don Da Plama, companies can increase their market shares of existing customers and attract new customers by providing a local-language version of a web site. This will include language adaptation, fonts and design, choice of images, range of products, product pricing, the types of promotional offers and local contact points.

If a company succeeds in fitting the local culture, then it will be very successful.