Can the US Continue to Be Globally Competitive?
Pop quiz: which country was the richest in the world, had the largest military, was the center of world business and finance, had the strongest education system, was the world's center of innovation and invention, had a currency that was the world's standard of value, and had the highest standard of living?
It was England. In 1900.
Click here to continue reading the blog.
Will Asia Become the Center For Innovation In the 21st Century?
Why it is important: As the world becomes flatter and as manufacturing jobs continue to go overseas, innovation and technology are two areas where the US can still dominate.
From two opposing viewpoints, this article debates over who will be leading innovation growth within the next several years. One writer believes Asia will be leading in innovation growth, while the other believes that the United States can still be the leader for several years to come, if it takes the proper measures.
Click here to read the full article.
General Motors Will Face Old and New Challenges
Why it is important: GM is one of the largest companies in the US. Hit hard by the downturn, and just emerging from bankruptcy last week, the company is still facing many challenges.
We all heard the joke that GM now stands for "Government Motors." While this may be true, GM is now facing many challenges. The easy part was to go into bankruptcy and remove the heavy debt load and the excess number of dealers it had. The new problem is how they can turn around their sales quickly while making a profit and providing cars that recapture their lost market share.
Click here to read the full article.
What GM and Chrysler Can Learn from Hyundai's Turnaround Story.
Why it is important: Hyundai was once in the same position that GM and Chrysler are in. Can either of those companies learn something from Hyundai?
Do you remember the Hyundai Excel? You probably do not. It was the first car that Hyundai introduced into America in 1986. After American consumers bought the car, they learned that the quality was not up to current standards and the cars soon became forgettable. Fast forward to 2009, Hyundai is now one of the top selling cars in the United States and continues to gain market share. Hyundai learned that it took years to improve the quality of their cars and for the company to have a successful turnaround. Does GM have years to improve its cars?
Click here to read the full article.
Cut Your Company's Complexity
Why it is important: This tip explains why it is important to keep your product line simplified and integrated.
Today's customers already have stressful lives. You can help them by removing some complexity from your products. Look at your company's products, your process, and your services, and figure out how to cut the complexity from them.
Click here to read the full article.
China Casts an Acquisitive Eye on U.S. Assets
Why it is important: China continues to expand into international markets, including the United States. China is now acquiring other things besides U.S. Treasury bonds. These items include property, major corporations, and natural resources. Will the US be able to compete on a global scale with China?
At $2.13 trillion, China's international reserves are more than enough to fund America's entire budget deficit next year, which the U.S. Treasury estimates will reach $1.3 trillion because of the government's massive stimulus spending. There is no direct correlation between these two numbers, but they highlight a reversal of fortune. China now has the cash to cherry-pick the world's best assets, while America has no choice but to pawn its future to finance today's needs
Click here to read the full article.
Trade In Services and the Recession Outsourcers Outperform
Why it is important: It is always important to look for new opportunities when your current markets are shrinking. If you are a service provider, your company can expand into international markets if an opportunity presents itself. As with manufacturing, there is intense pressure to keep prices low when exporting services to other countries, but if your company can offer the right prices and the right product and service mix, your company can be successful at exporting a service.
U.S exports of goods were 27% lower and imports 35% lower in April 2009 than a year earlier. The corresponding fall for services was slightly less than 10%. In other OECD countries, too, the decline in the services trade has been less marked than the collapse in the goods trade. And countries that are more specialized in services exports, like India, have seen smaller declines in their overall trade with America than those which specialize in goods.
Click here to read the full article.
McDonald's Wins with Global Palates
What McDonald's Can Teach Us About Recovery
Why it is important: These two articles explain how McDonalds was able to turn around their sales by using two different methods. One article shows that each market is a local opportunity, while the other article shows how the company changed from the inside and offers tips on how small companies can change.
McDonalds is one of the few companies in the world to have seen sales dramatically increase during the recession. McDonalds faces increased pressure from different companies as they continue to grow and expand their menu in the United State and internationally. The company learned that it needed to customized its approaches, from supporting local farmers and suppliers to creating elaborate local guerilla marketing campaigns. McDonalds knows that each market is unique and creates a custom menu for that market.
The article titled "What McDonalds Can Teach Us About the Recovery" is a blog from a person who worked within McDonalds as a top level executive to help turn around the company. He taught McDonalds that it is not about how fast you grow, but it is about the overall experience the customer is having. The writer also learned how to view the company differently than just looking at sales and stats from spread sheets.
Click here to read McDonalds Wins With Global Palates
Click here to read What McDonalds Can Teach Us About the Recovery
Google v Microsoft: Breaking Windows
Why it is important: Think about how much you use Google and your PC. What if Google can combine the best features from both worlds? Google is now attempting to try it. Google is easily the best when it comes to information, but Microsoft is one of the best when it come to operating systems. With Google's announcement that it will be releasing an operating system next year, it will be interesting to see how well Google can combine these two systems.
The announcement came as a humble blog post on Google’s corporate website late on July 7th, but it heralds what could be a dramatic shake-up for the information technology (IT) industry. By promising to launch a free operating system for personal computers (PCs) later this year, the online giant is mounting a direct attack on Microsoft and its dominant Windows operating system. TechCrunch, a technology blog, reported the news as “Google Drops A Nuclear Bomb On Microsoft”.
Click here to read the full article.
IBM Study of Midsize Companies: Working Smarter and Leaner
Why it is important: When it is time to cut costs for an organization, all departments are affected. IT is the one area where, if you give it the right attention and support, it can help you integrate technology into your company while reducing your overall costs.
IBM released a new study of midsize organizations in 17 countries to get a pulse on the state-of-the-state of their IT plans. The results suggest that companies have not been deterred from their strategic IT initiatives, despite a clear call to cut costs in a difficult economy.
Click here to view the full article.
Psyched Out: The Fewer the Competitors, the Harder They Try
Why it is important: This is a study that shows a correlation between how hard people try and how many people participate in a study or a test. The study examines human behavior and how it affects a person when they are under pressure from a few individuals. Can this study relate to business?
What relationship there is between the number of participants in a competition and the motivation of the competitors has long eluded researchers. Does the presence of a lot of rivals stimulate action or lead someone to give up hope? It is more than an academic question. Can it apply to business?
Click here to view the full article.
Trend to Watch: Industries Taking New Shape
Why it is important: This article states that structures of industries significantly change during recessionary periods. How is your industry changing?
Many industries are changing, and will not emerge from the recession in the same condition they began it with. In fact, roughly one in three industry leaders was toppled during the previous recession as attackers used the downturn to their advantage.
Click here to view the full article.
Video of the Week
Startups in a Downturn
Why it is important: Firms that start in lean economies and survive are more likely to prosper. How would your business fare if you were just starting?
This video explains how the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) started in rough economic conditions and survived to become one of the largest US restaurants.
Click here to watch the video
|
Pathfinder Scorecard
What scares business leaders are the blind spots inside and around their companies. Do you know "what you don't know?" Once you know... what are you doing about it? What is your gameplan? How will you execute it?
The Pathfinder Scorecard
evaluates 8 key areas to sustaining
your reginal business in this global, Internet economy.
IntellaCore has a unique point of view because we are positioned at the critical crossroads where very few are... that place where the global economy meets the Internet and Communications Technology (ICT)
• Market Awarness
• Market Strategy
• Internet Presence and Activities
• Product/Service Readiness
• Operational Readiness
• Technology Readiness
• Personnel Readiness
• Collaboration
Click here to learn more about the Pathfinder Scorecard
IntellaCore has launched a webinar series to help small and mid-sized businesses. Top 10 Tips will be a twice a month series of 30 minute webinars with specific tips on how to compete and to win in today’s marketplace. Participants can download a whitepaper after the webinar dedicated to the topic of the day.
The first Top Ten Tips webinar will be held on Tuesday, July 21st at 2:00 PM EST. The topic will be Top 10 Tips for Deciding if Your Business is Ready to Export. Click here to register.
For each webinar IntellaCore will provide 10 Top Tips relating to a wide range of specific topics that will fall into the following categories: increasing sales and distribution, strengthening the supply chain and reducing costs, aligning technology and Internet activity to the business plan, and creating a sustainable business in today’s market environment.
The Top 10 Tips series, is a short, high-impact webinar series that offers specific recommendations and Q&A in 30 minutes.
We all hear a lot about exporting. Today it is just not that hard, and the use of the Internet makes it easier than ever. Even thought the US economy is in shambles, other economies are growing and have a need for a variety of products and services. With 95% of world economic growth occurring outside of the USA every business most determine if it can diversify its distribution and sales efforts. Can your business benefit from exporting? Attend this webinar and you will gain valuable insight into your business, and how you can make your company sustainable, no matter what industry you are in.
The Top 10 Tips you will learn more about in the webinar are:
1. Determine why your company should export
2. Review your company's finances
3. Determine your company's scope for expansion
4. Make sure you have the staff, premises, and equipment to handle the increase in demand
5. Assemble a team to develop the exporting process
6. Set goals for the export project
7. Select the product that would sell best in an international marketplace
8. Make sure your management has expressed long-term commitment to the new business plan
9. Use your website to explore international opportunities
10. Gather initial market intelligence
Ask Our Experts
At IntellaCore we are available to answer any question you may have about the global internet economy. We assist companies to compete and win in today's globalized, Internet economy.
- Is there something that is stumping you about an international aspect of your current marketplace?
- Is there an obstacle that is preventing you from expanding your business into new markets?
- Are you having trouble determining how to use the Internet practically for your business?
Frequently Stated Challenges
- I can't find good, actionable market intelligence to know what is really going on in my marketplace, let alone new markets.
- I need to find a partner in a new market to help me export my product.
I am trying to find new suppliers to diversify my supply chain or reduce costs.
- My website is not right and is just not executing my business plan for visibility and revenue growth.
- We are overwhelmed trying to manage all of our external distribution, sourcing, and partnering relationships. The relationships are not achieving the goals we set for them.
- We are not a truly collaborative organization where people are working together, sharing information, and propelling the company forward in the best manner possible.
Ask us your question, and we will get you an answer by clicking here.
Intelligent World Archives
Volume 1, Issue 1
Volume 1, Issue 2
Volume 1, Issue 3
Volume 1, Issue 4
Volume 1, issue 5
|
