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Focus on Dell, Inc. by Ibrahim Dabo
-18/Jun./05-
It isn’t that easy for a firm to become ‘the most successful computer company in the world at delivering the best customer experience.’ Competitive advantage is a key factor and how companies adhere to their strategic mission may be another.
What would it mean operating in the world today without the use of computers and information technology, at a time when businesses especially, have grown to rely heavily on technology for success?
Technological innovation involving the use of computers has modernized the world in terms of security, business, communication, and lots more.
Therefore, acknowledging the contribution of a leading computer company in the industry is without doubt worthwhile. Dell, Inc., a top rated company and admired in the US and beyond for excellence in direct sales and relatively low prices, is a major stock owned company that has made an incredible impact in the computer industry and business world.
Growing from what may be described as a small business [compared to Dell, Inc today] under the auspices of Michael Dell, Dell Computer Corporation was founded in 1984 when Dell started selling personal computer systems directly to consumers.
From the early 90s onwards, the company has made a significant impact in the global market with manufacturing facilities in Europe, Asia and the Americas, where it realizes much of its revenue.
In July 2003, the company, which is currently the leading direct sale computer vendor in the world was renamed Dell Inc and has expanded its portfolio by providing consumer electronic goods and services.
The company produces desktop computer systems, notebooks, networking products, servers and software and peripheral products and supports a wide range of computer systems.
In March 2003, the company added printers to its product line, a move that is now generating more revenue for the company.
Moving on to consumer electronics, the company manufactures products such as Dell LCD TVs and projectors, digital music players and Axim handheld computers.
Maintaining a strong position in an industry is one of the factors most companies are critical of. This comes as a result of the fundamental changes facing managers today such as technological innovation and category killers.
Now in a Relationship Era, consumer satisfaction and low cost for commodities also influences how most companies make decisions. In fact, one of the company’s goals is to deliver what it calls “customer experience,” by producing better products and rendering valuable services.
Among many competitors in the industry, Apple Computer, Inc., Gateway, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, Sun Microsystems, Inc. and IBM Corporation are all major competitors of Dell.
The company has enjoyed sustained growth in its financial earnings during the last five years. Millions of dollars in revenue has been realized and the income is bound to increase as the printer sale is now booming. Michael Dell revealed in Fortune Magazine that the company “now has about 20% of the inkjet-printer market in the U.S.” and achieved its goal during the last year by selling five million printers.
The well-established company could generate more income if they continue to aggressively stay focus amidst threats from its competitors.
Dell also needs to embark on research and development schemes. According to Datamonitor, Dell’s SWOT analysis shows that the company only spends 1% of its income on research and development.
Laying more emphasis on R&D programs might enable the company to become stronger in the industries they serve and thus offer more valuable and excellent services to its customers.
Related Links:
> Dell.com |
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"The Apprentice" Part II
-27/Sept./04- “The Apprentice” a reality show, is being broadcast in different episodes on NBC TV. Donald Trump who is an executive producer of this show is a business tycoon in the United States of America and has huge investments in various sectors ranging from Real Estate, Entertainment and more.
Ibrahim Dabo gives viewers of this site an insight into the second episode. Viewers who are business oriented or intend to pursue a career in this field will find this page very interesting as you continue to follow exclusive updates.
"...You’re fired", a phrase fondly used by Donald J. Trump may seem to be nerve-whacking in the boardroom or simply, more than just watching a horror film deep in the night. Trump needs someone to be his apprentice in running one of his many companies.
By the time the first episode of "The Apprentice" kicked off, eighteen candidates from different works of life came together, each hoping to emerge the sole candidate needed for the job.
Split into two groups, about fifteen weeks will see candidates undergo interviews and undertake projects given to them by Trump. After every task, someone among the eighteen would be fired in the boardroom of ‘Trump Tower’, one of Trump’s luxurious buildings in New York.
Determining leadership in a competitive world of business in capitalist nations like the United States has become more or less a complex task.
This is mainly due to factors such as competition or technological advancement, which keeps growing at an alarming rate in the global market. Therefore, only the strong and highly skilled, creative minded people survive.
However, while Trump's initiative on "The Apprentice" may not be considered a perfect way of determining who is capable of running a business, “I would have to give Mr. Trump a high probability that he can pick potential leaders in business," said Professor Tibor Osztreicher, an instructor in Business Studies at the Baltimore City Community College, Maryland, USA.
During the second episode of the apprentice, candidates in two groups, "Apex" and "Mosaic", faced a nail-biting task of working with Ciao Bella Gelato Ice-cream Company to create a new flavor of ice cream.
They also were also obliged to sell their produce and give an account of the proceeds which ultimately reveals who is who in the boardroom. In other words, the group with the higher amount of profit wins and the looser would have to elaborate on the causes of their failure.
Ivana as Project Manager of Apex and Kelly with Mosaic set out with their groups to execute the project. Mosaic's conclusion on an ice cream flavor, favored donuts to be a main ingredient.
Ciao Bella however did not have donuts so it was the duty of the team to provide it while working under a very limited time. The flavor section of the team made it to donut shops where they secured over three hundred donuts and were able to return to Ciao Bella on time. A worthy initiative by this group was to donate five percent of their sales to a charity group.
Dressed in uniform with bow ties, the group decided to make it to Times Square in New York early next morning with their ice cream carts to kick sales into action. Even though some members of the group did not always favor certain ideas from their counterparts, Mosaic seemed organized and ready for business.
Apex on the other hand, had also set off cracking ideas on an ice cream flavor. They concluded on Red Velvet ice cream and fortunately for them unlike Mosaic, Ciao Bella had all the necessary ingredients for their flavor.
They determined that Times Square would be a better location to maximize sales, when they found out that Mosaic planned to execute sales there. Split into two groups the next day, Apex made it to Times Square. The female dominated group lost track of each other for some time but later regrouped.
Back in the boardroom, the teams disclosed their total incomes. Apex had earned $ 2,472.29 while Mosaic earned $ 2,707.85 thus making the most profit with a difference of $ 235.56. Based on their success, Donald Trump informed Mosaic that they would dine with him at Petrossian while Apex automatically knew they would end up in the boardroom.
When Apex stepped into the boardroom, war on sentiments broke out and there was thorough deliberation on the causes of their failure and those to be blamed.
Following the normal procedure, which suggests the team leader to chose either two or three members, Ivana opted to bring three group members into the boardroom after a short break, where someone would be fired.
She choose Jennifer C., Stacie J and Bradford. Bradford who was an early exempt based on his achievement during the first episode, gave up his exemption and got fired.
Apex Members:
Ivana, Bradford, Jennifer C., Stacie J., Jennifer M., Stacy R., Sandy, Maria, Elizabeth.
Mosaic Members:
Kelly, Andy, Pamela, Chris, Wes, Raj, Kevin, John.
Related Links:
> NBC TV - Thursday Nights
> NBC.COM
Send your comments about this page to ibrahim.dabo@goal.com or Guestbook
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“I would have to give Mr. Trump a high probability that he can pick potential leaders in business". - Prof. T. Osztreicher |
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-Jan.03- Nowadays, technological advancement may seem to be a vanguard of every life aspect. Technology forms an integral component by which the world is governed and while huge success has been achieved in various sectors, more innovations are under way.
There is no doubt about the substantial amount of progress and development in the area of IT/TELECOM and Computer Systems, which has so many advantages to us. With these systems, we enjoy a variety of aspects and most of all; the advancement of technology has also enabled the world to become modernized.
Now, our handsets (Cell/Mobile Phones) will soon be more useful to us with the emergence of a new technology, Third Generation Mobile Services. You will have the opportunity to enjoy a lot of exclusive and exciting features. These include watching football matches, goals and highlights of football matches, news broadcasts, music video-clips and many more exciting features, all on your mobile phone.
-Jan.03- Exclusive Interview With Pier Luigi Giganti - International Billing Programme, Head Of Balance Manager, Provisioning And Mediation, IT Development - H3G Italy. Mr. Giganti is a former OSS Design Consultant - Hutchison 3G UK
Ibrahim Dabo had the opportunity of conducting an exclusive interview with Pier Luigi Giganti, who has vast knowledge and experience in the field of telecom. While responding to questions, Mr. Giganti talks exclusively about Hutchison 3G and its services, the difference between the Third Generation Mobile services and that of the present technology and football.
Being a viewer of this site, take this unique opportunity and be the first to know more about this new technology even before its been launched.
IBRAHIM DABO: What basically is the difference between Third Generation Mobile services and the present technology today with Mobile phones?
PIER LUIGI GIGANTI: The main difference relates to the breadth and the quality of services that 3G/UMTS will provide. For the customer it will be a total new experience with high quality data and video services being available anywhere and at any time. You will be able to talk to your friend who is located in another continent and you will actually see him/her. On the screen of your terminal, you will be able to watch news broadcasts, music and goal video-clips, to locate the closest restaurant in a town you are visiting.
In terms of development of this kind of phones, do you see H3G taking the technology to say, an African country for a pilot country like say, South Africa which plans to host the 2010 World Cup?
Very much so as I believe there is enormous potential and interest in African countries. However, penetration of 3G services in this area will also depend on the arrangements in place for granting UMTS licenses in such countries.
What will be the main marketing attraction, using football to be the main flagship of this kind of phone?
Football and sports will be key driving of the H3G services as a H3G customer will be able to watch goals and highlights of a football match only seconds after they happen. It will be like being at the football ground while being miles away :-)
Which countries do H3G plan its coverage of services when been launched?
H3G will provide its service in Italy, UK, Sweden, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Austria, Denmark and later on Ireland, Israel and New Zealand.
Can we say this company`s technology has more advantage than traditional Internet access?
The key advantage is that you will not be constrained by specific locations and wired access, but you will be free to roam around and still get similar if not better services as if you were sitting at home in front of your pc.
With football being one of the main flagships of this new product, are there any plans for development strategies to improve the quality of the game in countries you will operate in?
H3G have acquired rights to broadcast on the 3G videophones matches of key football clubs around the world (Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter, etc.). This has implied huge investments in the football arena, which will ultimately favor the progress of this sport.
Do you think video clips broadcast will be accessed very fast using these handsets, will the weight of the phones be light?
The throughput allowed by the UMTS technology will be much higher, at least 50 times, than the one permitted by conventional 2G/GSM terminals. It will be a new brand experience and the weight of the hand-sets will be broadly comparable with the current mobile phones.
How do you see this new product revolutionising soccer worldwide?
It will help making football an even more global affair than it currently is, it will enable sharing of goal videos among friends, it will satisfy the thirst of the football lovers around the world.
Technology has contributed a lot to the development of football worldwide. Do you think with H3G`s new phones, the Premiership league could be made more popular in Latin America and the USA for instance, where the Premiership is not watched as much as the Spanish Liga or Serie A?
It will certainly enable a wider circulation of football clips around the world, but I do not believe that tastes will be altered. Hence, I believe that Latin Americans - just to give you an example - would still privilege flair and skill rather than agonism.
What are your last words for us?
I would like to thank you, Ibrahim, for allowing myself to share my 3G excitement with you, your friends and the visitors of this site. I would also like to congratulate you for the principles of friendliness, camaraderie and mutual trust that are sponsored by this web site.
On to a football issue, is Juventus [top Italian side] set to win Lo Scudetto [Italian Championship] again this season?
Well, I would be happy with the Champions League....I think that for once Juve could leave the domestic honours to Inter Milan.
Related Links:
> Hutchison 3G
> HOME PAGE
> Exclusive Interviews & Quotes
Send your comments about this page to ibrahim.dabo@goal.com or Guestbook
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Pier Luigi Giganti
(Senior Engineer -H3G)
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