Himadri

Assignment Questions

1. LG Electronics

a. Do a SWOT analysis of Korean electronics industry during the formative years? How did firms leverage these advantages to enter developed country markets?

b. Do an analysis of the strategies adopted by LG? Did it have specific strategies for emerging markets? Trace the common elements of LG's strategy in BRIC countries.

c. What critical points of learning can be inferred from LG's success in the emerging markets?

2. Does IT pay off ? Strategies of two banking giants.

a. Make a critical analysis of IT in business strategies. It's often said that companies should not be in a hurry to spend in IT and wait for a longer time to see that matured technologies emerge – Find out the logic behind this statement and make an analysis in the context of the case.

b. Compare the IT strategy of both the companies – evaluate and justify their IT investments. Did they make IT investments for cutting cost and improving operational efficiency or they did it to strengthen their competitive advantage? Find out the tangible and intangible benefits of the two companies.

c. In general, how should companies go about assessing the value of their IT investments? In your assessment which of the two banks was more prudent in their IT investment.

3. Barrick Gold Corporation – Tanzania

a. What are the challenges faced by mining companies while setting up their operation in developing nations?

b. Why and how Barrick Gold adopted a global approach to address CSR issues in Tanzania?

c. Can tax revenues, rents, and subsidies be effectively utilized by Tanzania (and other developing nations with mineral resources) to generate prosperity in the densely populated areas of Lake Victoria zone to break the so called ‘resource curse' that occurs in many poor nations? How?

d. Despite Barrick's efforts in Lake Victoria zone protests and tensions have not been stopped in Lake Victoria zone till 2009. Why? What can the corporation do to eliminate such conditions?

4. Market Stretch

a. What forces were in play that led Justin and David to make their initial decisions?

b. Describe the value chain created by Justin and David.

c. Where does Union-Swiss position itself in the market?

d. What are the general product/market options available?

e. How does each product/market option apply to Union-Swiss? Where and how should Union-Swiss expand next?

5. Centaline Property Agency: Tactics for the Virtual Market Place

a. Where was competition the keenest between property agencies before the property slump? Do we still see the same level of seriousness?

b. Information technology and property agencies

i. How does Web technology serve property agencies?

ii. How does Web technology benefit Centaline?

c. How