Archive for April, 2011

By: Antonio Perez Malpica, Amar Memon, Madhavi Rao, Andrew Rivas, and Kaleena Rivas (GM5470 – Global Strategy)

Background

Since their introduction in 1979, mobile phones have been constantly evolving and becoming an integral part of our daily lives. From the first generation of devices based on cellular networks to the introduction of digital technologies like GSM and SMS and all the way to ultra-fast third and fourth generation (4G) networks, mobile phones have become more powerful, have increased their capabilities and have turned into essential devices for consumers around the world.

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), in September of 2010 Nokia (Symbian OS) had 40.1% of the worldwide smartphone market share followed by BlackBerry (17.9%), Android (16.3%), and Windows Phone (6.8%). The IDC predicts that by the end of 2011, Android will become the leading OS system with 39.5% of worldwide market share due to their popular royalty-free business model, their partnerships with key global mobile carriers and the popularity of its applications (most of which are free). In order to increase its market share in the smartphone industry, Microsoft must deal with the strategic issue of proving the value of its Windows Phone 7 OS to their ecosystem partners and customers particularly in emerging markets where most of the growth is expected to occur.
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An Improved Tesla Partnership

By Alistair Booth, Stephen Kill, Adeola Shabiyi, and Douglas Stetzer

Tesla caught the eye of the consumer when they released their Roadster in 2008.  The Roadster, a true fully electric super car with a practical driving range, boasts a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of less than 4 seconds and can go almost 250 miles on a single charge.[i] Tesla, however, has not been able to turn its buzz or technology into exciting growth.  In 2010 Tesla reported annual revenues of $116.7 million, only a 4% increase from 2009 and a net loss of $154.3 million in 2010, almost three times the net loss of 2009.[ii] To maintain operations and development of new products and technologies, Tesla has been able to garner modest investment through venture capital, US government loans, a successful IPO, and investment from competitors and suppliers.

Tesla and its investors are eagerly awaiting the launch of its new luxury Model S in 2012.  Tesla has already pre-sold more than 3,000 Model S cars and plans to ramp production up to 20,000 cars a year.[iii] At an average sale price over $50,000, the Model S represents a potential $1bn a year or more of revenue for the company.  Investors however, have pegged Tesla’s market cap at $2.3bn and still have doubts about Tesla and the potential success of the Model S.
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By Bo Lin, MBA ‘11

I am a current MBA candidate at Thunderbird and have been here for almost one year. Looking back the past one year, I would like to summarize my T-bird life in study, living and recreation.

Study

Let me introduce myself first. My name is Bo Lin and come from Shanghai. Before I came to Thunderbird, I was one of representatives of a US based multinational company in Shanghai and have worked in the finance sector for nine years. When I came to Thunderbird, I became a full-time MBA student. The role change has been great. It seems almost like how I did when I was an undergraduate.

Students from China usually fly from Beijing or Shanghai and transit in Los Angeles, and then take the one hour flight from Los Angeles to Phoenix. Thunderbird is a graduate business school, so there are no undergraduate programs. It has global prestige in international business education. Thunderbird is ranked No. 1 in the world in “international business” from 2007 to 2011 by the Financial Times and ranked “best in international business” in the US from 1995 to 2011 by U.S. News and World Report. When I prepared to apply to Thunderbird and asked my former boss, an American doing business in China, to write a preference letter for me, he said:”I know Thunderbird. It is a tough school!” His word made me decline another top business school and embrace Thunderbird, because I like challenges.

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