Author: f1232bkennedy

Are smartphones changing our youth?

Posted on by f1232bkennedy

Smartphone’s continue to innovate the way in which society functions. A growing trend in the US is creating Apps and games for museums across the nation. The growing trend hopes to capture the attention of children and teens to make their experience at museums more enjoyable, and more importantly more educational.

Many museums such as the Paul-Getty museum of Los Angeles, The Philadelphia Art Museum, The Metropolitan art museum in New York, The National History Museum to name a few. The museums are using technology in their favor; much of the American youth does not know what it is like to live without an iPhone, or iPad. Rather their generation has become dependent of technology, because of this technology can encourage learning. An example of such app is the Getty’s museum in Los Angles; the museum currently uses the app Switch. The App simulates an evil genie that replaces all the paintings in the museum with replicas that are not same as the original, making the child look for the differences between the two paintings. In addition, the National Science Museum offers a self-guided tour for children, which is narrated by different animals to increase interest. The Apps are wildly successful and many museums are rushing to create educational apps.

Museums are also using the sale of apps as growing source of revenue. Though the cost of the creation of the app is somewhat steep, I think in the long run it will pay off. The success of the Apps with the American youth I believe offers insight of what the future will entail. If the apps can enhance the experience for consumers as well as serve as a means of revenue for the owner it will change many aspects of our economy. It is important for industry leaders to adapt. This means that many faucets of our everyday life will have more technological interaction. It is a growing trend that management styles will have to reflect as well as technology quality management. It is vital that industry adapts, if museums can so can the retail and industry. Smartphones I believe have the ability to reinvent the way that society looks upon many goods and services.

 

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/arts/artsspecial/museums-engage-children-with-digital-programs.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&ref=technology

A Gamble for P&G

Posted on by f1232bkennedy

Since the inception of the Procter and Gamble (P&G) corporation, the company has provided households alike with brands such as Gillette, and Tide. In the wake of the financial meltdown the company’s has witnessed loss of profit as well as the loss in market-share. Many factors contribute to the loss, yet the company still allows for Robert McDonald, Chairman and CEO to remain at the helm of the company after three years of little improvement.

In February, McDonald announced the company’s first cost cutting strategy, calling for a plan that would save $10 Billion dollars over the next four years, at the expense of cutting some 4000 workers and focusing on the company’s top 40 most profitable market shares. McDonald also announced that the company would be buying back stocks in hope to increase the market price. Large stockholders view McDonald’s action as either too little or too late.

In July, William Ackman, of Pershing Square Capital, who controls $1.8 Billion dollars of P&G stock issued a 75 page complaint of McDonald’s tenure at the as Chairman and CEO, criticizing his leadership, all while pressuring the P&G’s board to force the resignation of McDonald. Since Ackman’s public complaint the board has cut McDonald’s and other P&G executives salaries by 6%, in addition to cutting their performance bonuses. The actions resulted in the stock of the company 12% jump, ending this week at a 52-week high.

McDonald is not the only problem for P&G, but can anyone blame Ackman for compiling such a report about the man who is controls the future of his investment? P & G in recent years has mis-forecasted earnings three times, as well many new product launch’s have been delayed. McDonald alongside the other executives seemed to have missed the cyclical component in their forecasting. The company continued producing large number of their high-end products, causing customers to jump ship and buy the more basic items. In example of this is P&G continued mass-production of high-end tide laundry detergent products. Such products were noticeably more expensive because the detergent had a scent that was more pleasing and a better product design, but the results were the near the same as the store brand, creating customers to cutback and buy the store brand. The company’s strategies in the wake of the recession were not in touch with their customer base and the company continues to be effected by such decisions of the company.

P&G is taking a risk allowing for McDonald to continue as leader, the next few months Ackman will not be the only person closely observing the decisions of the McDonald and his team. For P&G’s sake many hope that McDonald’s financial cost strategies do pay off, but only time will tell the real truth.

 

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444813104578016191845779524.html

http://www.pg.com/en_US/index.shtml