Product placement ban on British TV lifted

Interesting to follow the evolution of this Legal factor. Firstly, there was Economical pressures both at macro and micro level and then there is the Political as there was a clear indication in 2009 that a change in the Political Environment (government change) would change the Legal factors (see the FT article from 2009http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0fb9de6c-a15b-11de-a88d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1FGxSQQOd).


Product placement ban on British TV lifted
A ban on product placement has been lifted, allowing advertisers to pay for their goods to be seen on British TV.
Paid-for references to products and services are now permitted for the first time in shows produced in the UK, including soaps and one-off dramas.

Read the whole article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12593061

Diageo to buy Turkish spirits firm Mey Icki

Good example of how a large established player in mature markets, seeks expansion in emerging markets via M&A. This acquisition is consistent with Diageos previous international strategies.


Diageo’s Turkish Delight
Diageo’s acquisition of Turkey’s Mey Içki from private equity firm TPG Capital today was not a real surprise, as nascent talks between the drink makers were first reported here back in December last year.
For the London-based drinks giant the numbers appear to add up.

Read the whole article at:http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2011/02/21/diageo%E2%80%99s-turkish-delight/

Peugeot and BMW form hybrid components joint-venture

Good example of Collaboration, Network Level Strategy. This is a Joint Venture between to well established rival companies in the automarket. This collaboration concerns a segment of the market that none of them entered in the early stages. It concerns a Macro-External factor (technology) which was an uncertainty in the previous decade and has now created a new segment in the market. As usual most of JV are driven by R&D needs. It is also interesting to note that in other industry these companies would had considered a stronger collaboration (Merger?) but it is well established that European governmenets will not give in easily on such mergers.


Peugeot and BMW form hybrid components joint-venture

French car maker PSA Peugeot Citroen and Germany's BMW have extended their engine partnership by creating a joint venture to develop, purchase and produce powertrain components for hybrid vehicles.

Read the whole article at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/02/us-peugeot-bmw-idUSTRE71124V20110202

additional article with more analysis on the same topic: http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/110912/20110210/bmw-group-psa-peugeot-citro-n-electrification-venture-hybrid-technology.htm

Easyjet paint job makes fuel bills less of a drag

This is an example of how macro external factor (technology) can impact operations. It is an interesting one because nano-technology is always an uncertainty for scenario planning.

Easyjet paint job makes fuel bills less of a drag
By Jonathan Sumberg Transport reporter, BBC News

How to cut the costs of flying? It's one of the key questions facing the aviation industry.
With the price of a barrel of oil at about $100, airlines are having to think of new - and often ingenious - ways to save money.

Read the whole article at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12428667

Nokia and Microsoft form partnership

Very interesting development in the mobile phones industry. Good example of how to companies which have traditionally been leaders in their industries, and now are falling behind, have decided to react. It is interesting to note that Microsoft has continued its recent corporate strategy of responding to dynamics in industries (mobile phones and internet) which are not core for it (software) with strategic alliances.
Quite interesting and insightful commentary by Cellan-Jones, on the impact of organisational culture for the choice of partner on behalf of Nokia. It links well with the theories on Network Level Strategies which suggest that collaborations are more successful if organisational cultures are close between the partnering companies. Moveover, also useful to emphasise that there is significant difference in the organisational culture between two companies for the same country and environment (Microsoft and Google).

Nokia and Microsoft form partnership

Nokia has joined forces with Microsoft in an attempt to regain ground lost to the iPhone and Android-based devices.
The deal will see Nokia use the Windows phone operating system for its smartphones, the company said.
It means that Nokia's existing operating systems will be sidelined

Read the whole article at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12427680

Britain's changing High Street

Interesting facts and figure. Some of these could be sources of uncertainty particularly on the socio-cultural front.

Britain's changing High Street
The UK economy continued to grow, according to the latest figures, but consumer spending has slowed and retailers across the country are still feeling the effects of the recession. And research commissioned by the BBC into the number of vacant shops in England, Wales and Scotland suggests our changing consumer habits, as well as the downturn, are transforming the face of our High Streets.

Read the whole article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11915437

China reassures US on key 'rare earth' minerals

Could rare earth materials availability become an uncertainty for the future of some industries?

China reassures US on key 'rare earth' minerals
China has reassured the US it has no intention of withholding "rare earth" minerals from the market, the US Secretary of State has said.
China suspended export of the metals, key to the global high-tech industry, to Japan after a diplomatic spat.

Read the whole artile at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11657982

Terrorism and cyber attacks among top threats to UK

For businesses that rely on online transactions, the cyber-terrorism is a significant uncertainty for the future.

Terrorism and cyber attacks among top threats to UK

Terrorism and attacks on computer networks are among the biggest threats to the UK, Home Secretary Theresa May has said ahead of the publication of a new National Security Strategy
The strategy will form the background for Tuesday's Strategic Defence Review, setting out the shape of UK forces after expected budget cuts of 8%.

Read the whole article at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11562969##

Microsoft's Bing deepens ties with Facebook

Good example of how Microsoft creates synergies between one of its SBUs (search engine) and facebook.com (which they do not own 100% but they are one of the main shareholders). This actually workds as a good example of how strategic alliances work, too. Interesting to note, that Microsoft has spent almost a decade trying to catch up Google and it seems that are not capable of developing the reource/capability in terms of technology and they are definetely lacking in terms of reputation; however creating synergies with the most popular networking site could help them boost Bing's popularity and usage.

Microsoft's Bing deepens ties with Facebook

Microsoft's Bing search engine has begun showing US users which sites and products their Facebook friends like.
The move is an attempt to make web search results more personal.
It is part of a four-year alliance between the two companies and marks another step in Microsoft's attempt to displace market leader Google.

Read the whole article at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11540661

Edward E. Whitacre Jr.

Whitacre is a good example of 'expertise' leadership, he is brought in problematic companies and helps them recover.

Edward E. Whitacre Jr.
Edward E. Whitacre, the former chairman of AT&T, was named the chairman of the "New G.M.'' on June 9, 2009, as the federal government continued to shake up the bankrupt auto giant. The company said in January 2010 that he would become G.M.'s permanent chief executive. The move was not unexpected given how he had taken control of management since the ouster of G.M.'s former chief executive, Fritz Henderson.

Read the whole article at: http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/w/edward_e_whitacre_jr/index.html?inline=nyt-per

This is a classic example of strategic management. A series of factors in the macro environment increase the attaractiveness of an industry. BHP enters this industry, with an aquicition (note the bidding process). This is a vertical integration. Their strategy is justified by their long the vision.

BHP Billiton launches hostile bid for Potash

Mining giant BHP Billiton has launched a $40bn (£25.8bn) hostile takeover bid of Canadian firm Potash Corp after having had an initial offer rejected.
On Tuesday, Potash, the world's largest fertiliser producer snubbed BHP's offer, saying it undervalued the firm.

Read the whole article at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11009145

“Straddling” bus–a cheaper, greener and faster alternative to commute

Not really an uncertainty as the key word indicates, but for those working on scenario planning it may provide some inspiration on uncertainty regarding forms of transportation, urbanisation, city life development, technology etc.

“Straddling” bus–a cheaper, greener and faster alternative to commute

A big concern on top of urban transportation planner’s mind is how to speed up the traffic: putting more buses on the road will jam the roads even worse and deteriorate the air; building more subway is costly and time consuming. Well, here is an cheaper, greener and fast alternative to lighten their mind up a bit: the straddling bus, first exhibited on the 13th Beijing International High-tech Expo in May this year. In the near future, the model is to be put into pilot use in Beijing’s Mentougou District (bjnews). (The official site of the high-tech expo put it as 3D fast bus, which I think is more confusing, for now I’ll just call it the straddling bus.)

Read the whole article at: http://www.chinahush.com/2010/07/31/straddling-bus-a-cheaper-greener-and-faster-alternative-to-commute/

Google enters travel market with flight data purchase

Google is diversifying while building on its core competences.

Google enters travel market with flight data purchase
By Daniel EmeryTechnology reporter, BBC News

Search engine giant Google has entered the travel market after acquiring flight information firm ITA Software.
ITA provides software that organises fares, flight and journey times that are used by airlines, travel agents and flight comparison sites such as Orbitz.
Google said it may well expand the scope, enabling users to search directly for flight destinations.

Read the whole article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/10486358.stm

Hershey And Cadbury

Hershey's offer seems to be more sympathetic by the Cadbury's boards. It seems that the different Corporate Parenting style influence this decision:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/054d6f9c-dbbd-11de-9424-00144feabdc0.html
It is interesting to note the emphasis placed on the merger of cultures:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4d5c6c2a-dbbd-11de-9424-00144feabdc0.html
Also quite interesting the Kraft's approach which emphasises the feasibility and acceptability of their efforts:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0ac559f8-dd11-11de-ad60-00144feabdc0.html

The rise and fall of MySpace

A very well written 'reportage' which is a great case study for MySpace and News Corp. There are example for a great variety of strategic management topics. Interesting to note: News Corp. diversification strategy; the process for Merger (and how the target was selected); the impact of the environment; and leadership styles.

The rise and fall of MySpace
By Matthew Garrahan
Published: December 4 2009 15:26 Last updated: December 4 2009 15:26

In summer 2005, having spent the best part of four decades ­building a newspaper, film and television empire, Rupert Murdoch decided that the time had come to get serious about the internet. As founder and chairman of News Corporation, one of the world’s biggest and most powerful media conglomerates, Murdoch controls an eclectic portfolio of businesses ranging from The Sun newspaper to the movie studio 20th Century Fox. Yet with young people “watching less television and reading fewer newspapers”, as he observed that summer, News Corp desperately needed a bigger presence online.

Read the whole article at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/fd9ffd9c-dee5-11de-adff-00144feab49a.html

EU moves towards common patent system

EU moves towards common patent system
European ministers say they have agreed on a plan to introduce a common EU-wide patent system that could save companies millions of euros.
Sweden's foreign ministry says industry ministers reached a deal on the main elements of the EU patent and setting up a single European Patent Court.

Read the whole article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8396279.stm

Google set to offer property dimension to UK mapping

This is a diversification that does not seems to be 'relevant' but it actually builds on corporate parents' core skills, it will create synergies between Google's core business and this new one.

Google set to offer property dimension to UK mapping

Google is set to launch a property dimension to its UK mapping system.
The new service will allow both estate agents and private sellers to put their property as an overlay on Google Maps.

Read the whole article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8394252.stm

Dutch car maker plans move to UK

This is a good example of an International Strategy being developed based to ease operations and reduce costs.

Dutch car maker plans move to UK

A luxury sports car maker based in the Netherlands has announced it is moving an assembly plant to Coventry.
Spyker Cars makes up to 50 luxury cars a year, mainly for the US market, with prices starting from about £180,000.

Read the whole article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/8372121.stm

Climate Change Study

Climate change and/or global warming are regularly considered as Macro-External Environmental (-uncertainy) factors. This is a report by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, which acknowledges the need to go beyond mitigation strategies and to take into consideration adaptation and remediation (=direct air carbon capture, geo engineering).


Read the whole article at: http://www.imeche.org/NR/rdonlyres/77CDE5E4-CE41-4F2C-A706-A630569EE486/0/IMechE_MAG_Report.PDF

BA and Iberia agree merger

Good example of an Overcapacity Merger.
Points to note:
-the friendly terms of the 'union'
-the fact that the companies will maintain their structure
-the emphasis on the Synergies to be gained,
-

BA and Iberia agree merger

By Pilita Clark in London and Mark Mulligan in Madrid
Published: November 12 2009 12:02 Last updated: November 13 2009 09:02

British Airways and Iberia on Thursday night agreed the terms of a merger to create Europe’s third-largest airline by revenue, one of the biggest deals in the global aviation industry.

But the two airlines have agreed that Iberia will be able to terminate the accord if it is unhappy with BA’s handling of its swollen pension scheme, which has been one of the sticking points in the deal, first announced in July last year.

Read the whole article at:http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ee333056-cf7f-11de-b876-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1