GM Aims to Show Off Its Smart Side

General Motors CEO Mary Barra is making an appeal to her investors. GM's stock prices have dropped 25% since when Barra became CEO in January 2014. Many investors have been demanding share buybacks. In order to motivate investors to be patient with the company, she is trying to show them GM's "smart side". She is advertising all the technological advances that GM has made, such as OnStar and 4G wireless Internet connection. She believes these advances are being overlooked by investors. She also lays out the future plans they have for the company technologically. They are working on developing cars into being autonomous (scary...) and also electric. Barra also mentions that GM plans to possess a more prominent presence in India where they are predicted to become the number 3 car market by 2025. 

This article interested me because I wanted to know what exactly they meant by "smart side" and I'm not sure I like all of what that means. 

This relates to marketing because her whole point is to try and market GM to the investors to keep them on board. She is showing the the technological environment and how those advances will help in the economic environment. She is laying out her marketing programs to help the investors see the big picture and understand what she is hoping for the future. She also mentions her plans to become a larger market in India, which is expanding the target market. 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/gm-aims-to-show-off-its-smart-side-1443637479

Apple is Hoping to Take a Bigger Byte of the Market

Apple is Hoping to Take a Bigger Byte of the Market

Apple is attempting to better compete in the market by better changing their product line to better serve the needs of both private and corporate consumers.  They are particularly interested in increasing their market share to business customers and have recently partnered with International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and Cisco Systems to better innovate their product line, both in computers and personal communication/entertainment devices. But why?  The answer is simple: money. Their chief competitor, Microsoft Corporation, is averaging $52 billion per year in corporate revenue while Apple is “only” averaging $25 billion.  Apple has never been content with coming in second to Microsoft and has therefore emphasized, both in their marketing and corporate messages, the unique differences and benefits of each product to its competitor.

How does this directly relate to our study of marketing?  Again, the answer is simple: profit, making money.  Apple is therefore expanding their target market with a deliberate, structured multiple market approach.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/apples-business-related-revenue-hits-25-billion-1443548280

The WSJ Analysis Blog

WSJ Analysis is an important element in the course, which helps you relate the fundamental constructs to current events in the real world and gain insights in the future trend of the industry. EVERY student is expected to come to EVERY CLASS prepared to discuss at least one article from the Wall Street Journal.Students will be randomly selected to present WSJ each day when we meet in class.

Your blog should be written as a mini-case analysis and must include the following information: the title of the article, link to WSJ website, time published, at least one image or video, and your own analysis of the article. Proper analysis requires that you summarize the article in an organized way (i.e. don’t copy it or give just minimal information) and explain your interest in the topic, relevance to this class, application of marketing constructs, and implications to other businesses, etc. PLEASE focus on the application to materials we have studied and explain how you believe the topic will fit something we will be studying in marketing management theory. Instant feedback will be given in class during WSJ discussions.

You must post at least one comment on a blog posted by class members within the following week. Note that your comments reflect your participation online and will gain participation points. This exercise is designed to be beneficial to you professionally, and from a grading perspective. Please take full advantage of this excellent opportunity to learn, to become more professionally polished, and to help your grade.

Check out some examples at http://mba5355.blogspot.com/ and http://mba5320.blogspot.com/