Hey guys

im feelin a little out of the loop this week, not by any of your own faults its just been a hellish week unfortunately.

I've been working at strategy info but it seems to just play into the parts that everyone else is working on so if someone wants me to work with them on their info let me know.

I've been doing a bit of planning for the actual write-ups for the SWOT and if it works with you all i'll put that all together this weekend (after we finalise what we want to be included)

I have also been looking at a broader look of the company just for some good terms and ideas to bring into the writeup such as The Value Chain (how primary activities starting at R&D drive the production and in turn marketing and sales) and also things like Competitive Advantage and trying to find info on the impact of new models on older model sales but dont have much on that one (if anyone does let me know)

I am working on something in regards to Drivers of PRofitability (ROIC) also so we can use that as aprt of recommendation should we suggest that the R&D spending be increased to a prefered *(yet maintainable) level.

Anyways let me know if you need me to swich mindsets for something, ive finalyl got a few days off this weekend so i can get some real quality time in "case-mode"

Joel

p.s. can you get email updates of posting? HAvent used blogger for so long i cant remember and its hard to get round my firewall at work to post.

RIM SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS

• To date R&D and engineering has been the core of RIM’s success
• R&D was continually delivering award winning products
• R&D operations are spread out as far as number and location of employees
• RIM’s cryptographic and software source code has built a strong reputation
• Strong corporate culture has made people happy and resulted in low turnover
• Recruiting the best and brightest talent from the University of Waterloo

WEAKNESSES

• R&D spending has dropped significantly as a percentage of sales
• The core work is still occurring solely at the Waterloo headquarters
• Historical growth strategy: sourcing local talent and making selective acquisitions
• Talent and space are getting scarce in the Waterloo region
• RIM’s career site doesn’t allow for applicants to be processed for different jobs
• An internal resistance to any R&D locations outside the Waterloo area
• Only room from vertical integration because of privacy concerns with coding

OPPORTUNITIES

• Industry is experiencing explosive growth
• A good indicator of revenue growth is R&D spending as a percentage of sales
• Recruiting to students from other Universities across Canada
• Grow the R&D team through existing locations
• Bring in resources through acquisitions of troubled companies
• There would be more R&D sources
• There may be an expansion in a strategic market
• Expand operations globally where some business operation already occur

THREATS

• The industry is driven by engineering innovation and technological advances
• Various companies with their software platforms
• Industry experiencing explosive growth and increased competition
• Apple with the iphone pursuing North America business segment
• Growing demand for qualified engineers to deliver for customers and investors
• The was limited talent left in the Waterloo area for hiring
• Attracting talent outside Waterloo was hard as competitors are also hiring
• Hiring new graduates from various school in Canada
• Hiring/creating international jobs for employees across the world

Question

Hi Everyone,

I was asked by another group if we would be able to switch slots for meeting with Jo-Anne next week.
The only issue I can see is that they see Jo-Anne on Thursdays, and Joel said that he had already booked Tuesdays off at work.
Just respond and let me if the change is possible or not. No worries if it doesn't work.

Thanks,
Danielle

SWOT Analysis

Strengths:

• Continually delivering award-winning products.
• Products that attract the attention of both consumers and business professionals.
• Accumulated a wide range of product design and innovation awards.
• Top 10 Products of the Past 40 Years.
• One of the only trusted phones for the business-class mobile e-mail.
• Source code is one of their few technical assets which is highly protected and is a key role in the success of the company.
• Company culture has contributed towards a lower turnover rate compared to larger companies, and more happy employees.
• CO-OP program with the University of Waterloo.
  

Weaknesses:

• Running out of space to expand R&D department.
• Remaining centered in Waterloo is what made them able to have the type of company culture that they do.
• Current culture may not necessarily be maintained if there is an expansion outside of Waterloo, and they no longer have full control.
• Limited amount of physical space at RIM’s Waterloo campus. [Is this a weakness or threat?]

Opportunities:

• R&D talent is getting increasingly sparse.
• Economic situation: many smaller firms and technology start ups are struggling financially.
• Analysts predict an immense opportunity for smart phones starting in 2008-2009, which shipments reaching the billions by 2012.
  

Threats:

• Explosive growth and increased competition on the R&D team to develop new solutions in the global smartphone market place.
• In 2007 Symbian’s operating system designed for mobile devices held an estimated 65% worldwide share of the converged devices, shipping 77.3 smartphones in 2007, while RIM Blackberry OS at 11%
• RIM led in North America with 42% of shipments.
• Apple announced that it would be pursuing the business segment, as Microsoft and Google were also both trying.
• Competition for employees is very competitive in the global software development industry.
• Current employees being threatened by products being build elsewhere, afraid to lose control.
• Key competitors have already expanded globally.
• Source code loss, software piracy, product imitations are more common in developing countries where IP protection laws (or enforcement) lagged the United States or Canada.

Legal + SWOT

Hi Everyone,

I think that finding the information for the legal section is going to be a little tricky but regardless I am working on it.
From class discussion on this case the main idea for legal was regarding the source code (privacy laws, foreign/national policies). Other than that there was not much else discussed in class.

With that said, I was wondering from Chakman which countries he was looking at for locating another R&D facility. This way I can find information about the privacy laws for these specific countries.

Greg thought maybe I could see if there would be any sort of legal issues in trying to get more connections with other universities in order to set up programs for graduate students.

I was just wondering if anyone else had any other ideas, so that I am not only writing about this source code.

As for the SWOT analysis which we said we would work on over the reading week. I was thinking maybe if everyone could send it to me (or just post on here) by Monday morning, I could collaborate it together and then Tuesday we can go over it and decide which items we want to keep in the SWOT for the final report/presentation.

Let me know if does/doesn't work for everyone.

Thanks,
Danielle

Finance and Marketing Section

Hey guys,

Here is what I will be doing for my part...I have already gotten a good start as far as research...let me know if there is anything I should add or delete from my list of points under Financial and Marketing.

FINANCIAL

• Compare the R&D spent to Sales Revenue
• Compare the percentage to who had the highest sales revenue (any trends)
• Should RIM expand R&D spending

• Have different forecasts income statements…depending on certain situations
• Expanding internationally, etc…

• Look at the current economic times and how it will affect sales/expenses

• Look at forecasts (sales, growth of industry) – need to have a long term fix

MARKETING

• How can RIM market themselves to potential employees
• The top talent that there is today

• How can RIM market themselves to potential communities where they’ll locate to (waiting for Jo-Anne to e-mail me back)
  

• Look at Porter’s five forces (issues RIM may have)

When you eat a blackberry what do you get?


A Bluetooth!


(sorry work is slow there might be alot of these!)

hey guys, here is my plan for the HR stuff,

1) to examinate the capacity and efficiency expanding in waterloo.

2) examinate possible locations in the world that may fit RIM's expanding criteria,

3) analyze the possible problems occurred from the increase in human resources.

how's that sounds ? or do you want me to put something on it ?

by the way, i have plenty of resources on hand for the possible location thing. and i am now working on the waterloo area analysis. Also for the possible problems come with the expansion, a little brainstrom from the group would be nice.

Ps. i have some stuff for Joel and Greg, message me in msn or facebook to let me know how to give you the information.

chak

Rich in Money (RIM)

hi, the first post is just to get the game started.

Hi Everyone...

Just testing this out...
I e-mailed out the toolkit the other day, let me know if you didn't get it.

-Danielle