Strategy in TECH...
Famous New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra once said, “Forecasting is very difficult, especially when it’s about the future.” Yet another wise saying from one of history’s most quoted sages. Even so, lately many regular Strata-gee readers (some of my favorite Strata-gists), have been asking me to do just exactly that – predict the future.
That is such a risky business…only a fool would take such a challenge.
On the first day of the virtual CES 2021 earlier this month, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) released their latest forecast for the total retail sales of technology in the United States. After a record year in 2020, the tech industry association says, collective retail sales are forecast to increase a robust 4.3% for a total of $461 billion in 2021.
Vanco International, a brand historically known largely for cables and accessories, continues their recent-history expansion of mission-critical integration solutions and overall A/V products. The company is displaying an uncommon level of savvy in design and in solution targeting, as management clearly has designs on expanding their impact in the industry.
On Monday, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong – also known as JY Lee, J. Y. Lee or Jay Y. Lee – was sentenced to 2½ years in prison for his role in a bribery and embezzlement scheme to influence the President of South Korea in order to increase his share and power in the company. This development is big news in Korea. Samsung Electronics, part of the Samsung family of companies that is the largest conglomerate in South Korea, by itself represents almost 20% of the entire value of all exports from Korea.
“Please join us in looking forward as we continue to evolve as a ‘creative entertainment company,'” said Kenichiro Yoshida, Sony Chairman, CEO and President to kick off Sony’s presentation to the media on CES 2021’s press day this past Monday. It was a carefully crafted opening, with words of particular significance that contrasts strongly with previous company characterizations. Sony is changing.
Has the train jumped the tracks? Or has Sony hit the hyper-drive taking us to a new and exciting unexplored planet?
Ft. Lauderdale, FL-based manufacturers representative firm LK & Associates has acquired another Florida rep firm, L.P. Hench in a deal announced Tuesday. This acquisition represents a line and talent expansion for LK & Associates as it continues to enjoy strong growth.
AudioControl announced this week that it has named Ashley Kay as its new Director of Customer and Technical Services. This is a newly created role at the company and represents a meaningful upgrade in customer and technical support capabilities at the specialty mobile and residential electronics manufacturer.
The Consumer Electronics Show – CES 2021 – opened this week with great fanfare, but no long taxi lines, no crowded booths, and no glitzy hands-on displays. That’s because this year, CES is virtual – or as the CTA (Consumer Technology Association) likes to put it, it is “all digital.”
Can they pull it off?
For many, if not most of us, 2020 turned out to be one of the most challenging years we have ever faced. Blissfully unaware, we entered the year in January expecting a year much like those of the past. Little did we know that we were just eight weeks away from entering the topsy-turvy world of pandemic mania.
I recently ran across a great, thought-provoking article in the MIT Sloan Management Review called “Nine Leadership Lessons 2020 Gave Us” in which author Ally MacDonald spoke with several top leaders about 2020. Their question to these leaders: In what ways did 2020 test leaders, and what are the lessons to be learned.
In late December we got the latest data from the U.S. Commerce Department on the sales of new homes in November 2020. According to the government, new home sales showed a sharp decline in November. The fact that there was a decline itself was not as much of a surprise to analysts as much as how sharp that decline was that caught their attention.
Many analysts are suggesting that this decline in home sales is another indicator of a slowing economy.
