Case Study on Research in Motion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case Study on Research in Motion - Essay Example Problem Definition With the introduction of Apple’s iPhone in the mobile industry, it was expected that market for BlackBerry would be hit severely. Common perception was that market for mobile phones was already over-congested and any new entry could have debilitating effect on Research in Motion (RIM). Jim Balsillie, the co-CEO of RIM, also felt the emerging challenge to RIM from the new technology convergence and started planning a strategy to position his company for capturing maximum market coverage (Carayannopoulos, 2012). Jim Balsillie considered iPhone as â€Å"one more entrant into an already very busy space.† RIM’s enterprise market was the target of competitors. Balsillie wanted to pursue a strategy the like of water rafting, with the purpose of attaining, â€Å"every last dollar [he could] possibly get† in revenue but also safeguarding his ship from the â€Å"rocks† lying in the way and place the company securely (Carayannopoulos, 2012, p. 1). According to Donnelly (2011) RIM’s stay in the market could be doubtful with the arrival of other strong entrants in the marketplace. Consumers have Apple’s iPad and the latest release iPad2. Another competitor, Cisco, is also fully prepared with its integrated release of Cius tablet, offering tough competition to RIM. Problem Analysis The consumer market for RIM’s Blackberry products, namely the Blackberry â€Å"Pearl† and the Blackberry â€Å"Curve†, according to market analysts, was an intelligent move, as it would offer RIM vast consumer market full of potential customers; also the enterprise market was comparatively smaller than the consumer market. It was definite, as observed by market analysts that with the advancement in technology and increase in competition, challenges before the RIM management in the context of realizing sales targets were genuine (Carayannopoulos, 2012). Global wireless market had been showing seamless growth an d subscribers were sure to cross the 3 billion mark by the end of 2007. Wireless device users were divided in different market segments of consumer using the mobile instrument for personal use, the prosumer using it for both business and personal use, and the enterprise segment where the device was wholesomely purchased for employee use. Market was already overcrowded with players such as Nokia and Motorola possessing comprehensive brand image, financial strength, experience, and network carrier collaborations worldwide. Their handsets were cost-competitive but were deficient in some sections such as data transmission and players like Nokia had collaborations with other partners for embedding email feature in their devices (Carayannopoulos, 2012). iPhone with dimensions of 4.5 by 2.4 by .46 was available to users with one large touch-screen functionality. Various features of iPhone such as email, camera, videos, music, and internet, according to analysts, set its class distinctly in multimedia. All reviews although were not as promising, as the whole web pages could be seen as on a computer and downloading was slack due to the sluggish speed of the AT & T’s network. There were other crucial business add-on features missing such as Microsoft Office/Exchange enabling both voice and non-voice data exchange and downloading over the internet. Balsillie finds Apple’s strategy of compelling subscribers to visit Apple’s iTunes music stores for activating the phones in

The Causes of Party Polarization in America Term Paper

The Causes of Party Polarization in America - Term Paper Example Polarization is defined in politics as the process through which public opinions are divided and go to extremes (Baumer and Howard 22). Party polarization is defined as the process through which extreme factions within a political party gain some form of dominance within the party. In such a case, the moderate factions tend to lose influence and power. In recent years, the United States political system has witnessed increased polarization. Party polarization has had consequences in the United States especially with respect to policymaking. Whereas the parties tend to go to the extremes, the public opinion does not really go to the extreme. That notwithstanding, party polarization greatly shape public opinion especially in regard to policy. Party polarization is very evident in both the Congress and the Senate (Ura and Christopher 280). The state of American politics is increasingly colored by partisan polarization: the two major political parties have grown ideologically more unifie d internally and farther apart from each other. As the two parties’ policy preferences diverge further from each other at the elite level, it naturally becomes more difficult for the two to work together. With the shrinking rank of ideological moderates, â€Å"the possibilities of bipartisan negotiation and compromise diminish.† Today the two parties clash with each other more often and more strenuously and vigorously than recent history in Washington and in state capitals. Party-based conflicts, policy stagnation, and paralysis inspired by party competition seem to have become the norm in the early twenty-first century. It is against the above background that it is important to understand party polarization in the United States. To achieve this, this paper will seek to respond to the following questions: What are the roots of partisan polarization? What specific developments in the emergence of the political parties led to party polarization? What are the main contrib uting factors to the re-emergence of party polarization? How is partisan polarization linked to deeper cultural divisions within American society? What have been the policy consequences of partisan polarization for the policy process? Roots of Partisan Polarization Partisan polarization in American politics traces its roots from the period of the Civil War. However, it became more apparent after the attainment of American independence. Over the past century and a half, the American political system has been dominated by two main parties. Third parties that have emerged from that time achieved some measured success, but in the end, they have usually been absorbed by one of the dominant parties (Frymer 336). Partisan polarization has been as a result of ideological differences that can be traced throughout the American political history; it has emanated from the ideological divide of liberalists versus conservatives. It is also important to note that there are other factors apart from the ideology that has been critical in creating partisan polarization; for example, geographical divisions have been so evident as parties have taken the dimensions of the â€Å"Southern† or â€Å"Northern† wings (Pearson 1). While the rapid rise in partisan polarization is relatively recent, the origins of party polarization are not; in fact, much of what we see today can be traced back to the early twentieth century.