Undergraduate students have been getting a bad wrap lately for being naïve and unrealistic with regard to the working world. In the past few months, I have heard more people complain about students’ sense of entitlement, than all my university years combined. However, according to a study released in the Journal of Business and Psychology last week, this stereotype is actually fairly accurate. The study concludes that most undergrads believe they will receive a promotion within 18 months of their first day, and a 63% pay increase in the first five years. Maybe the critics are right, or maybe there’s an abundance of ambition within the campuses, regardless, as a recent grad just starting out, I feel it’s my duty to put these assumptions, stats, and misconceptions into context. [...]
Whether it’s a lame joke or a fair assessment, you know the print industry is in trouble when Playboy is struggling. Although the brand may be slightly taboo, the relevance to modern business is uncanny. With increased competition on the web, an uprising youthful market, and technological advancements, it’s time for Hugh to pull a few tricks out of his red silk robe sleeves. Over the past year, Playboy has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons – decreased sales, buyout speculation, and now strategic direction – revealing the astonishing truth that it’s not all about the great articles… That is why Playboy’s popular, right? [...]
We can’t say they didn’t warn us. Analysts have been predicting the rise of the smartphone for, what seems like years, and it is finally starting to come to fruition. This past week HP bought up the pioneer of the PDA, Palm, followed by the collaboration of Windows mobile software and cell phone giant Nokia. The latter was said to be a strategic move to break the dominance of Research In Motion who, by the way, just launched new phones and a new operating system at a wireless conference in Florida. This is of course, to compete with emerging tech titans Apple and Google, who are taking the market by storm with their iPhone and Android operating systems, respectfully. With all of this going on, Acer announcing its plans to enter the smartphone market was practically insignificant. Meanwhile, for companies that hesitated to jump on the bandwagon early (Sony Ericsson, Samsung, LG, etc.) the future is grim, but for those with a foothold, the market’s their oyster. So what does this all mean? Who has the potential to become the smartphone super power? The possibilities may surprise you. [...]
Habs fans rejoice. The unthinkable has happened – well at least from a skeptic’s point of view. In case you haven’t heard already, the Montreal Canadiens completed a remarkable comeback, defeating the top seeded Washington Capitals in the seventh and deciding game of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals last night. Down three games to one a week ago, it looked as though the Canadiens would be joining their arch rival Maple Leafs on the golf course sooner rather than later. In dramatic fashion though, goaltender Jaroslav Halak and the Canadiens crawled back, despite the nay-sayer’s predictions, and ended Alexander Ovechkin’s and the Capital’s hopes of winning the Stanley Cup. [...]
Google, the multinational Internet technology powerhouse that single handedly transformed online advertising and revolutionized the search engine as we know it, may be in fact eroding from the inside out. In recent years, Google has branched out and expanded at a rate that makes Dubai look conservative. Their focus has shifted from the search engine that started it all, to an aggressive mandate of acquiring a new company each month in 2010. By no means is Google going down anytime soon – far from it – however, their iconic search engine is maturing in a market that is being conquered by young, sophisticated, digital natives who demand information immediately. Pages of blue text linked to potentially accurate information are becoming passé. So what’s next for the search engine? [...]
Canada’s largest retailer, Canadian Tire, made headlines last week, as it announced it was going to go back-to-basics by focusing on its core business – tires. For CT traditionalists and handymen alike, this is a move that is long overdue. In recent years, it seemed as though the retailer had lost touch with its consumers, as scented candles, picture frames, and electronics became increasingly prominent within store walls. CT even expanded into banking, insurance, and stocking low-margin food such as bread. Surprising? Slightly. Over the past decade, stores boasting the “one-stop-shop” designation have transformed retail significantly, but is it just a multi-billion-dollar trend, or are they here to stay? [...]
The iPad – yes, this is another blog about the device – launched in the U.S. last Saturday. For the layperson, this isn’t significant, but for the iPerson, this is monumental, but what’s the big deal? Should there be all this fuss over an oversized iPod touch? Do people even need another screen to consume themselves with? Frankly, I’m not too sure myself, but what I do know, is that if anybody can “revolutionize” an entire industry single handedly, Apple is the one to do it. However, will they succeed with turning the general store into the App Store? Will the bookstore be replaced by the iBook Store? Or in a broader sense, will the tablet be the next compulsory digital product – the cell phone of the 2010’s if you will? Well I can’t read a crystal ball, but I can do my best to read the writing on the wall. [...]
Last week, researchers confirmed that the tides are officially changing in the television world. A poll conducted by Iposos Reid concluded that, for the first time, Canadians are spending more time on the Internet than they are watching television. Surprised? Me either. However, it does raise the question: what’s next for the traditional medium? [...]
World Water Day, Earth Hour, and Earth Day are just a few popular humanitarian efforts/events that take place in the early months of the year. With their popularity growing exponentially, I don’t think they could’ve timed it any better. Earthquakes, tsunamis, climate change, and as mentioned last week, corporate crises, seem to be occurring at a startling rate, but just when you think the world is going to fall to pieces, the volunteers come to the rescue. Or, wait; is it the ad agencies with their brilliant campaigns that have saved the day? [...]
After spending four years completing his Bachelor of Business Administration in the thriving metropolis of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Dorian decided to explore other major cities around the world. Although sporadic trips were exciting, the novelty of serving double tall lattes faded fast. Thus returning to his native Halifax was a no-brainer, as too was his decision to pursue his passion in advertising. However, when Dorian isn’t crutching around the office, he enjoys relaxing with friends and taking in the best sounds and suds Halifax has to offer. You can find anything from Jazz to House music on his iPod… just not the Jonas Brothers. 
