I’ve been thinking a lot about mapping companies. On one hand, they are typical “information goods” companies, most of which have had their economics turned upside down by digital. Everything from encyclopedias and phone books to videos and music. There is a long list of previously good businesses that have been transformed, disrupted and/or destroyed. […]
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses four problems with Hamilton Helmer’s 7 Powers framework. He argues that the framework is too simplistic, does not account for the role of technology, and does not take into account the different competitive dynamics in different industries.
Taiwan-based HTC is fighting for its survival. Since 2015, the company has experienced a massive drop in its revenues. Falling from $4.3B (2015) to $355M (2015). With gross profits in the range of 3.5%. And it looks like revenue for 2020 will fall to around $200M. Market share for its core smartphone business is under […]
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses the competitive landscape between Lazada and Shopee, comparing the two companies to a faster horse versus a better jockey. He argues that Lazada has the resources and infrastructure to be successful in the long run, but Shopee has the better management team and is more nimble. Towson believes that the winner of this race will depend on which company can execute its strategy better.
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses who should buy Luckin Coffee, following the company’s recent accounting scandal. He considers potential buyers such as Starbucks, Alibaba, and HeyTea. For example, Starbucks could benefit from Luckin’s strong presence in China, while Alibaba could use Luckin’s technology to expand its own coffee business.
In this class, Jeffrey Towson discusses four options that Huawei could have taken to respond to the US tech ban. These options include fixing the supply chain and staying the course, becoming a digital platform, ignoring Europe and focusing mostly on China, and trying to build an anti-US alliance for smartphone operating systems. Towson argues that Huawei should have focused on becoming a digital platform, as this would have allowed the company to continue to innovate and grow.