The question of whether Nokia can survive another fearsome challenge makes for another interesting case study that teachers in business schools can turn to. It is a story that began more than a century ago but is still alive and dynamic in the twenty-first century.
In the commercial world some companies survive through changes in fashion and technology and others do not. The world of business is littered with tales of companies and industries that have flourished for a while and then gone under. The newspaper industry is a case in point. Firms that were household names are now faced with competition from paperless and more efficient news sources.
Some people think that the wheel has turned full circle and that the manufacturers of petrol driven cars will now have to adapt or die in their turn. The era of vehicles that can fly, swim and roll using sunlight could be close at hand.
The narrative of a company that has faced fearsome threats and made the most of its opportunities is grist to the mill of business school professors. What makes the story still more relevant is the fact that it is ongoing. The company is still strong but facing threats as significant as any that have been met in the evolving business environment of the past century.
The drama of sport is as entertaining now as it was for the Romans, thousands of years ago. Though so much has changed the struggle to compete has not. Does may graze placidly whilst rams fight, but they watch out of the corners of their eyes to see who wins. Th ultimate prize awaits those who can face threats and triumph. So it is in business.
More than a century ago Frederick Idestam started a pulp mill in Finland taking advantage of fast flowing water. He was assisted by Leo Mechelin illustrating the advantages of collaboration. It was Mechelin who foresaw the future of electronics in the early twentieth century when coal fires were the order of the day. He persisted in the face of opposition and threats. Later they merged with a rubber boot manufacturer to take advantage of demand for footwear. All these events make up an ideal case study for business students.
In hindsight it is easy to see the wisdom of going into electronics at the beginning of the twentieth century. But in 1917, with two world wars about to explode and television still in the realms of fantasy it must have taken a high degree of prescience to take the decision that would have such a significant impact on the fortunes of the company. Few people could have imagined a phone without wires attaching it to a wall.
Nokia made quality mobile phones. They were sold all over the world and established a quality brand name. However, research and development is ongoing and as forceful as the river that ran beside the river of the first paper mill. The challenge is to create tablets and smart phones that sum up the the achievements in electronic communication of the past fifty years. Already one can carry a library in one's pocket. The next step may be towards a device that is an artificial brain that will put the chauffeur and cab driver out of business. It will drive an owner to his destination while he sits chatting to his companion without the inconvenience of a steering wheel or gear lever. It may also ensure the future of the company.
In the commercial world some companies survive through changes in fashion and technology and others do not. The world of business is littered with tales of companies and industries that have flourished for a while and then gone under. The newspaper industry is a case in point. Firms that were household names are now faced with competition from paperless and more efficient news sources.
Some people think that the wheel has turned full circle and that the manufacturers of petrol driven cars will now have to adapt or die in their turn. The era of vehicles that can fly, swim and roll using sunlight could be close at hand.
The narrative of a company that has faced fearsome threats and made the most of its opportunities is grist to the mill of business school professors. What makes the story still more relevant is the fact that it is ongoing. The company is still strong but facing threats as significant as any that have been met in the evolving business environment of the past century.
The drama of sport is as entertaining now as it was for the Romans, thousands of years ago. Though so much has changed the struggle to compete has not. Does may graze placidly whilst rams fight, but they watch out of the corners of their eyes to see who wins. Th ultimate prize awaits those who can face threats and triumph. So it is in business.
More than a century ago Frederick Idestam started a pulp mill in Finland taking advantage of fast flowing water. He was assisted by Leo Mechelin illustrating the advantages of collaboration. It was Mechelin who foresaw the future of electronics in the early twentieth century when coal fires were the order of the day. He persisted in the face of opposition and threats. Later they merged with a rubber boot manufacturer to take advantage of demand for footwear. All these events make up an ideal case study for business students.
In hindsight it is easy to see the wisdom of going into electronics at the beginning of the twentieth century. But in 1917, with two world wars about to explode and television still in the realms of fantasy it must have taken a high degree of prescience to take the decision that would have such a significant impact on the fortunes of the company. Few people could have imagined a phone without wires attaching it to a wall.
Nokia made quality mobile phones. They were sold all over the world and established a quality brand name. However, research and development is ongoing and as forceful as the river that ran beside the river of the first paper mill. The challenge is to create tablets and smart phones that sum up the the achievements in electronic communication of the past fifty years. Already one can carry a library in one's pocket. The next step may be towards a device that is an artificial brain that will put the chauffeur and cab driver out of business. It will drive an owner to his destination while he sits chatting to his companion without the inconvenience of a steering wheel or gear lever. It may also ensure the future of the company.
About the Author:
The C3 Nokia and the Nokia N9 are examples of the quality product available from the notable cell phone manufacturer. You can learn more about specifications and appearance by visiting the website.
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