case study...

In last seminar, we are informed that the final exam will include case study which is a big challenge because we must read a case and analyzing it under time constrain. For business students, case study is very fundamental and common, and they have studies hundreds of cases. sometimes they even try to solve real cases.
I think business is not like engineering which has well-established laws, theory and formular. What engineering handles is all physical facts which can have clear right or wrong answers. but business is another story that too many external factors can have crucial impact on the decision and business activity. It is more difficult to judge or assess what is undetermined and instable.
Case study is an effective way to accummulate experience for handling similar problem. From the past experience of succeed or pain of failure, we can learn from that, and try to make right choice if similar circumstances happen. Another sigficance of case study is to view a problem from difference angles so that we can have balanced perspective. Those influcing factors can be understood better and how they may interact and cause benefit or harm in one way or another.
It is always easier said than done. we practiced one case in seminar. Our case is a mini case which is about design and implement a wireless infrastruture for a regional food safety initiative in Southeast Asia. Even this mini case, we stil have difficulty to cope with in the sense of overlooking certain issues or suggesting someting unfeasible or ineffective.
The key issue we should always bear in mind is how we can apply new technology to add value to our product and service, how different parties in case can benefit in the sense of profit or convenience. The "all-win" situation is our pursuit.

tourist on the go...

After the presentation of bird park assignment, we wrote on the board all our business ideas into 4 different bloc which are 4 stages in any business: initiate, enter/begin, complete and retirement. In each stage, our ideas are consolidated. We can have a well-round perspective from different angles. No one can think everything, but we can integate everyone's intelligence and contribution to figure out a better solution.If our idea is applicable and feasible in Jurong Bird Park, it is even more valuable in bigger maze such as Disney or night safari.

I feel this semester, this course quite focuses on the tourist industry. Our project is also about how to implement technology to provide value-added survice to tourists. I have travelled to Malaysia for a few times. from a point of view as a traveller, the most importance is the convenience.
The difficulties include:
(1)quite often lost in the downtown
(2)language barrier, would like to get more information in prefered language
(3)payment is troublesome. sometimes i would like to expend more, but i have limited Ringgit. to avoid trouble to exchange money reduces my impulse to buy.

our peers' project ideas are very fabulous and impressive. I am thinking how we can encourage tourists to travel more and spend more in singapore. I have a idea that in corporte with the casino/resort which will be operating in 2010, is it possible to use handphone or WAP to do on-line gambling. the tourist no need to be physically in the casino. Some specially gambling can be viewed through on-line camera, and tourists can choose and bet even in their hotel. I have not figured out the details, just have this idea in mind as most gamblers are price-insensitive in the sense that if they win, they do not mind to spend more. A big market potential lies in this gambling segment.