5/22/2010 Weekly Update

Personal Progress: This week I had the opportunity to research what it takes to get a job in a magazine of the entertainment industry. What I did was research and contact a couple human resources departments of some well known magazine companies and asked them their opinion about what it takes to work at a specific magazine. After I spoke to the HR departments I dove into researching online what I should do to prepare myself for a job in the magazine industry if I so desired.
These are some of the things I found to be most important: Getting a job at any magazine is really hard. There are hundreds of thousands of applications and resumes sent to any one magazine a year, and it is very difficult to get an internship with any company.
I was told that researching and planning is the most important thing to do when looking for a job with any magazine. Know who you are dealing with. Magazine companies are looking for people with a strong character, who are hard-working, dedicated, passionate about the magazines services, self-motivated, experience, knowledge or a desire to learn.
I was also able to learn some of the basic important skills or course to take while in college. Some they recommend: programming, designing, creative writing, literature, journalism, humanities, history, politics and business. It is almost a must to have a personal blog and web site outside from the social networking sites.
If you find out that you want to work for a magazine the next step is to get work experience that will benefit you in the long-run. Get a low-end, starting job with a magazine of newspaper, this will help to know who the important key players are in the industry. Start networking and getting to know people, because it is about who you know.

Team Update: This week I was able to do a little more research into what it takes for a small toy company to break into the business. I was able to find a great source detailing some of the important facts about the toy industry, and what  makes some companies more successful than others. I learned that marketing is considered the most important step in the business, because you have to know to whom you are trying to appeal to. So I was able to write-up about 2 pages of notes on what Schneider Toys needs to do at this point to try and break into the business. Next week I will hopefully be able to research the pros and cons into the manufacturing of toys; locally and abroad.

5/15/2010 Weekly Post

Personal Progress: This week I was able to research and discover what it takes to become a Television Executive. There are two types of executives; first there is the "Current Executive" they are in charge of the projects that are currently on air. The current executives work with the writers, produces, directors and cast of the television shows. They kind of serve as the liaison between the network, studio and actual production. The next type of executive is the "Development Executives" these executives are the ones who work on the development of new television material. Whether it be to create a new series, or to work with a specific writer. The development executives are also the ones who fill in all the gaps with the cast, writers, production, they fill out the staff when a show goes from a pilot to an actual series. I found out that the best way to become an executive is to become an assistant first. This will help to have hands on experience meeting with the managers, producers, writers and so forth to be able to understand what goes on to create something great.
Team Progress: I have been placed in the "Schneider Toys Project" group. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with a new and upcoming toy designer and help Schneider Toys enter into the toy manufacturing industry. As for a team we just met for the first time this week and we have our first consultation this Monday. We have been assigned to research the toy industry and get a little insight on the expectations of a start-up toy company.

5/8/2010 Personal Project Update

This week I have had the opportunity to research a couple of companies I would like to work for in the future. I also signed-up to have the Entertainment Weekly Magazine delivered. This way I will be able to read some of the articles and learn the magazines layout and and writing technique. I also researched a little about Carlos Amezcua who is a news anchor for FOX News. I had the opportunity to meet Carlos in March and learn a little more about what it takes to break into the News, and Entertainment Industry.

Dogfight over Europe: Ryanair

1. List Pro's and Con's of Ryanair's decision to enter a new market and compete with larger airlines? 

Pros:
-    The low cost of air travel would be very appealing to customers.
-    Ryanair offers first-rate customer service.
-    Ryanair could capture the 30-40% of travelers not traveling on Aer Lingus.
-    With the cheaper fares Ryanair could  convince ferry travelers to fly.
-    With the larger planes they could transport more people.

Cons:
-    Ryanair would be competing against larger, more establish companies.
-    Not being able to offer cheaper flights.
-    With the larger planes their costs would be higher and they would have to raise their prices.
-    Being the underdog.
-    Lack of brand recognition.

Personal Strategy Project Proposal

The industry I have selected is the Entertainment Industry.

Company #1: abc Televsion. abc is one of the major broadcasting companies in the United States. They carry many television shows as well as world leading news. I briefly worked for abc in Idaho Falls; Channel 8 News. I believe working for abc would give me the opportunity to use all of my skills and develop new ones to launch my career in the entertainment industry.

Company #2: Entertainment Weekly. EW is one of the most popular American magazines that focuses on celebrities and what is going on in the entertainment industry. I have never worked for a magazine and I think it would be a very fun and exciting company to work for.

What I could do to better myself and make myself more marketable to the entertainment industry is to research and learn more about the entertainment industry and learn what it is each company does, and what their main focus is in the market.

Weekly Plan:
I plan on taking time to research and learn more about the industry, and figure out what it takes to break through into the entertainment industry. I will choose a news anchor or a writer, and study them and what they did in school and how it is they made it into the industry.

Senior Capstone (B499A)

1. Describe the role of Value Creation and Management
           Value creation is very important to a company, and to be able to understand it is even more important. Understanding value creation means that a company values their customers, employees and investors. They add value to their company by doing so, and something with value is held to a higher standard and looked up to as being good. Because the company is good the customers, employees and investors are happy and the company is then able to make an income. 

2. What makes a strong Business Model
           A business model is the way the company will capture their value creation. The business model should encompass everything their value creation entails. In order to create a strong business model the company must look at what they are getting themselves into, and know how to get the job done. The business model is used for many things in a company like the purpose of the company, the strategies of the company, and the process by which the company will operate. With a strong business model a company will be able to sell their goods and services at a minimal cost and become profitable.

3.  Key Principles of effective Strategy?

Effective strategy is of very high importance to a company. To be effective the company understands the market they are in and they know where it is they are in their specific market. Another way a company can prove their effectiveness is by knowing what it is they can do to set themselves apart from their competitors to be able to create a strong and loyal group of followers. A good example of this is Apple. Apple has created a huge following, and they know how to keep their customers happy, and wanting more. Shoppers have camped out in front of an Apple store just to be the first one to buy the new iPhone, or laptop. Apple has planned out strategically every move they make to be effective, and in return they have devoted, loyal customers.

Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

So I was meaning to do this right after it happened, but let's get real, I always take too long to do anything. (But that's another story, for another time!)

It's the day before Fall Semester 2009 ended and I was in the laundry room ready to switch my clothes from the washer to the dryer when all of a sudden EVERYTHING went DARK. Yes, the power went out, but not only at the Ridge, but ALL of Rexburg, Rigby and St. Anthony; it was as Craig likes to say, "total chaos!" I  started to feel my way around the Ridge laundry room and I made it to the door, when I realized that the door to the laundry room was electric...I WAS TRAPPED! I finally managed to push the door open and looked outside to saw...

It was crazy, EVERYONE in Rexburg jumped in their cars and started driving around, to experience it all in the DARK.

  

 There is nothing more fun than a college town loosing power and the students going CRAZY. We blasted music in my roommates car and had a dance party in the parking lot...

 All in all it was a pretty AWESOME night. I'm sorry to any of those students who were taking tests, or still had homework, or papers to write. But Rexburg with no power was LEGIT.