by Marc H. Rudov | April 28, 2012 | Article
The Silicon Valley venture-capital firm (VC) is under intense pressure from its limited partners (investors) to fund as many startups, and ultimately earn as high a return, as possible. In this high-testosterone endeavor, each VC constantly races its rivals to...
by Marc H. Rudov | March 24, 2012 | Article
Back in the day, everyone knew the Datsun name as well as the sleek design and low price of its popular 240Z sports car. Strangely, in 1981, the Datsun name disappeared, replaced by Nissan. Caroline Winter at Businessweek wrote: “…the company resolved to...
by Marc H. Rudov | March 11, 2012 | Article
Do you really think IBM’s commissioned salespeople walk into client sites to banter about a “smarter planet”? Not if they want to walk out with purchase orders. But, IBM’s series of TV spots would have you believe so. Can you imagine any board...
by Marc H. Rudov | February 20, 2012 | Article
It is all-too common for a company to create and disseminate its brand, and then let it run like a wild horse. Why? Corporate politics, turf wars, egos, and incompetence. This is my only explanation for GEICO’s unending onslaught of inexplicable, inconsistent,...
by Marc H. Rudov | February 8, 2012 | Article
If you own a TV, you’ve seen nonstop discount campaigns from Joseph A. Bank, the men’s clothier. How does a customer know what value he’s getting at any time? It’s impossible. WATCH HERE. Newly minted JCPenney CEO Ron Johnson, former head of...
