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USA is asserting itself as a thought leader. There are conferences
and discussions on various subjects going on simultaneously in
different parts of the country simultaneously and one after the
other. For example, there are book fairs every month in different
states and in Los Angeles several literary events like the BookExpo
America (BEA) and Leimert Park Book Fair came at the heels of each
other. Then there are meetings and symposia on various aspects of
the arts, sciences, technology, medicine, and others. The annual
International Conference and Exposition sponsored by American
Society for Training and Development happened June 1 to 4 in San
Diego while that of the Society for Human Resource Management will
happen on June 22 to 25 in Chicago. Rotarians from all over the
world will convene in Los Angeles this June 15 to 18.
An observation is that one common major topic
for all these meeting of minds is change—evolutionary or small
developmental changes and revolutionary or quantum leap changes.
Some of this changes involve shifts in direction and mindsets. When
directions and mindsets change, actions, behaviors and emotions
change and so do needs, wants, expectations, products and services.
At BEA, people are talking about changes in
printing method from the traditional to digital. This shift in
method could mean a cleaner, healthier work environment for workers
and faster turnaround of products, but it might also mean loss of
job because lesser number of employees could work on multitasking
machines.
A more radical shift is in the delivery of
products, from hard copy to electronic copy. However, publishers are
not too keen on the idea. They say that people could share a hard
copy to one person at a time. They might photocopy the book, but it
might be too expensive and not comfortable to read. A digital copy
could be uploaded on the Internet and downloaded by any number of
readers or one digital copy could be sent to so many addressees in
just one click. The digital book might not be a sound business
proposition.
In the news nowadays here in San Diego,
California, are shifts in ways of doing businesses and in lifestyle
to help cope with the still-rising cost of gasoline. GM announced
that it will close four truck and SUV plants and rethink its
gas-guzzling Hummer options to either sell or kill the brand. It
will also pursue its production of an all-electric car, build new
global compact car for Chevrolet, produce high-efficient engines and
improve its operations. USA Today reports that what is happening to
GM is another sign that the auto industry faces a bleak reality:
“The days of big wheels are over.”
Argus Research analyst Kevin Tynan was quoted by
USA Today, “Hummer was always about being the biggest, most
rugged, most ridiculous thing on the world. What that says to me is
that for this brand to stay competitive, it has to move away from
its mission statement. The 15-year trend of SUVs and pickup trucks
is over, that’s what everyone is saying today.”
GM is not just changing, it is shifting its
direction and mindset. GM CEO Rick Wagoner says, “Higher gasoline
prices are changing consumer behavior, and they are significantly
affecting the US auto industry sales mix.”
The same issue of high pump price is being used
by some other companies to drive sales. USA Today reports that among
them is upscale Callaway Golf, with an “increase your driving
distance” giveaway of gasoline cards up to $100 with the purchase
of select drivers. “Tee price of gas is a concern for
everybody,” Callaway spokeswoman Michele Szynal says. “If people
are considering buying a non-essential product like a golf club,
this helps ease the guilt.”
Other companies going for more mileage from gas,
according to USA Today, are Charter Communications ($25, $50, $100
gasoline cards to customers who go online or upgrade its TV,
Internet and phone services.) and Chrysler (car buyers cards good
for a fixed price of $2.99 per gallon for up to 12,000 miles a year
for three years).
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