Question

Jazz Mobile phone is a famous multinational brand producing smart phones. The main aim for Jazz is to satisfy its users with user friendly, innovative and elegant devices that simplify the problems of the customers and enable them to enjoy the product. Jazz mobile have different series with amazing features of large display size, amazing battery time, high definition camera quality and large internal storages. Jazz have a comprehensive portfolio of hardware, software and services that enable the digital transformation of networks to address capacity needs, reduce complexity and leverage network intelligence to create and deliver new services. Operational excellence remains a source of competitive advantage for Jazz and this becomes the foundation of their strategy. According to their vision, Jazz Research is actively conducting research and development (R&D) to identify new future growth areas and secure advanced technologies for its products to create new value and improve people’s lives. Jazz has a global network of R&D centers, each with individual technology and competence specialties. Jazz research promises to continue working hard to become a global top research institute that creates new values for the future through ceaseless innovation and intelligence. Recently Jazz has launched a new phone Book 8. It has the biggest screen and battery, the fastest processor and the largest storage. It’s a phone designed and built for the power user who won’t settle for anything less. The Book 8 gives the most advanced features than any other series. After few days of launching the phone, the customers had a complaint that there is some problem with the phone. Jazz management ordered the inquiry and identify the issues arising out of the battery design and manufacturing process. Jazz had to recall about 1.5 million phones after complaints of manufacturing issues. Research and development along with the management is concerned about the incident and their goodwill across the world. R &D is now working to find out the reasons for the failure of their new Book 8. They wanted to ensure that this problem should not exist for the new model coming in the future.

a. Sometimes a minor negligence can cost the company in terms of their repute, money, time and effort. Based on company’s previous experience of Book 8, what steps are required to be followed by Jazz for comprehensive research for their upcoming model. What suggestions would you recommend to Jazz R&D to make their research successful?

b. Write the analysis report for the causes of failure of Book 8. What were the practices not followed before launch of Book 8?

Answer 1

Answer a

steps are required to be followed by Jazz for comprehensive research for their upcoming model.

STEP 1: IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP YOUR TOPIC

SUMMARY: State your topic as a question. For example, if you are interested in finding out about use of alcoholic beverages by college students, you might pose the question, "What effect does use of alcoholic beverages have on the health of college students?" Identify the main concepts or keywords in your question.

STEP 2: FIND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

SUMMARY: Look up your keywords in the indexes to subject encyclopedias. Read articles in these encyclopedias to set the context for your research. Note any relevant items in the bibliographies at the end of the encyclopedia articles. Additional background information may be found in your lecture notes, textbooks, and reserve readings.

STEP 3: USE CATALOGS TO FIND BOOKS AND MEDIA

SUMMARY: Use guided keyword searching to find materials by topic or subject. Print or write down the citation (author, title,etc.) and the location information (call number and library). Note the circulation status. When you pull the book from the shelf, scan the bibliography for additional sources. Watch for book-length bibliographies and annual reviews on your subject; they list citations to hundreds of books and articles in one subject area

STEP 4: USE INDEXES TO FIND PERIODICAL ARTICLES

SUMMARY: Use periodical indexes and abstracts to find citations to articles. The indexes and abstracts may be in print or computer-based formats or both. Choose the indexes and format best suited to your particular topic; ask at the reference desk if you need help figuring out which index and format will be best. You can find periodical articles by the article author, title, or keyword by using the periodical indexes in the Library home page. If the full text is not linked in the index you are using, write down the citation from the index and search for the title of the periodical in the Cornell Library Classic Catalog. The catalog lists the print, microform, and electronic versions of periodicals at Cornell.

STEP 5: FIND ADDITIONAL INTERNET RESOURCES

Nearly everyone is aware of and uses Google and its branches, Google Scholar, Google Books, Google News, YouTube, etc., to search and find information on the open Internet (as opposed to the subscription-only resources you will encounter in steps 2 through 4 above). Here are links to other search engines.

STEP 6: EVALUATE WHAT YOU FIND

SUMMARY: See How to Critically Analyze Information Sources and Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Periodicals: A Checklist of Criteria for suggestions on evaluating the authority and quality of the books and articles you located.

STEP 7: CITE WHAT YOU FIND USING A STANDARD FORMAT

Give credit where credit is due; cite your sources.

Citing or documenting the sources used in your research serves two purposes, it gives proper credit to the authors of the materials used, and it allows those who are reading your work to duplicate your research and locate the sources that you have listed as references.

suggestions to Jazz R&D to make their research successful?

1. The materials in the product matter.

Products may include materials that are restricted or banned in some locations. The Dodd-Frank Conflict Minerals law is a current example of regulatory restrictions of materials in products. If a product contains tin, tantalum, tungsten, or gold, then the [publicly-traded] manufacturer must investigate where it comes from, and make certain disclosures in SEC filings.

The European Union (EU) is considering similar restrictions. The EU has restrictions on hazardous substances. Electronics – which are embedded into many new products – are especially affected, but in is in dyes that find their way into apparel. Bisphenol A (BPA), used in polycarbonate plastics in many applications, is a concern, and has been banned in many states.

Take care in the design of new products to avoid materials that will restrict or eliminate the ability to sell them.

2. Minimize the extent and impact of packaging.   

Packaging is an essential component of the customer’s first impression, and can make or break sales. Packaging is also designed to reduce theft at the point of sale. Packaging can also include excessive amounts of materials, or types of materials that are not readily recyclable.

Excessive packaging can reduce the number of products that can be shipped per unit volume, increasing distribution costs (and the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that go with it). There are restrictions imposed by laws on packaging. They may also be imposed by customers. Walmart has pledged to create zero waste; this includes elements of packaging.

3. Align with Sustainability priorities of the distribution chain.   

Walmart is probably the most significant “regulator” for sustainability in North America. In addition to packaging, they have goals on GHG emissions, energy savings, and fertilizer optimization for foods. What’s more, the targets continue to evolve, with a new Sustainability Index due in 4Q2013.

Virtually every company has embarked on some type of sustainability program. Companies have different priorities on environmental, energy, social, or economic improvements. What they all have in common is that they all look to the supply chain to help them make their improvements. The Federal Government also has sustainability goals, embodied in Executive Order 13514 of October 5, 2009. Goals on energy efficiency will inevitably work their way into the supply chain.

4. Design products that provide benefits during their use.

Sustainability-conscious customers will get more pleasure out of using products if they provide benefits during their use. Many food retailers have installed energy-efficient freezers. One retailer described how pleased they were with reduction in electricity costs.

The new freezers included motion-sensor lighting, which had a small effect on utility bills, but made customers feel much better about the retailer’s commitment to the environment. There are literally hundreds of labeling schemes that convey some type of sustainability benefit.

The author cautions that these labeling schemes have varying degrees of rigor, market acceptance, and costs. They may provide varying degrees of benefit to your company and should be considered as any other business investment.

5. It’s still your product after the customer is finished with it.   

When the customer is finished with your product, it (and/or the packaging) goes somewhere. The mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle” is a good guide to prioritize efforts for end-of-life fate of your products. Less impactful products are the best approach. Reuse or repurposing of products is the next best. Be creative in how products can be repurposed, and find ways to convey this to the customers.

Our household recently purchased new curtains, which came in heavy-duty plastic packaging with zipper and hook for display. The bags are ideal for travel –toiletries, or for wet clothes in a suitcase – or for storing clothes off-season. If the producer highlighted this, perhaps they could gain a competitive advantage.

Regulations require product take-back or recycling for some products (paint, batteries, and tires). Even when not required by regulation, take-back is good practice (plastic bags, beverage containers). Consider availability and ease of recycling for products and packaging.

Consider these sustainability factors in your product R&D to produce better products, and attract sustainability-minded customers. You’ll make products with less impact on the environment, and provide social benefit. This will also help you gain competitive advantage, and bring success to your company.

Answer b

the causes of failure of Book 8

The issues arising out of the battery design and manufacturing process

Internal Resistance. You know that electric currents face resistance when passing through a circuit. ...
Aging. Everything, including human capacity, fades away with time, and so do batteries. ...
Electrical Leakage. ...
High Cut-off Voltage. ...
Improper Storage.

practices not followed before launch of Book 8

1. Not Investing in Market Research

2. Not Having a Feedback Loop

3. Not Getting Marketing Involved Soon Enough

4. Not Planning Release Date in Advance