kodak brief review :: essays research papers

NoteThe run will be in two parts. Part 1 will comprise a set of multiple-choice questionsdesigned to check your understanding of all of the lectures material. Part 2 will concern this baptisterystudy, with the examination paper including a set of questions about it.The case study describes a situation, which you need to question further and resolve. In preparationfor the examination, you should analyse this case study and relate it to the lectures so that you arriveat the examination with an understanding of how you might proceed.CASE STUDYKodak, based in Rochester, New York, where it pioneered the use of photographic film 100years ago, has been facing weak pelf and job cuts as it struggles to turn round itsbusiness.Wednesday, 21 June, 2000, 1126 GMT 1226 UKKodak looks to digital salvation by BBC News Onlines Steve SchifferesThe worlds roughly famous film company is hoping that the digital film revolution will stick to to its rescue.Dan Carp, Kodaks chief executive, told BBC Ne ws Online that he was "very frustrated" by the humiliated share price forhis company which is trading at around 10 times earnings despite five quarters of record profits."There is no question that digital imaging is going to expand the use of photography and make it more than userfriendly," he explained to News Online during a whirlwind tour of Europe."Whats retentiveness us back is some scepticism that the digital revolution is yet to be finalised," he state.Fresh investmentMr Carp told the BBC that the company would invest two-thirds of its $900m research and development budget indigital technologies. It was also spending over $1bn in buying back its own shares in order to boost their price.Analysts adduce the share buybacks are needed to boost the companys earnings per share which have been dilutedby employees cashing in some 20m stock options last year.Mr Carp said he was not worried by the threat of a takeover. However, he admitted that the marketpla ce for digitalimaging technology was likely to be more herd than traditional photography, with companies like Sony vyingwith Kodak, Fuji, and Olympus.Kodak had been slow to introduce full digital technology, fearing that it would hurt sales of existing photographicproducts. But it now aims for 45% of its sales, and 27% of profits, to come from digital sales by 2005.Mr Carp said that the introduction of broadband and other high-speed internet connections would speed the take-upof digital technology. There were more than 4m digital cameras sold in the USA, and 1m in Europe, last year, and