Marketing & Strategy
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The Hidden Cost of “Free” Trading
Executive Summary Commission-free trading has democratized access to U.S. equity markets, but this shift has been funded primarily through payment for order flow (PFOF)—a practice in which broker-dealers are compensated by wholesale market makers for routing customer orders. While platforms such as Robinhood market trades as “free,” regulatory disclosures under SEC Rule 606 reveal that Continue reading
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The Rise of Robotaxis and the Disruption of the Ride-Sharing Industry
Abstract This explores the cyclical nature of technological disruption within the ride-hailing industry, using the transition from the taxi medallion system to the gig economy, and subsequently to autonomous vehicle (AV) networks, as a case study. Framing the analysis through the cultural metaphor of the 1979 song “Video Killed the Radio Star,” this research examines Continue reading
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Amazon’s Private Label in Fashion: An Underestimated Core Competency and the Proposed Shift to a Quality, Brand, and Technology Strategy
Author: Janeleok | Discipline: Marketing, Business Strategy Executive Summary Abstract Amazon’s Private Label (PL) business was once envisioned as a crucial means of controlling the supply chain and maximizing retail profitability. However, real-world performance (PL accounted for only 9% of Amazon’s apparel sales in 2020) and growing Antitrust scrutiny have forced Amazon to drastically streamline Continue reading
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The Power of Dialogue: Analyzing Nokia’s Avant-Garde Social Media Strategy for the N8 Launch
The Nokia N8 ‘Push Snowboarding’ campaign marked a critical shift from hardware monologue to experience-driven dialogue. This analysis explores its integrated strategy and extracts three core lessons for digital-era marketing. Abstract The launch of the Nokia N8 in 2010 was not merely a product release; it was a strategic orchestration of integrated marketing communications (IMC) Continue reading
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Disney’s Partnership with OpenAI’s Sora
AI-generated image Executive Summary On December 11, 2025, The Walt Disney Company announced a landmark three-year licensing agreement with OpenAI, marking Disney as the first major content partner for OpenAI’s generative AI video platform, Sora. This deal allows Sora users to generate short, user-prompted videos featuring more than 200 animated, masked, or creature characters from Continue reading
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The Rise of Nvidia: Architect of the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Builder of the Biggest Bubble?
Image Credit: Nvidia Abstract Nvidia Corporation stands as a colossus in the semiconductor landscape, its graphics processing units (GPUs) powering the explosive growth of artificial intelligence (AI). Founded in 1993 amid the nascent 3D graphics boom, Nvidia has evolved under CEO Jensen Huang’s visionary leadership into the world’s most valuable company, boasting a market capitalization Continue reading
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Microsoft’s Evaporating Advantages in Artificial Intelligence
Abstract Microsoft’s journey in artificial intelligence represents one of the most dramatic reversals of fortune in modern technology history. What began as a visionary early investment has transformed into a cautionary tale about the perils of dependence, the challenges of product-market fit, and the relentless pace of competition in emerging technology markets. This analysis examines Continue reading
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Beyond the Boardroom (Part 1): Navigating Japan’s Strategic Landscape and the Art of Consensus
Photo Credit: Shibuya, Japan This is Part 1 of our comprehensive 6-part series on “Mastering Negotiation Strategy in Japan.” In this series, AcadeResearch breaks down the cultural, structural, and psychological dimensions of entering the Japanese market. 1. The Macro Context: Why Japan is Different For many U.S. executives, entering the Japanese market is a paradox. Continue reading
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Advertising Around the World – Olay Super Serum
In the context of globalization, major brands face a classic challenge: whether to standardize or localize their marketing campaigns. To explore this issue, this analysis explores the issue through the lens of Olay Super Serum, a skincare product by the American company P&G (OLAY, n.d.). By comparing digital advertisements from Western markets (USA/UK) with those Continue reading