According to an article published in the Wall Street Journal today
"The Sony chief Kazuo Hirai said he spent much of his first 18 months as CEO playing what he calls “defense” — cutting costs and streamlining the organization. However, the electronics division is now switching to offense with a wave of new products that “push the envelope.
His comments come on the heels of Sony’s electronics business showing signs of improvement. In the latest quarter ended June, Sony's TV business turned a profit for the first time in three years and its mobile products arm also moved into the black on the back of strong smartphone sales.
While Sony has scaled back the volume of its TV business, it has brought down its fixed costs considerably by unwinding liquid crystal display production joint ventures with Sharp Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. to buy cheaper panels on the open market. Mr. Hirai said lower costs and a more efficient organization is important, but “that’s not going to move the bar” like a successful new product. He said Sony’s RX1 digital camera, a compact model with a giant, full-frame image sensor that sells for an eye-popping Y250,000 ($2525), is a good example of this approach. Sony said the reception from camera enthusiasts has been overwhelming and it can’t keep the camera in stores".
"The Sony chief Kazuo Hirai said he spent much of his first 18 months as CEO playing what he calls “defense” — cutting costs and streamlining the organization. However, the electronics division is now switching to offense with a wave of new products that “push the envelope.
His comments come on the heels of Sony’s electronics business showing signs of improvement. In the latest quarter ended June, Sony's TV business turned a profit for the first time in three years and its mobile products arm also moved into the black on the back of strong smartphone sales.
While Sony has scaled back the volume of its TV business, it has brought down its fixed costs considerably by unwinding liquid crystal display production joint ventures with Sharp Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. to buy cheaper panels on the open market. Mr. Hirai said lower costs and a more efficient organization is important, but “that’s not going to move the bar” like a successful new product. He said Sony’s RX1 digital camera, a compact model with a giant, full-frame image sensor that sells for an eye-popping Y250,000 ($2525), is a good example of this approach. Sony said the reception from camera enthusiasts has been overwhelming and it can’t keep the camera in stores".
