Skype founders’ Joost ousts chairman Mike Volpi
Description: Web TV firm Joost, owned by the founders of Skype, removed its high-profile chairman Mike Volpi by shareholder vote, it said in a statement late on Friday.
Source: Reuters News
Date: 9/12/2009
Keys: Management, investing, marketing
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/ousivMolt/idUSTRE58B0UZ20090912
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you think the same people keep emerging as top managers? Explain your thinking.
- Are these events significant for the firm’s stock value? Explain your thinking.
- Why do you think Joost has had such trouble establishing revenues?
Motorola shares jump on hopes for Google phone
September 14, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: Motorola Inc shares rose 6.5 percent on Friday on hopes the company could turn around its loss-making handset business with the new cellphone it developed with Google Inc.
Source: Reuters.com
Date: 9/11/2009
Keys: Marketing, finance, technology
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE5884AQ20090911
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think Cliq will find a share of the smart phone market? Explain your answer.
- Do you think Cliq’s special features warrant such great investor confidence in the Motorola? Explain your thinking.
- Which smart phone would you say is the most attractive for the consumer market? Explain your answer.
Reviving historical sites
September 7, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Global Heritage Fund restores ancient architectural monuments and brings tourism to the poorest countries of the world.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 9/03/2009
Keys: International business, marketing, small business
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2009/09/03/n_cc_global_heritage_fund.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- What do you think of this concept? Will it be successful? Explain your thinking?
- How would you market this idea to potential travellers?
- Who would be your target market? Explain your answer?
- What are some of the benefits that can accrue to businesses in these countries as well as those in the home countries of the potential travellers?
YouTube may stream movie rentals
September 7, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: Online video site YouTube is in talks with several major movie studios about renting movies to users by streaming the movies over the Internet according to a person familiar with the talks on Wednesday.
Source: Reuters News
Date: 9/03/2009
Keys: Marketing, pricing, new product development, technologies
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/ousivMolt/idUSTRE5816W120090903
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think this concept of online “video-on-demand” will replace regular television and video-store rental businesses?
- Who will likely be the early adopters of this service?
- Do you think a pay-per-view or subscription service would be more attractive to YouTube customers?
- How would you expect the competition to respond to YouTube’s entrance into this market?
- Is television advertising going to fade away? Explain your thinking.
Pfizer whistleblower’s ordeal reaps big rewards
September 7, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Taking on corporate giants can feel like tilting at windmills, but John Kopchinski’s six-year legal battle against Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) just made him a rich man. The Gulf War veteran and former Pfizer sales representative will earn more than $51.5 million as a result of his whistleblower lawsuit against the world’s biggest drugmaker and the record penalty the company must pay the U.S. government for its massive marketing transgressions.
Source: Reuters News
Date: 9/03/2009
Keys: Law, ethics, management, marketing
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN021592920090903
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think this story will motivate or deter potential whistleblowers to come forward? Explain your thinking?
- Do you think the financial reward was appropriate? Besides, fines and awards, how else would you suggest the regulatory authorities work to deter illegal corporate behavior?
A winning formula for fashion retail
September 7, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: Chic digital merchant Net-a-porter is proving that women will buy a $2,000 dress with just a click of a BlackBerry.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 9/03/2009
Keys: Marketing, retailing, technology
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/02/technology/net_a_porter.fortune/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- How would you describe this target market and their buyer behavior?
- Do you think this concept can grow to include a large portion of retail buyers or is it a niche?
- How would you expand this business with special promotions?
- Can this model work with other categories of consumer products that are normally purchased at retail stores? Explain your thinking.
