Twitter CEO: A biz plan can wait
October 26, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Evan Williams says the company is focused on beefing up its technology, not making money, for now.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 10/21/2009
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2009/10/21/tt_twitter_evan_williams.fortune/
Questions for discussion:
- What do you think the Twitter business model will look like when it finally announces its strategies for generating revenues? Explain your answer.
- Do you think Twitter is a fad?
- Why do you think Twitter has been so successful?
- Who is Twitter’s target market?
Amazon shares close at record high
October 26, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: The online retailer’s stock finishes up nearly 30% as investors see the company becoming a powerhouse of the post-recession economy.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 10/23/2009
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/23/news/companies/Amazon/index.htm?postversion=2009102318
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think investors are correct in their assessment of future online sales and profits at Amazon?
- Do you think some categories of merchandise or services will grow faster than others? Explain your thinking.
Wikipedia founder in HP online magazine print deal
October 26, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: The founder of online encyclopedia Wikipedia said on Wednesday he had entered into a partnership with computer company Hewlett Packard that will allow users to create and print magazines.
Source: Reuters.com
Date: 10/21/2009
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE59K4MX20091021
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think this business model of on-demand magazine printing will become popular?
- Who do you think the target markets are likely to be?
- How can Wikipedia earn revenues through this partnership?
U.S. Companies’ Electronic-Discovery Spending Tripled in 2009
October 26, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: Budgets for managing electronic data tripled this year at average-sized U.S. companies, according to a study, as businesses braced for an influx of lawsuits stemming from a recession that’s been partly blamed on fraud.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 10/20/2009
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a_qD_YdAZA7o
Questions for discussion:
- Why is spending in this area increasing so drastically?
- How important is this problem from a legal, ethical, and managerial point of view?
- Do you think managers will deal differently with electronic information such as email in the future? Explain your answer.
Next great Windows OS?
Description: Windows 7 is drawing rave reviews, but can Microsoft parlay the momentum into its other products?
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 10/13/2009
Keys: Marketing (p388), New product development (p420), Management (p252)
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2009/10/13/tt_windows_7_ballmer_microsoft.fortune/
Questions for discussion:
- What do you think Microsoft’s future looks like, especially in terms of new products?
- Do you agree with the criticisms of Microsoft’s management since Bill Gates left active decision-making of the firm? Explain your answer.
Wal-Mart vs. Amazon: Fight is on for book sales
October 19, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: The world’s largest retailer launches a price war against the Web’s premier bookseller as the crucial holiday sales period looms.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 10/16/2009
Keys: Marketing (p387), Economy (p66)
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/16/news/companies/walmart_amazon_books/index.htm?postversion=2009101617
Questions for discussion:
- Who do you think will win this battle for customers? Explain your answer.
- Why is price so important in this situation?
- Are the target markets that each company appeals to the same? Explain your answer.
- How is buyer behavior important to understanding this story?
Google sparks e-books fight with Kindle
October 19, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: Google plans to launch an online store to deliver electronic books to any device with a Web browser, threatening to upset a burgeoning market for dedicated e-readers dominated by Amazon’s Kindle.
Source: Reuters.com
Date: 10/16/2009
Keys: Competing in world markets (p100), Marketing (p387)
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE59E28H20091016
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think Google’s strategy will work?
- Does Google’s strategy have any competitive advantage over the competition? Explain your answer.
McDonald’s Offers Potato Burger With Fries, No Onions in India
October 19, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: McDonald’s Corp. is staking its future in India on burgers made from mashed potatoes, peas and spices. Sumil Mittal says it’s a good bet. Mittal, 19, sits beneath the golden arches at a McDonald’s in Ambala, a small town 125 miles north of New Delhi. He’s eating the vegetarian McAloo Tikki sandwich, with french fries and a Coke, before seeing the new Bollywood movie, “Wake Up Sid.”
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 10/16/2009
Keys: Competing in world markets (p100), Marketing (p387), Business Ethics and social responsibility (p32)
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=auX4o5c.BK70
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think McDonald’s strategy in India is socially responsible? Explain your answer.
- Do you think fast-food consumers in India are much different than consumers elsewhere – aside from the menu?
- What risks are there for McDonald in India?
Buick targets younger buyers
October 12, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: The 2010 Buick Lacrosse CXS is a luxury sport sedan combining comfort riding and decent performance from V6 models.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 10/08/2009
Keys: Marketing (p388), New product development (p420)
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/luxury/2009/10/08/lux_peter_buick_lacrosse.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think this new vehicle will be successful? Explain your answer.
- Do you think the problems associated with GM can be overcome?
- Are the positive attributes associated with this vehicle sufficient to reposition the GM brand in consumers’ minds?
New highs, but now a big test.
October 12, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Google, IBM and Intel are among the heavy-hitters due to open their books, giving the rally its first big challenge in weeks.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 10/11/2009
Keys: Finance (p558), Economy (p66)
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/11/markets/sunday_lookahead/index.htm?postversion=2009101107
Questions for discussion:
- Explain why financial information released this week by these firms will likely influence the entire stock market?
- Examine the changing stock market valuations of some of the stocks mentioned in this article during this week and the affect they have on the market as a whole. Explain what happened.
