Dell plans first U.S. smartphone with AT&T: source
October 12, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Dell Inc plans to launch a smartphone with Google’s Android mobile software on carrier AT&T’s network, a source said, marking the PC maker’s first foray into a cut-throat U.S. cellphone arena.
Source: Reuters.com
Date: 10/08/2009
Keys: Competing in world markets (p100), Marketing (p387)
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5965IP20091008
Questions for discussion:
- Who is the target market for this sort of device?
- How important is the brand to the customer when selecting a device?
- What advantage or disadvantage does the Dell brand name have with these customers?
- Do you think Dell’s entry into this market is going to succeed? Explain your answer.
Ralph Lauren admits it needs Photoshop lessons
October 12, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Description: I’ve never seen Ralph Lauren in real life, but when he appeared on “Friends” a few years ago, he looked somewhat diminutive and not entirely in the first bloom of slenderness. So I wonder what he might have thought when a recently produced Ralph Lauren ad seemed to feature a model who last ate in 2004 and clearly enjoyed the attention of a plastic surgeon whose diet consisted entirely of mushrooms from the magic department of his local supermarket.
Source: CNET.com
Date: 10/09/2009
Keys: Business Ethics and social responsibility (p32), Marketing (p458)
Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10372127-71.html?tag=mncol
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you think some people would say that this advertisement is socially irresponsible?
- How would you have responded to the publicity if you were Ralph Lauren?
- Do you think this advertisement might have been created in order to generate publicity for the company and its brand? Explain your answer.
Budget plug-in car for the city
October 5, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Former Mindspring CEO Mike McQuary enters the electric car market with the Wheego Whip.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 10/02/2009
Keys: Small business management (p140), Marketing (p388)
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2009/10/02/tech_all_electric_car_wheego.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think the future belongs to small car companies? Explain why or why not?
- Who would you select as the target market for these vehicles?
- Develop a simple marketing plan and explain your decisions.
Want a job on Wall Street? Good luck.
October 5, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
Description: Job cuts in the financial world are expected to persist for some time. But there are bright spots for MBAs, bond traders and investment bankers.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 10/03/2009
Keys: HR (p286), Economy (p66)
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/30/news/companies/wall_street_jobs/index.htm?postversion=2009100320
Questions for discussion:
- Are there any differences in the hiring and firing practices of Wall Street HR departments and say, GM? Explain your answer.
- What risk is there to firing employees, especially highly skilled financial specialists?
- Are there alternatives to firing when revenues drop at a firm? Explain your answer.
Three more U.S. banks closed, nearly 100 for year
October 5, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Description: Three U.S. banks failed on Friday, bringing the total to 98 this year, as regulators continue to shutter financial institutions that are overwhelmed by bad loans and liquidity problems.
Source: Reuters.com
Date: 10/02/2009
Keys: Banking (p558), Economy (p66)
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/ousivMolt/idUSTRE59208120091003
Questions for discussion:
- How are banks similar and yet different from other businesses?
- Why have these banks failed?
- How are the problems and successes of the economy reflected in the operations of the banks? Explain your thinking.
How Yahoo is betting its cloud will pay off
October 5, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: There was a day when information technology personnel toiled behind the scenes to make their corporate computing infrastructure work. But in the Internet era, those experts increasingly are getting starring roles in corporate computing leadership rather than being supporting cast members. Such is the case for Shelton Shugar, Yahoo’s senior vice president of cloud computing.
Source: CNET.com
Date: 10/01/2009
Keys: Marketing (p420), Finance (p590), HR (p286)
Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-10364900-264.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.1
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think Yahoo’s strategy will work? Why or why not?
- What advantages and disadvantages are there for clients to use Yahoo cloud computing services?
- How does the decision to use cloud computing services affect firm’s financial planning?
