Why Coca-Cola succeeds in Africa
June 28, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Former CEO Neville Isdell explains that the franchise system makes business owners in Africa feel more invested in the company.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 06/26/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/06/26/f_gf_coke_africa.fortune/
Questions for discussion:
- What are the reasons presented that explain Coca-Cola’s success in Africa?
- Do you agree with the explanation?
- Are there other reasons that might explain its success?
- Would you change any strategies the company is currently following?
- Does the firm present ethical business behavior?
- How does this strategy compare to the one in the U.S.?
Apple’s iPhone 4: Great, But Needs New Network
June 28, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Three years ago, Apple wasn’t in the mobile phone business at all. Now, it’s rolling out the fourth generation of its game-changing iPhone. WSJ’s Walt Mossberg reviews the iPhone 4, which he says has a number of cool new features as well as a “big downside.”
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 06/22/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the improvements to the iPhone that are in this latest version?
- Do you think it represents good value for the price?
- What price do you think customers would be willing to pay for monthly data-plans at AT&T?
- Is the target customer mostly a consumer or business client?
- What other features would you like to see in your version of an ideal smartphone?
Google victorious in Viacom’s YouTube lawsuit
June 28, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: A federal judge has ruled in favor of Google Inc. in the company’s courtroom battle with Viacom Inc. over alleged copyright violations on Google’s YouTube video service.
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 06/23/2010
Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/google-victorious-in-viacoms-youtube-lawsuit-2010-06-23?siteid=nwtwk
Questions for discussion:
- What are the arguments that support YouTube’s legal position?
- Do you think YouTube will change the way it distributes copyrighted files in the future?
- How does YouTube make money?
- Do you think they will change this strategy in the future?
In Price War, E-Readers Go Below $200
June 28, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: A price war is brewing in the growing market for electronic reading devices.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 06/21/2010
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/technology/22reader.html?src=busln
Questions for discussion:
- Do you agree with the analysis of this report?
- Is there a market for a single-application device?
- Who are the customers in this market?
- What price would be appropriate for the device?
- Can you envision these devises being given away with the purchase or subscription of ebooks?
Vancouver’s Real Estate Bubble Trouble
June 28, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Brokers are rock stars, cabbies flip condos, and shacks are going for $1 million
Source: Businessweek.com
Date: 06/24/2010
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_27/b4185064551500.htm
Questions for discussion:
Summarize the arguments presented that explain real estate price movements in Vancouver.
- Do you think a bubble is forming?
- What might trigger prices to fall?
- Do you think that any of the economic and banking differences that exist in U.S. and Canada significantly affect the real estate markets in each country?
- What is the primary factor that determines the value of real estate in any location?
- How important are interest rates in predicting real estate prices?
BP CEO testifies on Capital Hill
June 21, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Description: CNN’s Larry King and his panel discuss BP chief executive officer Tony Hayward’s testimony on Capitol Hill.
Source: CNN.com – video report
Date: 06/18/2010
Link: http://cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2010/06/18/lkl.bp.hearing.discussion.cnn
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the main arguments presented by the panel in this discussion about the appropriation of “blame” for the oil spill and its aftermath.
- What is your view of corporate and government responsibility in this matter?
- Do you believe that President Obama was correct in his handling of BP?
- Are there any longer term ramifications for the industry now that this ecological disaster has occurred?
- How might you expect oil companies and governments behave in the future?
digits: RIM’s New BlackBerries to Rival iPhone
June 21, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Research In Motion is readying a slate of new devices and software as it looks to keep its BlackBerry smartphone from losing more ground to touch-screen devices like Apple’siPhone and iPad. Sarah Silver has details
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 06/15/2010
Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/digits-rim-new-blackberries-to-rival-iphone/5F6246E6-807D-4322-81E8-51A551F1F935
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think “everyone” will eventually own their own smartphone?
- Do you think there will continue to be a distinction between brands such as RIM and Apple or will all competitors eventually offer models for the business and consumer markets?
- As for the segment on virtual currency, can you think of any other ways that game developers can generate revenues?
- Who is the target market for virtual currency?
- How big a market do you think these people are in terms of supporting the free-access games?
Nestle to Sail Amazon Rivers to Reach Consumers
June 21, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Nestle SA will begin sailing a supermarket barge down two Amazon river tributaries tomorrow as it competes with Unilever to reach emerging-market customers cut off from branded goods.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 06/17/2010
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aBCeN4ZitvSg
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think this distribution strategy works?
- Is there anything unethical in bringing consumer goods to these customers in this way?
- What other products or services could be successful in these emerging markets?
Potato Power – Yissum Introduces Potato Batteries for Use in the Developing World
June 21, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Description: Yissum Research Development Company Ltd., the technology transfer arm of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, introduces solid organic electric battery based upon treated potatoes. This simple, sustainable, robust device can potentially provide an immediate inexpensive solution to electricity needs in parts of the world lacking electrical infrastructure. The findings were published in the June issue of the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy and are featured in this week’s Research Highlights section of Nature
Source: BusinessWire.com
Date: 06/17/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Since energy supply is critical for economic development, how would this technological development impact developing regions around the world?
- From an ethical point of view, how should this technology be developed and distributed around the world?
Plus-Size Revelation: Big Women Have Cash, Too
June 21, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Corseted into a size 18 white denim dress, wearing heels that made her about 6-foot-2, Gwen DeVoe, a former model and fashion-show producer, stepped onto a runway in Manhattan this week and made a pitch to retailers for the plus-size woman.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 06/18/2010
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/business/19plus.html?ref=business
Questions for discussion:
- What are the reasons for the growth of this segment of the fashion market?
- Would you approach the marketing to this segment of customers differently from the way other segments are handled?
- Do you believe brands are as significant to this market of customers as they are for other segments?
- How would you handle the cost/price issue for these clothes?
