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… Read more »
Monthly Archives: June 2010
Apple’s iPhone 4: Great, But Needs New Network
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… Read more »
Google victorious in Viacom’s YouTube lawsuit
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… Read more »
In Price War, E-Readers Go Below $200
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… Read more »
Vancouver’s Real Estate Bubble Trouble
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… Read more »
BP CEO testifies on Capital Hill
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… Read more »
digits: RIM’s New BlackBerries to Rival iPhone
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… Read more »
Nestle to Sail Amazon Rivers to Reach Consumers
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… Read more »
Potato Power – Yissum Introduces Potato Batteries for Use in the Developing World
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… Read more »
Plus-Size Revelation: Big Women Have Cash, Too
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… Read more »
