digits: Oracle Takes Sweeping Shot at Google
August 16, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Oracle Corp. has sued Google Inc. for patent and copyright infringement, on grounds that Google’s Android OS violates Java copyrights. The suit has sent shockwaves throughout Silicon Valley. WSJ’s Don Clark explains the possible implications of the suit to Simon Constable and Jennifer Valentino-DeVries. Also: are more TV shows and movies coming to the iPad – via the cable companies?
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 08/13/2010
Questions for discussion:
- What are the financial implications for other firms if Google settles on a royalty payment schedule with Oracle?
- How will Google and Oracle be financially affected?
- On the second item, how do you think televisions shows will be distributed in the future?
- How much market share do you think the cable companies will be able to hold on to in comparison to those firms selling through wifi devices?
Eyeglasses for the world’s poorest
August 16, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Description: The micro-consignment model provides local vendors in remote regions with essential products for resale to the community.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 08/13/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/08/13/n_cc_microconsignment_model.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- How is micro-consignment different from micro-finance?
- Which one do you believe is superior for encouraging economic development?
- How is micro-consignment similar to more familiar network marketing approaches like Amway and Avon?
Hewlett-Packard’s battered culture
August 16, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
Description: Founders’ folksy approach became guiding principle for other companies
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 08/09/2010
Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/h-p-known-for-its-culture-in-yet-another-scandal-2010-08-09?siteid=nwtwk
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you think H-P has had so much trouble with its recent CEOs?
- Do you think H-P will be hurt by this recent problem in terms of management recruitment of other employees, motivation, control, and so forth?
- Is there something that H-P could do to prevent any future damage by executives?
Learning to Milk a Profit
August 16, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Tired of working at Deloitte, an Iceland native dedicated himself to making yogurt
Source: Businessweek.com
Date: 08/12/2010
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_34/b4192095592773.htm
Questions for discussion:
- What were the common entrepreneurial characteristics in this report?
- What message about motivation and success can be derived from this story?
Detroit Goes From Gloom to Economic Bright Spot
August 16, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: After a dismal period of huge losses and deep cuts that culminated in the Obama administration’s bailout of General Motors and Chrysler, the gloom over the American auto industry is starting to lift.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 08/13/2010
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/business/14auto.html?ref=business
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the key points presented in the article.
- Are you optimistic that the US auto industry will experience a long period of economic recovery?
- What are the global factors that are continuing to challenge the auto industry domestically and internationally?
- How do you think the industry should respond to these challenges?
digits: Will Torch Fire Up BlackBerry?
August 9, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Research In Motion just unveiled its first BlackBerry touchscreen device with a slide-out keyboard and featuring its much-anticipated BlackBerry OS 6 software. Lauren Goode, Spencer Ante and George Stahl have details and analysis.
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 08/03/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the comments made about RIM’s new Blackberry Torch.
- Do you agree with the analysis?
- Is the target market for smart phones converging into one indistingusiable form aimed at both business people and consumers?
- How would you market the Torch?
- How would you expect Apple to react to the introduction of the Torch?
- On the second item in the report, do you believe there is a greater amount of competition in the epublishing and eretailing arena?
- Do you think there is a rush to the lowest market price for ebooks?
Building literacy around the world
August 9, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Description: Room to Read has built over 10,000 libraries around the world using big business practices and social networking.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 07/30/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/08/06/n_cc_room_to_read.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Why is literacy a fundamental pillar of economic development?
- How is the development of literacy skills going to help businesses profit in the future?
- Do you believe that businesses that support John Wood’s effort are motivated by altruistic goals alone?
- How can social networking help with fundraising?
- How else can social networking sites help through publicizing this not-for profit global organization and effort?
Teen stores lead declines among disappointing July sales
August 9, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: With teen unemployment at triple the rate of the already high national average and consumer confidence at its lowest level since February, retail chains posted disappointing July sales numbers, signaling that promotions may intensify for the pivotal back-to-school selling period.
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 08/05/2010
Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/teen-stores-pace-retailers-july-sales-shortfall-2010-08-05?siteid=nwtwk
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you think sales have fallen in these stores?
- Would lowering prices be a good strategy?
- What else could these retailers do besides lower prices?
- Do you think teens could be shopping, but not at these particular retailers?
From Kenmore, Talking Washers and Dryers
August 9, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
Description: They’ll explain their problems via phone—and, the company hopes, result in vastly more efficient service.
Source: Businessweek.com
Date: 08/05/2010
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_33/b4191023607461.htm
Questions for discussion:
- How can the manufacturers justify the additional cost of this technology?
- What are the benefits received by the companies and their customers?
- Should manufacturers emphasize this technology as an integral part of their products?
- Which customers would be most affected knowing this technology is built into their appliances?
But Will It Make You Happy?
August 9, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: How you spend has a greater effect on your happiness than how much you spend, researchers say.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 08/07/2010
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/business/08consume.html?ref=business
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the key points presented in the article.
- Do you think there is an emerging trend among consumers to reject the levels of consumption that would seem normal to most of us today?
- Why do you suppose consumers behave the way that they do?
