Description: EADS, the parent company of Airbus, is using a new type of nylon that may revolutionize how planes are made. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 04/22/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/04/22/t_tt_powered_nylon.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Who are the target customers for this firm? How does consumer behavior affect development of new applications of this material? What other… Read more »
Monthly Archives: April 2011
E-book sales top print
Description: Forget Bookshelves. For the first time ever, electronic book sales in the U.S. have exceeded print versions. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 04/22/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/04/22/n_cmr_ebooks.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Why are ebooks growing in popularity among consumers as well as publishers and hardware manufacturers? Do you think the print-market will disappear eventually? How should… Read more »
Why Amazon’s cloud Titanic went down
Description: Amazon Web Services is the Titanic of cloud hosting, designed with backups to the backups’ backups that prevent hosted websites and applications from failing. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 04/22/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/22/technology/amazon_ec2_cloud_outage/index.htm Questions for discussion: Explain the design of cloud computing? Why would this appeal to both users and service providers? What do you think the… Read more »
Twelve Ways Leaders Fail New Managers
Description: When you place a colleague or a new hire into a management position, you’d better not abandon the poor soul. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 04/19/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/apr2011/ca2011044_047640.htm Questions for discussion: What are the lessons for managers in this report? Do you disagree with any? What other ways can leaders fail new managers?
At Swatch, an Enviable Problem: An Excess of Eager Customers for Its Products
Description: BASEL, Switzerland  Nick Hayek, the chief executive of the Swatch Group, is facing a problem many of his corporate counterparts might envy: he’s doing too much business. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 04/22/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/23/business/global/23swatch.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for the firm’s success? How should it deal with the current imbalance in production?… Read more »
Vinyl makes a comeback
Description: A record processing plant in Brooklyn, N.Y. is seeing business grow as sales of vinyl records outpace digital albums. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 04/15/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/04/15/sbiz_vinyl_comeback.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the reasons presented for the success of this business. Do you think vinyl can return to prominence and pose a threat to… Read more »
IPO Buzz: Zipcar Is In the Driver’s Seat
Description: Zipcar is set to price its shares and debut under the ticker “ZIP,” garnering much of the attention in a busy week for IPOs. How will the auto-rental firm fare in this high gas-price environment? Stacey Delo talks to MarketWatch’s Dan Gallagher. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 04/11/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/ipo-buzz-zipcar-is-in-the-driver-seat/D6AFAB30-A681-4E35-802D-59614665BE2F Questions for discussion:… Read more »
WET Design and the Improv Approach to Listening
Description: This interview with Mark Fuller, C.E.O. (which stands for chief excellence officer) of WET Design, was conducted and condensed byAdam Bryant. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 04/16/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/business/17corner.html?_r=1&ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the ideas presented for new ways to train and develop employees. Do you think any of them are particularly clever or foolish? How… Read more »
Amazon introduces cheaper Wi-Fi Kindle with ads
Description: Amazon.com is slashing $25 off the price of a new Wi-Fi-only Kindle electronic reader. The catch: to get a Kindle for a new low price of a $114, you must purchase a version with sponsored screensaver ads and special offers. In all other respects, the new Kindle is identical to the Kindle now selling… Read more »
The Granddaddy of All Bubbles?
Description: World markets are frothing like shaken Champagne, and doomsayers argue that today’s bubbles need to be deflated now before they get dangerously large. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 04/14/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_17/b4225058281366.htm Question for discussion: What does this report have to say about the formation of financial bubbles? How does Didier Sornette’s model relate to recent events?
