WhatsApp with Facebook’s $19B offer?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Facebook’s biggest deal ever. Why is Mark Zuckerberg paying $19 Billion for messaging app WhatsApp? Laurie Segall reports. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Feb 19, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/02/19/t-facebook-whatsapp-19-billion.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: How did Facebook go about evaluating WhatsApp? Do you believe it was a good deal for both sides? How can this acquisition… Read more »

Groupon needs a group hug

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Daily deal site Groupon is finding it hard to compete with Amazon and eBay. A better social media and marketing strategy might help too. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Feb 21, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/02/21/investing-the-buzz-groupon-social-media-amazon.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Why has the stock value dropped? What is the new direction management is trying to take… Read more »

Why Hollywood Struggles to Quickly Clone Animated Hits

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Description: With the runaway success of Disney’s (DIS) Frozen and the explosive opening of Warner Bros.’s (TWX) The Lego Movie, animated films have had a great run in recent months. When a live-action movie becomes a big hit, it’s not long before imitators—both real and imagined—show up on the horizon. Doing the same in the animation world… Read more »

Instagram Captures Higher Interaction Rates than Facebook

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Description: Nearly nine in 10 brands use the photo- and video-sharing service Source: eMarketer.com Date: Feb 21, 2014 Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Instagram-Captures-Higher-Interaction-Rates-than-Facebook/1010627#hshocIZVCAPpIL5d.99 Questions for discussion: What does the report say about interactions on various social sites? Why do you think interactions on Instagram are outstanding?

Does entrepreneurial experience guarantee future startup success? Not really, study says

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Description: Over the course of my career, I’ve encountered many self-described “serial entrepreneurs” — those who have made a career path out of launching new ventures, then moving on to the next. While the people I’ve met appear to have had strings of apparent successes, is entrepreneurial experience a predictor of future success? Source: SmartPlanet.com… Read more »

VW’s Passat, made in Tennessee

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Description: Take a tour of Volkswagen’s $1 billion plant that opened in Chattanooga, TN. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Feb 12, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/02/12/n-volkswagen-vw-plant-tennessee.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What are the main considerations for where to locate a car plant such as the one illustrated in the report? Why do other businesses typically decide to… Read more »

Comcast’s future for your TV

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Description: Comcast shows off new technology that allows you click a link in tweet, and have a show start playing instantly on your TV or mobile device. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Feb 14, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/02/14/t-comcast-twitter.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: How is social media going to change consumer viewing behavior? How will this technology… Read more »

Sales of Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish Show We’re All Still 11 Sometimes

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Description: America’s kids are still sweet on gummies. Mondel?z International (MDLZ) reported “double-digit gains” in dollar sales of the great movie theater concession stand classics Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish in North America in 2013. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Feb 14, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-14/sales-of-sour-patch-kids-and-swedish-fish-show-were-all-still-11-sometimes#r=hpt-ls Questions for discussion: Why do you think the company has done… Read more »

Millennials Use Different Social Networks to Post, Buy Different Product Types

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Description: Those influenced by Facebook are more likely to take an omnichannel approach Source: eMarketer.com Date: Feb 14, 2014 Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Millennials-Use-Different-Social-Networks-Post-Buy-Different-Product -Types/1010609#l1PHMCG8eWAmgSHc.99 Questions for Discussions: Summarize the key research findings in this report. Explain this consumer behavior.