A Look Inside a Hedge Fund’s Black-Box Trading
July 19, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: A hedge fund started by four young math wizards is using a branch of artificial intelligence, called “computer learning,” to make investment decisions. Rebellion Research’s four, 20-something-year-old partners explain how their computer program “thinks” up their strategy.
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 07/13/2010
Questions for discussion:
- What do you think of the concept of a “learning-based artificial intelligence software program” that determines investing decisions?
- How different is this business model than others presented to investors?
- Would you be inclined to invest funds with this firm because of their approach?
- Why do you think some investors would be inclined not to invest with them because of their model?
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?
Online video saves business big bucks
Description: Web-conferencing software and cheap digital video cameras are reducing the need for costly business travel.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 03/04/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2010/03/04/tm_video_conference.fortune/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the arguments presented favouring the growth of online video.
- What are the reasons for consumer use of online video?
- How does this compare to business market use of online video?
- Which market do you believe will grow faster?
- How does this product compare to the adoption of cell-phone technology?
Gordon Ramsay Flees Kitchen as TV Fame Saves Restaurant Empire
December 14, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: On a gray morning in October, Gordon Ramsay bursts into the kitchen of his south London house, pop music blaring from the radio. At the heart of the room stands a 67,000-pound ($109,000) French cooking range that weighs 2.5 tons and had to be lowered by crane into the celebrity chef’s home.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 12/11/2009
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aRE.WJ51Hq2s
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think Ramsay is a typical entrepreneur? Explain your answer.
- How is he different? Explain your answer.
- Summarize the reasons for the risk of bankruptcy.
- How did Ramsay fix the problem?
Credit card usury bill coming soon in House
November 30, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Several congressional Democrats said on Wednesday they plan to introduce legislation next week to cap credit card interest rates.
Source: Reuters.com
Date: 11/25/2009
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5AO4ZO20091125
Questions for discussion:
- What the arguments for and against regulating credit card interest rates?
- Do you believe rates should be regulated? Explain your answer.
- What are the likely consequences of a more highly regulated credit card industry for the consumer and for the banks?
Exxon Mobil earnings plunge 68%
November 2, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Exxon Mobil reported a 68% decline in third-quarter earnings Thursday as oil and natural gas prices tumbled from last year’s highs.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 10/29/2009
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/29/news/companies/exxon_mobil/index.htm?postversion=2009102912
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the current financial situation for the firm.
- Do you think investors will punish the company stock? Explain your answer.
- How has the stock reacted in comparison to the rest of the stock market? Explain your answer.
U.S. Companies’ Electronic-Discovery Spending Tripled in 2009
October 26, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: Budgets for managing electronic data tripled this year at average-sized U.S. companies, according to a study, as businesses braced for an influx of lawsuits stemming from a recession that’s been partly blamed on fraud.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 10/20/2009
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a_qD_YdAZA7o
Questions for discussion:
- Why is spending in this area increasing so drastically?
- How important is this problem from a legal, ethical, and managerial point of view?
- Do you think managers will deal differently with electronic information such as email in the future? Explain your answer.
Next great Windows OS?
Description: Windows 7 is drawing rave reviews, but can Microsoft parlay the momentum into its other products?
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 10/13/2009
Keys: Marketing (p388), New product development (p420), Management (p252)
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2009/10/13/tt_windows_7_ballmer_microsoft.fortune/
Questions for discussion:
- What do you think Microsoft’s future looks like, especially in terms of new products?
- Do you agree with the criticisms of Microsoft’s management since Bill Gates left active decision-making of the firm? Explain your answer.
Wal-Mart vs. Amazon: Fight is on for book sales
October 19, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: The world’s largest retailer launches a price war against the Web’s premier bookseller as the crucial holiday sales period looms.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 10/16/2009
Keys: Marketing (p387), Economy (p66)
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/16/news/companies/walmart_amazon_books/index.htm?postversion=2009101617
Questions for discussion:
- Who do you think will win this battle for customers? Explain your answer.
- Why is price so important in this situation?
- Are the target markets that each company appeals to the same? Explain your answer.
- How is buyer behavior important to understanding this story?
Google sparks e-books fight with Kindle
October 19, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
Description: Google plans to launch an online store to deliver electronic books to any device with a Web browser, threatening to upset a burgeoning market for dedicated e-readers dominated by Amazon’s Kindle.
Source: Reuters.com
Date: 10/16/2009
Keys: Competing in world markets (p100), Marketing (p387)
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE59E28H20091016
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think Google’s strategy will work?
- Does Google’s strategy have any competitive advantage over the competition? Explain your answer.
