Ideas Wanted: Multinationals Open Doors to Entrepreneurs
August 30, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Giants such as GE and PepsiCo are sponsoring competitions that let startups strut their stuff.
Source: Businessweek.com
Date: 08/26/2010
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/aug2010/sb20100825_281270.htm
Questions for discussion:
- Why does this open-door approach work well for both parties?
- How is this good for customers?
- What are the benefits for the economy as a whole?
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?
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?
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?
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?
BP chooses Dudley, an American, to turn its fortunes around
Description: BP’s new chief executive, Robert Dudley, is an industry veteran with wide-ranging qualifications, but it was his American passport as much as his in-depth knowledge of Russia and his green credentials that sealed the deal for the board.
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 07/27/2010
Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bp-appoints-robert-dudley-as-new-ceo-2010-07-27?siteid=nwtwk
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you suppose a new chief executive was chosen?
- Do you agree with the claim that Robert Dudley was chosen as much for his passport as for his other credentials?
- Do you think this decision will make any difference in the public perception of BP?
- What other steps would you recommend to BP to help mend fences in the US and globally?
- Do you think BP will financially recover from this experience?
- Would you be a buyer or seller of BP shares?
Dell and Intel: Big Tech behaving badly
July 26, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: Thursday’s $100 million settlement between Dell and the Securities and Exchange Commission was a reminder that the government is going after tech’s bad boys — and Intel is likely next on the feds’ list.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 07/23/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/23/technology/dell_intel/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the reasons for SEC actions against these firms?
- How would you expect investors to react to this news?
- Are the punishments appropriate?
A Wide-Open Market for Tesla
July 5, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Fresh off its successful IPO, electric car maker Tesla is finding a receptive market in Europe for its green technology. MarketWatch’s Shawn Langlois gets behind the wheel of the Tesla Roadster to see if it lives up to the hype.
Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
Date: 07/02/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Who is the target market for this vehicle?
- Do you think incentives from governments are needed to help sell this car to its target customer?
- Why do you think the company has introduced such an expensive model?
- What is the main feature that motivates buyers of this car?
Dell faces fresh threat from old PC failures
July 5, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Description: A six-year-old hardware meltdown that plagued millions of computers is coming back to haunt Dell.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 07/01/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/01/technology/dell_lawsuit/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- What did this problem “cost” Dell in terms of money, sales, customer loyalty, and brand image?
- What would you have recommended Dell do to handle the problem better in the first place?
- What would you recommend to Dell today to help mitigate the marketing damage?
BP Wants Partners to Help Shoulder Spill Cost
July 5, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Description: BP has said repeatedly that it will pay for the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But its actions show that it does not intend to go it alone.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 07/04/2010
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/us/05liability.html?ref=business
Questions for discussion:
- Who do you believe should be held financially responsible for the oil spill?
- What is your reaction to BP’s effort to share the costs with partners?
