Boone & Kurtz Contemporary Business Weekly Updates » Business Ethics and Social Responsibility (p32) http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com Discussion Topics for Today's Classroom Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:05:40 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Surfer’s calendar site gives back http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/surfers-calendar-site-gives-back/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/surfers-calendar-site-gives-back/#comments Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:05:39 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1416 Description: Custom calendar site CalendarLink.org raises funds and spreads awareness for the California Surf Life Saving Association.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 12/22/2010

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/22/n_cc_tides_of_giving.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • How is this business socially responsible?
  • Who are the target customers?
  • What makes this business service unique?
  • Describe the product strategy and how the Internet allows for customization to match local customer needs.
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/27/surfers-calendar-site-gives-back/feed/ 0 Long road from Wall St. to jeweler http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/20/long-road-from-wall-st-to-jeweler/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/20/long-road-from-wall-st-to-jeweler/#comments Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:05:43 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1398 Description: A laid off banker now designs jewelry after having a difficult time getting a job retraining grant.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 12/16/2010

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/15/n_job_retraining_jewelry.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • What are the arguments for and against training for another career after losing one’s job?
  • Do you think the person profiled in this report made the “right” decision?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/20/long-road-from-wall-st-to-jeweler/feed/ 0 Seattle stadiums greener than grass http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/seattle-stadiums-greener-than-grass/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/seattle-stadiums-greener-than-grass/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:05:33 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1364 Description: Qwest Field and the ShoWare Center are two of the most energy efficient stadiums in sports. See how they do it.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 12/03/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/02/n_green_seattle_sports.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • Is the effort to “go green” paying these businesses back more than the money saved in operating expenses?
  • Why is this socially responsible behavior?
  • Is this a good way to educate the broader society?
  • What other socially responsible behaviors could be developed by these businesses?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/12/06/seattle-stadiums-greener-than-grass/feed/ 0 Pirate Bay appeal falls on deaf ears http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/29/pirate-bay-appeal-falls-on-deaf-ears/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/29/pirate-bay-appeal-falls-on-deaf-ears/#comments Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:01:57 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1336 Description: In another blow to online file-sharing, a Swedish appeals court upheld on Friday the copyright convictions of three of the four founders of The Pirate Bay–perhaps the world’s most well-known and notorious file-sharing Web site.

Source: CNET.com
 
Date: 11/26/2010

Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20023915-93.html

Questions for discussion: 

  • What are the legal and ethical issues surrounding file-sharing?
  • Do you agree with the comment made in the article suggesting that file-sharing will be finished in a couple of years?
  • What drives file-sharing?
  • What solutions are available to copyright holders?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/29/pirate-bay-appeal-falls-on-deaf-ears/feed/ 0 Israeli Biotechs Find Partners in Ohio http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/22/israeli-biotechs-find-partners-in-ohio/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/22/israeli-biotechs-find-partners-in-ohio/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:02:39 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1324 Description: Government incentives and an Ohio venture capital fund focused on Israel have drawn Israeli entrepreneurs to a state with top research clinics and a flourishing health-care industry.

Source:  Businessweek.com

Date: 11/18/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/nov2010/sb20101117_584843.htm?chan=smallbiz_special+report+–+focus+on+entrepreneurs+november+2010_special+report+–+focus+on+entrepreneurs+november+2010

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the reasons motivating these parties to collaborate in this effort?
  • What are the basic benefits for each party?
  • What other types of technologies would likely find international collaboration for the same reasons?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/22/israeli-biotechs-find-partners-in-ohio/feed/ 0 Start a small biz with $500 http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/15/start-a-small-biz-with-500/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/15/start-a-small-biz-with-500/#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:04:07 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1315 Description: Tweezerman founder Dal LaMagna says his company grew by being frugal with money and keeping stakeholders interests at heart.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
 
Date: 11/11/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2010/11/11/sbiz_tweezerman_dal_lamagna_500_dollars.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • Explain the global success of this game?
  • What does its success suggest about consumer behavior?
  • What need does this product satisfy for consumers?
  • How do you explain the appeal of Monopoly in this age of electronic gadgetry?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/15/start-a-small-biz-with-500/feed/ 0 A Pistachio Farmer, Pom Wonderful, and the FTC http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/15/a-pistachio-farmer-pom-wonderful-and-the-ftc/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/15/a-pistachio-farmer-pom-wonderful-and-the-ftc/#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:02:14 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1309 Description: California philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick own a pistachio empire twice the size of Sacramento. Now they’re facing lawsuits over water control and the health claims of Pom Wonderful.

Source:  Businessweek.com

Date: 11/11/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_47/b4204068352545.htm

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the business, legal, and moral issues in this report?
  • Who do you side with in this argument? Explain your reasoning?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/15/a-pistachio-farmer-pom-wonderful-and-the-ftc/feed/ 0 75 years later, Monopoly rolls on http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/08/75-years-later-monopoly-rolls-on/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/08/75-years-later-monopoly-rolls-on/#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:05:00 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1299 Description: A special look inside the Monopoly factory as the legendary board game celebrates its 75th anniversary. 

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
 
Date: 11/05/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/11/05/n_monopoly_birthday_factory.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • Explain the global success of Monopoly?
  • What does its success suggest about consumer behavior?
  • What need does this product satisfy for consumers?
  • How do you explain the appeal of Monopoly in this age of electronic gadgetry?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/08/75-years-later-monopoly-rolls-on/feed/ 0 Chasing Pirates: Inside Microsoft’s War Room http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/08/chasing-pirates-inside-microsoft%e2%80%99s-war-room/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/08/chasing-pirates-inside-microsoft%e2%80%99s-war-room/#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:03:45 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1292 Description:  AS the sun rose over the mountains circling Los Reyes, a town in the Mexican state of Michoacán, one morning in March 2009, a caravan of more than 300 heavily armed law enforcement agents set out on a raid.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 11/06/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/technology/07piracy.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize how Microsoft deals with piracy?
  • Why is fighting piracy so important to Microsoft?
  • What are the criticisms of this strategy?
  • What are the ethical and social issues related to piracy?
  • Are there alternative strategies for the firm to follow that would solve the problem?
]]> http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/08/chasing-pirates-inside-microsoft%e2%80%99s-war-room/feed/ 0 Bitten by a billion dollar industry http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/01/bitten-by-a-billion-dollar-industry/ http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/2010/11/01/bitten-by-a-billion-dollar-industry/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 10:05:25 +0000 Brahm Canzer http://contemporarybusinessupdates.com/?p=1283 Description: Stephen Woolley, producer of “Interview with a Vampire,” talks about why we love horror, the supernatural and vampires.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
 
Date: 10/29/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/10/29/n_vampires_halloween.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • Explain the global success of this genre of film and publishing business.
  • Do you agree with the analysis presented in the video?
  • What other genres seem to have international and universal appeal to consumers around the world?
  • Are there commonalities that these products seem to share?
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