Disney bets big on Avengers and wins

Description: Disney CEO Bob Iger says a growing number of silver screens across the globe is helping drive the success of ‘The Avengers.’

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 09, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/05/09/n-co-avengers-iger.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussion:

  • What are the reasons for the success of this film and the company as a whole?
  • How are global marketing strategies becoming more important to the firm’s success?

 

Integrated Marketing: If You Knew It, You’d Do It

Description: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, is such a cliché that it has spawned its own cliché: If it ain’t broke, break it. Unfortunately, that’s just what many companies do unwittingly to their branding programs, playing into the hands of public enemy No. 1 in today’s marketing environment: fragmentation.

Source: Busineweek.com

Date: May 10, 2012

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-10/integrated-marketing-if-you-knew-it-youd-do-it

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the fundamental strategic issue addressed in this article?
  • How does the author suggest it can be resolved? Do you agree?

 

J.P. Morgan shares slump after $2 bln trading loss

Description:  Bank’s loss is embarrassment for CEO, fodder for regulators

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: May 11, 2012

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jp-morgan-shares-slump-after-2b-trading-loss-2012-05-11?siteid=nwtwk  

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the reasons for the loss.
  • What do you believe this event will mean for the company, management, and regulators?

 

 

 

Toyota RAV4 EV: Will anyone buy it?

Description:   For anyone arguing recently that electric cars don’t stand a chance in the U.S. mass market, I would have offered one end-all example: the battery-powered Ford Focus at $40,000.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: May 11, 2012

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/toyota-rav4-ev-will-anyone-buy-it-2012-05-11

Questions for Discussions:

  • Who do you think is the likely customer for this product?
  • Is there a global customer?
  • How could Toyota rationalize the price gap between the electric and gas models?

 

Why Delta is buying an oil refinery

Description: Delta Air Lines tries to take out the middle man by purchasing a Pennsylvania oil refinery, but it could prove to be a risky investment.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 01, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/05/01/n-delta-oil-refinery.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussion:

  • Why did Delta do this?
  • What are the risks?
  • Do you think it was a good decision?

 

Groupon, the Deal That Keeps Getting Cheaper

Description: Is Groupon (GRPN) too good of a deal to be true?

Source: Busineweek.com

Date: May 01, 2012

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-01/groupon-the-deal-that-keeps-getting-cheaper

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the views expressed in this report.
  • Why has the stock value fallen?
  • Do you believe the stock will move up, down or stay the same over the next year?

 

The ‘Smartphone Class’: Always On, Always Consuming Content

Description: Consuming content in frequent, small portions means more touchpoints for marketers

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: May 02, 2012

Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1009014&ecid=a6506033675d47f881651943c21c5ed4

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize behaviors of smart phone users.
  • Do you think these behaviors will become common across all users?
  • How should business strategists who distribute mobile content deal with this research?

 

7 signs of a dysfunctional boss

Description: (MoneyWatch) COMMENTARY I’m going to go out on a limb here and say the word “dysfunctional” probably describes more people than the word “normal” does. When it comes to CEOs and executives, it’s almost certainly true.

Source: CBSNews.com

Date: April 25, 2012

Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57420393/7-signs-of-a-dysfunctional-boss/?tag=nl.e857

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the descriptions of CEOs presented in the report.
  • Do you believe they are accurate?
  • Do you agree with the reasoning presented by the author?

 

 

Shocker! Apple makes billions

Description:  Strong global iPhone sales helped Apple beat expectations, as usual. Doubters beware – it’s hard to hate on AAPL.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 04/25/2012

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/04/25/mkts-bz-apple-iphone.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the financial results and the reasons there is surprise.
  • Do you see an end for the current success of Apple?

Put Down the Smartphone and Pick Up a Pencil

Description:  Put down that smartphone; pick up that pencil. Employees are being encouraged by their companies to try visual note-taking to explain complicated concepts to colleagues and clients. Rachel Silverman explains on The News Hub. Photo: Getty Images.

Source: Marketwatch – video report

Date: 04/24/2012

Linkhttp://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/put-down-the-smartphone-and-pick-up-a-pencil/784F0652-2269-4061-A5CF-607A22F06B01

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the highlights of the report.
  • What do you think of these ideas?
  • How do you think management and employees would react to a guided shift over to non-technical devices?
  • Where would this shift make a great deal of sense?

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