Innovation, by Order of the Kremlin
April 12, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
Description: AROUND the time that Apple Computer was making it big in California, Andrey Shtorkh was getting a first-hand look at the Soviet approach to high tech: he guarded the fence keeping scientists inside Sverdlovsk-45, one of the country’s secret scientific cities, deep in the Ural Mountains.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: 04/10/2010
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/business/global/11russia.html?ref=business
Questions for discussion:
- What does this article suggest about changing attitudes towards business and entrepreneurialism in Russia?
- Do you believe the movement described here is genuine and sustainable?
Buffett’s $50 million credit card blunder
March 1, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Peddling credit cards isn’t so easy that a caveman can do it. That seems to be the conclusion Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA, Fortune 500) chief executive Warren Buffett reluctantly reached last year, when he shut down a money-losing credit card business he had dreamed up for Berkshire’s Geico car-insurance unit.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 02/27/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/27/news/companies/berkshire.geico.fortune/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- Explain the failure of this product?
- Does this article suggest that Warren Buffett might be a better financial analyst than a marketing expert?
GM’s chief gets $9 million
February 22, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
Description: General Motors chairman and chief executive, Ed Whitacre, Jr. will receive a compensation package worth $9 million, the automaker said Friday.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 02/19/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/19/news/companies/GM_salary/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- Do you believe this compensation is appropriate in light of GM’s history and connection to TARP?
- Do you believe there can be negative reaction from employees or customers because of the compensation?
Stop blaming Big Business
February 1, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
Description: The top-grossing movie in the world, Avatar, is on screens now, and it clearly identifies the most evil force in the universe. It’s business.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 01/29/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/28/news/economy/business_populism.fortune/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- Do you agree with the argument presented by the reporter?
- Do believe attitudes toward “big business” have changes because of the crisis?
- What are the possible consequences for the management if they have?
Yahoo CEO Gives Herself B-Minus Grade in First Year
January 11, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
Description: Carol Bartz gives herself a B-minus in her first year as chief executive officer of Yahoo! Inc., saying she could have moved faster to reorganize the company and strike a Web-search agreement with Microsoft Corp.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Date: 01/08/2010
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a.Nuu2H6FSPY
Questions for discussion:
- How would you grade Carol Bartz and Yahoo!? Explain your thinking.
- Are you optimistic about the future for Yahoo!? Explain your thinking.
More top job changes at GM
December 7, 2009 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
Description: Lutz taken out of marketing role, head of engineering becomes president of GM North America.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 12/04/2009
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/04/autos/gm_management_changes/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- What do you think is motivating the many management changes taking place at GM? Explain your thinking.
- Do you think the changes are seen as positive developments for the firm by customers or investors? Explain your thinking.
Steve Jobs – CEO of the Decade
Description: Apple’s CEO is Fortune’s top business leader of the last 10 years for his impact on computing, movies, music and cell phones.
Source: CNNMoney – video report
Date: 11/04/2009
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2009/11/04/tt_steve_jobs_apple_ceo.fortune/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the contribution made by Steve Jobs to Apple?
- What motivational role has Jobs played as CEO at Apple?
- Do you think Apple would have been as successful without Jobs? 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.
