Small business: Stop ignoring us!
September 13, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Business owners from across the U.S. say the government should clarify its stance on taxes and do more to help them.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 09/08/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/09/08/n_small_business_owners.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the comments made by the small business owners in this report.
- Do you agree with their positions?
- Why are manufacturing jobs so important for overall economic performance?
- What do you believe is the difference between “fair” and “free” trade?
- How could trade be made fairer?
- What role should government play to help small businesses?
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?
Learning to Milk a Profit
August 16, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Tired of working at Deloitte, an Iceland native dedicated himself to making yogurt
Source: Businessweek.com
Date: 08/12/2010
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_34/b4192095592773.htm
Questions for discussion:
- What were the common entrepreneurial characteristics in this report?
- What message about motivation and success can be derived from this story?
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?
Busted iPhone? Call the ‘doctor’
July 12, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: A New Yorker runs a lucrative business fixing broken iPhones for about half of what Apple charges.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 07/08/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/07/07/n_broken_iphone_fixer.cnnmoney/
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you think these iPhone customers risk using the services of the ‘doctor’ rather than traditional Apple repair services?
- What does this story tell you about the way to entrepreneurial success?
- How successful would this enterprise be if the cost of repair or replacement was lower?
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?
Why Coca-Cola succeeds in Africa
June 28, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: Former CEO Neville Isdell explains that the franchise system makes business owners in Africa feel more invested in the company.
Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
Date: 06/26/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/06/26/f_gf_coke_africa.fortune/
Questions for discussion:
- What are the reasons presented that explain Coca-Cola’s success in Africa?
- Do you agree with the explanation?
- Are there other reasons that might explain its success?
- Would you change any strategies the company is currently following?
- Does the firm present ethical business behavior?
- How does this strategy compare to the one in the U.S.?
Small businesses don’t see recovery panning out: NFIB
April 19, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Description: U.S. small-business owners were more pessimistic in March than in February, according to a survey of companies released Tuesday by the National Federation of Independent Businesses
Source: Marketwatch.com
Date: 04/13/2010
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the reasons given for the small business owners’ pessimism about economic recovery.
- Do you think this sentiment matters? If so, in which ways?
Why a $14/hour employee costs $20
March 29, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources
Description: You probably cost your boss a lot more than you think you do.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 03/26/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/26/smallbusiness/employee_costs/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- In general, do you think these taxes (costs) are fair to employers and employees?
- Why would any exemptions for employment taxes be considered an unfair competitive subsidy by other businesses who must continue to pay?
- Is there a better way to pay for entitlement programs delivered by governments and still help stimulate hiring?
A fresh (and cheap!) sound for TV soundtracks
March 8, 2010 by Brahm Canzer
Filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management
Description: Like many aspiring rock stars, Jared Gutstadt, 32, used to split his life in half. He held down a day job editing television shows for clients like Disney, MTV and VH1. He kept his nights free for what he really wanted to do: make music.
Source: CNNMoney.com
Date: 03/02/2010
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/02/smallbusiness/jingle_punks/index.htm
Questions for discussion:
- Explain the business model and why it works.
- How is this a good example of small business carving out a specialized niche in the online-search marketplace?
