Fiat’s New Uphill Climb in the U.S.

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Description:  With the 500 subcompact, it makes an auspicious return to the States—but it’s a crowded market Source: Businessweek.com   Date: 11/04/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_46/b4203024823719.htm Questions for discussion:  Why is there concern about the potential success of Fiat in the American auto market? What does Fiat have going for it as it tries to establish itself?… Read more »

Bitten by a billion dollar industry

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management.

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… Read more »

Pogue: Six Factors for Highly Unsuccessful Products

Posted by & filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  At the FailCon 2010 conference in San Francisco, New York Times technology columnist David Pogue identifies the stumbling blocks to success. Source:  BNET.com – video report   Date: 10/27/2010 Link: http://www.bnet.com/videos/pogue-six-factors-for-highly-unsuccessful-products/479076 Questions for discussion:  Do you agree with the explanations provided in the video? Provide one additional example that illustrates each of the errors… Read more »

Windows Phone 7 ‘Really’ Ad Sends the Wrong Message

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Description:  This clever ad campaign obscures Microsoft’s core Windows Phone message: This isn’t Windows Mobile. Source: PCMag.com   Date: 10/29/2010 Link: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371747,00.asp  Questions for discussion: After watching the advertisement that is embedded in the article, do you agree with the criticism made? Analyze the message sent to the audience watching the advertisement. Who is the… Read more »

Pontiac, 84, Dies of Indifference

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Description:  Pontiac, the brand that invented the muscle car under its flamboyant engineer John Z. DeLorean, helped Burt Reynolds elude Sheriff Justice in “Smokey and the Bandit” and taught baby boomers to salivate over horsepower, but produced mostly forgettable cars for their children, will endure a lonely death on Sunday after about 40 million in… Read more »

Monster roars. Good news for jobs?

Posted by & filed under Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: The job market may not exactly be healthy. Unemployment is still relatively high around the country and those who have been out of work a long time are really struggling to find permanent, well-paying jobs. Source:  CNNMoney.com Date: 10/29/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/29/news/economy/thebuzz/index.htm Questions for discussion: How does Monster.com  use technology to attract business away from… Read more »