Japan quake shakes up oil prices

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

Description:   The earthquake in Japan may not cause prices to plunge more Friday but the long-term impact on oil could be drastic Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/11/2011 Link:   http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/03/11/mkts_japan_quake_oil2.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  How does this incredible disaster in Japan connect to the international demand and price for oil? What are some of the… Read more »

BullHorn: SXSW: Who’ll be the best?

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

Description: Foursquare and Gowalla were big hits last year at the technology conference in Austin, Texas. Are they takeover targets now? Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/10/2011 Link:   http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/03/10/mkts_bh_sxsw_bsft_fnsr.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  Summarize the analysis presented about each company. Do you think any one of these companies has an advantage in the developing technologies… Read more »

Walt Mossberg Reviews the iPad 2

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description:  You already know the highlights of the new Apple iPad: thinner, lighter, faster. But how is it to use? Walt Mossberg shares the results of his testing of the iPad 2. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report   Date: 03/09/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/walt-mossberg-reviews-the-ipad-2/884A2E9D-C41F-4FAD-8C2E-37EEBFDB29A5 Questions for discussion:  Summarize the review of the new model? Do you believe… Read more »

Give Up Familiar Light Bulb? Not Without Fight, Some Say

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

Description: American protests against the encroachment of government have been spurred by many causes — tea, of course, and guns, frequently. The latest catalyst: light bulbs. Source:  NYTimes.com Date: 03/11/2011 Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/business/energy-environment/12bulb.html?ref=business Questions for discussion:  What do you think the issue really is in this report? Do you think government should engineer consumer behavior? Are… Read more »

4-Hour Guru, Tim Ferriss: “Don’t Focus on Personal Branding”

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

Description:  Tim Ferriss‘ first book, The 4-Hour Workweek, hit the bestseller lists in its first weeks of publication in 2007and has remained an influential and talked-about phenomenon ever since (as has Ferriss’ blog).   Memorably dubbed “part scientist and part adventure hunter,” Ferriss developed his manifesto for productivity and personal freedom from his early success as… Read more »

Moms go gaga for diaper bags

Posted by & filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: The founders of Skip Hop share how they became major players in the baby biz.  Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/04/2011 Link:      http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/03/03/smb_hwgs_skip_hop.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  What has made this start-up business successful? How unique are the products they produce and sell? What does this report tell you about entrepreneurial effort and the… Read more »

The U.S.’s tortoise vs. hare problem

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

Description: Gapminder.org’s Hans Gosling shows Fareed Zakaria how countries like China and Indonesia will pass the U.S. in key economic metrics. Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/04/2011 Link:   http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/03/04/n_gps_rosling2.cnnmoney/   Questions for discussion:  Summarize the analysis presented in this report. Do you agree that there is room enough in the upper sector of the… Read more »

Ben Silverman, Advertainer

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

Description:  The TV dealmaker is selling a new entertainment vision in which advertising and content are inextricably mixed. Is anyone buying it? Source: Businessweek.com   Date: 03/03/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_11/b4219060707213.htm Questions for discussion:  Summarize the new business model envisioned by Ben Silverman. Do you think this model can succeed? Do you think this approach will eventually… Read more »

Cheap, Ultrafast Broadband? At Least Hong Kong Has It

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: HONG KONG residents can enjoy astoundingly fast broadband at an astoundingly low price. It became available last year, when a scrappy company called Hong Kong Broadband Network introduced a new option for its fiber-to-the-home service: a speed of 1,000 megabits a second — known as a “gig” — for less than $26 a month…. Read more »

Apple Said in Talks to Sell ITunes Buyers Unlimited Downloads for Devices

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description:  Apple Inc. (AAPL) is in talks with record companies to give iTunes music buyers easier access to their songs on multiple devices, three people with knowledge of the plans said. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 03/04/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-04/apple-said-to-negotiate-unlimited-downloads-of-music-purchases.html Questions for discussion:  How important do you think this issue is to music customers? What are the various… Read more »