The $1.6 Billion Woman, Staying on Message

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  SEVENTY-TWO hours before Facebook’s big moment, Sheryl K. Sandberg was half a world away, hobnobbing with the likes of Bill Gates and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Source:  NYTimes.com Date: 02/03/2012 Link:   http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/business/sheryl-sandberg-of-facebook-staying-on-message.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: How would you describe Sheryl Sandberg? Do you think her gender has helped, hurt, or made no difference in… Read more »

The cloud goes Hollywood

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Description:   The major film studios think they’ve found a way to sell and deliver movies online. Will consumers buy it? Source:  Fortune.com Date: 02/03/2012 Link:  http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/02/03/ultraviolet-digital-movies-cloud/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: Do you think this format will be successful with consumers? How should the industry market the concept?

Small Business Exports Edge Up

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Description:  Small businesses have increased their share of exports in the two years since President Obama set a goal to double U.S. sales abroad by 2015, according to new federal data. Source:  Businessweek.com Date: 02/02/2012 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/running_small_business/archives/2012/02/small_business_exports_edge_up.html Questions for discussion: What are the reasons for the improved exports by small businesses? Can this be sustained?… Read more »

Kaiser CEO: Time to end piecemeal healthcare

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Description:  George Halvorson, CEO of non-profit healthcare insurer Kaiser Permanente, says the current U.S. healthcare system will drive the economy into the ground. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 01/26/2012 Link:   http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/01/26/n_davos_halvorson_health.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Describe how the not-for-profit and for-profit healthcare businesses work? How should healthcare work, according to CEO George Halvorson? How could… Read more »

Bill Gates: Rich should pay more taxes

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  The Microsoft founder and philanthropist says that the wealthiest Americans should pay a larger share of taxes than they do. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 01/26/2012 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/01/26/n_davos_gates_occupy.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points presented about economic activity, incomes, taxes, and the government’s role. What is Bill Gates’ position on the key… Read more »

Amazon’s Hit Man

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Description:  Larry Kirshbaum was the ultimate book industry insider—until Amazon called Source:  Businessweek.com Date: 01/25/2012 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/amazons-hit-man-01252012.html?chan=magazine+channel_top+stories Questions for discussion: Describe the changes that management is dealing with in the publishing industry. How has management at Amazon been affected by technological changes? Do you think management decision-making has been responsive?

‘I work for one of the 10 Best Companies’

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Description:   Interesting assignments, unfaltering support, stints abroad: No wonder these folks love their workplaces. Source:  Fortune.com Date: 01/27/2012 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/pf/jobs/1201/gallery.best-companies-employees.fortune/index.html Questions for discussion: What are some common characteristics of these businesses that seem to suggest why they rank among the “best”? How influential is this status on employee behavior?

Six Strategy Insights RIM’s New CEO Can Use

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description:  The usual moves won’t work when new technologies and rivals dramatically shake up the field Source:  Businessweek.com Date: 01/24/2012 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/management/six-strategy-insights-rims-new-ceo-can-use-01242012.html Questions for discussion: What are the recommendations made in this report? Do you agree with them? What else would you suggest to RIM’s top management?

How the U.S. Lost Out on iPhone Work

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Description:  When Barack Obama joined Silicon Valley’s top luminaries for dinner in California last February, each guest was asked to come with a question for the president. But as Steven P. Jobs of Apple spoke,President Obama interrupted with an inquiry of his own: what would it take to make iPhones in the United States? Source: … Read more »

Leaving the plastic (and fees) behind

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Description:  Dwolla, of Des Moines, Iowa, is taking on credit cards by allowing users to transfer money and pay for items on their phones for a small fee. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 01/17/2012 Link:   http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/01/13/t_dwolla_credit_cards.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Describe why this business is better than competitors? What are the problems managers will have… Read more »