Description: Fuseproject founder Yves Behar shows off the One Laptop Per Child project’s latest invention. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 02/23/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/02/23/t-ts-nextlist-olpc.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How do you think the creative product development process differs at a not-for-profit business like Fuseproject? How do you think this product will affect development at for-profit manufacturers?… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Making ‘whoopie’ from home
Description: Staying home with small children while earning an income is a common dilemma among parents. Amy Bouchard of Garinder, Maine, figured it out, turning her knack for whoopie pies into a profitable business. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 02/22/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2012/02/22/smb_sbt_wicked_whoopies.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the formula for this entrepreneurial success story? How… Read more »
Inhaling caffeine. What a shot!
Description: CNNMoney’s Aaron Smith tests Aero Shot, the new caffeine inhaler that contains 100 mg of caffeine in one breathable serving. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 02/21/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/02/20/n_caffeine_inhaler.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Who might be interested in this sort of product? What are the ethical and social responsibilities related to this product? Do you… Read more »
Total Worldwide Social Network Ad Revenues Continue Strong Growth
Description:  Worldwide social network ad revenues are still going strong and set to grow nearly 50% this year, according to eMarketer estimates. Source: eMarketer.com Date: 02/24/2012 Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1008862 Questions for discussion: What explains this rate of growth? At what point do you think it will level off? How should marketing managers deal with this information?
Entrepreneurship Isn’t About Money, It’s About Changing the World
Description:  Entrepreneur Matt Mullenweg recently said that his motivation isn’t to make money, it’s to change the world. Source: Sprouter.com Date: 02/22/2012 Link: http://sprouter.com/blog/matt-mullenweg-wordpress-automattic-profile/?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=22+February+2012+%2F%2F+Hottest+StartUps%2C+Events+%26+Resources&utm_campaign=Sprouter+Weekly%3A+February+22%2C+2013&utm_term=_0D_0AEntrepreneurship+Isn_E2_80_99t+About+Money_2C+It_E2_80_99s+About+Changing+the+World_0D_0A Questions for discussion: Describe the characteristics that make Matt Mullenweg an entrepreneur. Are there any of these unique when compared to the general description of entrepreneurs?
YouTube bets $100 million on original content
Description:  YouTube is enlisting Hollywood’s help to reach a generation of viewers more familiar with smartphones than TV remotes. Source: USAToday.com Date: 02/20/2012 Link: http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/story/2012-02-20/youtube-original-content/53170394/1 Questions for discussion: Do you think this production strategy can work? What other YouTube channel concepts do you think would succeed? Who are the target markets for these concepts?
How Twitter predicts the stock market
Description: If you think tweets are worthless, you’re wrong. A professor has developed a program that uses tweets to predict where markets are headed. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 02/21/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/02/20/mkts_twitter_markets.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What is the basis for thinking that Twitter can help predict stock market activity? Do you think this makes… Read more »
A new jobs program for people trapped in unemployment
Description:  The chances of finding a job are grim for the four million long-term unemployed in the U.S., but Joe Carbone is looking to change that in his Connecticut town. Scott Pelley reports. Source: MoneyWatch.com Date: 02/19/2012 Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7399352n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox Questions for discussion: Summarize the problems faced by the long term unemployed. Why does this paid-internship… Read more »
America’s Blue Collar Nostalgia Masks Future Challenges
Description: The U.S. manufacturing sector needs more skilled workers and can’t support middle class living standards as it once did. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 02/17/2012 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/finance/americas-blue-collar-nostalgia-masks-future-challenges-02172012.html Questions for discussion: What message is there here for managers? How would you expect HR managers to respond to this report?
For Small Theaters, the Digital Future Is Dark
Description: Independent movie houses scramble to pay for expensive new gear Source: Businessweek.com Date: 02/17/2012 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/for-small-theaters-the-digital-future-is-dark-02162012.html Questions for discussion: Why are smaller theatres having financial problems? Describe the solutions being presented. How else can they respond to the challenges?
