Description: The online giant has opened a holiday pop-up store in the U.K. where shoppers can purchase items with their phones and have it delivered to their homes. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 12/02/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/12/02/t-ts-ebay-popup.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What are the advantages and disadvantages of this sort of retailing strategy? Who are the… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Tintin: Opening in Theaters Far from You
Description: Hollywood studios increasingly are releasing movies overseas first Source: Businessweek.com Date: 12/01/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/tintin-opening-in-theaters-far-from-you-12012011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the strategic thinking in Hollywood today. Do you think it makes sense? How else would you strategize in this global industry?
RIM finds new ways to disappoint investors
Description: Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM-T17.08-1.73-9.20%) took a hit of nearly half-a-billion dollars on its PlayBook tablet, but it was troubling news about sales of its BlackBerry smartphones that stoked fresh worries from investors about the tech giant. Source: GlobeandMail.com Date: 12/02/2011 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/rim-finds-new-ways-to-disappoint-investors/article2257745/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights in this report. Would you… Read more »
Facebook buys Gowalla
Description: Facebook has acquired location sharing service Gowalla for an undisclosed sum, according to a source close to Gowalla. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 12/02/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2011/12/02/technology/gowalla_facebook/index.htm?iid=SF_BN_Lead Questions for discussion: What are the reasons behind this and other acquisitions by Facebook? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this strategy from a strategic managerial as well as… Read more »
The joy (and peril) of small business shopping
Description: Like many Americans, I like to shop at small, locally-owned businesses when I can. Millions of people participated in “Small Business Saturday” this past weekend, with an eye toward improving our local economies. After all, a 2008 study of Grand Rapids, Mich. from research firm Civic Economics found that locally-owned businesses tend to spend… Read more »
Blue Nile: ‘High-end market is the healthiest’
Description: Blue Nile CEO Mark Vadon discusses Black Friday sales for the online jeweler, and says the ‘healthiest part of the market is the very high-end.’ Source: CNNMoney.com – video report com Date: 11/25/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/11/25/n_blue_nile_ceo.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Who is the target market for Blue Nile? How is online shopping for rings different than… Read more »
The $25 Computer That Plays High-Definition Video
Description:    The Raspberry Pi, a credit-card sized computer that plugs into your TV and a keyboard will be available next year. It’s a PC that does many of the things your desktop PC does and is aimed at the educational sector. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: 11/22/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/the-25-computer-that-plays-high-definition-video/7E9D6C97-80D5-4175-9D23-454018240138 Questions for discussion: How might… Read more »
In Some Virtual Worlds, the Thrill Is Gone
Description: Zynga and other social game developers search for the next FarmVille-scale hit Source: Businessweek.com Date: 11/23/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/in-some-virtual-worlds-the-thrill-is-gone-11232011.html Questions for discussion: What does this report say about the development of successful games and the customers that play them?
Why gratitude is good for business, year round
Description: Instead of showing appreciation exclusively during the holidays, some businesses are building it into their day-to-day and reaping business benefits on account of it. Source: Fortune.com Date: 11/23/2011 Link:  http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/11/23/why-gratitude-is-good-for-business-year-round/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: What are the management and marketing lessons learned from this article?
Unleash the Entrepreneurs
Description: Bad policies are holding back the ultimate job creators. Source: City-Journal.org Date: Fall 2011 Link: http://www.city-journal.org/2011/21_4_entrepreneurs.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points presented in the article about the relationship between job creation and entrepreneurialism. What are the statistical arguments? Why do you suppose government still looks to older industry and big-businesses as the… Read more »
