Description: Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM), facing a shareholder vote on whether to split its chief executive and chairman roles, agreed to study the overhaul of its management structure to avoid a public showdown at its investors’ meeting this month. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 07/01/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-30/rim-said-investor-s-proposal-to-split-roles-withdrawn-as-committee-formed.html Questions for discussion: What does this report have to… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Six Innovation Secrets Your Boss Never Told You
Description: Innovation is hard enough without tripping over your feet. Consider these guiding truths. Intelligence is learning from your own mistakes. Wisdom is learning from the mistakes of others. Here, we offer some hard-earned innovation wisdom. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/28/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/management/six-innovation-secrets-your-boss-never-told-you-06282011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. Do you… Read more »
France’s secret weapon: Video games
Description: Ubisoft, the maker of ‘Just Dance,’ ‘Assassin’s Creed,’ and other hit games, is taking advantage of being the only large publisher in France, which allows it to recruit top talent. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/24/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/06/24/t_ubisoft_video_games.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How does globalization help a business like Ubisoft? How are employees managed… Read more »
Web Games Threaten the Console
Description: A generation of new titles from the cloud have all the action and graphical richness of traditional shoot-em-ups and strategy games Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/23/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_27/b4235037448495.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. Do you agree or disagree with the findings? What are some technological and social factors that… Read more »
Writing a Check to Make a Bribery Charge Go Away
Description: In late June 2004, a plant manager for one of Tyson Foods’ poultry processing plants in Mexico sent a memo to company headquarters in Springdale, Ark.: two women who “most definitely do not work for Tyson Foods in Mexico†each were paid 30,700 pesos, or about $2,700, a month and had been for years…. Read more »
Soaring Silver Price Slows Transition to Solar Energy
Description: Soaring silver prices are hampering the solar industry’s ability to compete with fossil fuels. Panel makers consume about 11 percent of the world’s supply of silver, the material in solar cells that conducts electricity. The metal has appreciated 74 percent to $35.30 a troy ounce on average so far this year from $20.24 last… Read more »
Why American Management Rules the World
Description: The U.S. may lag at soccer, but Americans are the Brazilians of the boardroom, according to a group of European researchers. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/14/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/jun2011/ca20110614_682279.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. Do you agree or disagree with any of the findings? Can these findings be useful to… Read more »
Vietnam Cheaper-Than-China Appeal Diminishes as Labor Strikes
Description: Japanese motor maker Minebea Co. chose Cambodia over Vietnam to build a plant for 5,000 workers in a sign growing labor disputes are hurting Vietnam’s appeal as a low-cost alternative to China. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 06/16/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-15/vietnam-cheaper-than-china-appeal-diminishes-as-labor-strikes.html Questions for discussion: What does this article teach you about the global nature of business? How… Read more »
Honda Fails With Toyota to Dominate American Sedan Market: Cars
Description: Stephen Ragsdale is no longer one of Honda Motor Co.’s “Happy Drivers.†A loyal owner for a decade, he ditched a 2009 Accord just 18 months after he bought it. The reason: He coveted his mother’s stylish Kia Optima. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-06-10/honda-fails-with-toyota-to-dominate-american-sedan-market-cars.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made about… Read more »
Toyota Expects 31% Profit Slump
Description: Toyota Motor said Friday that it expected its annual net profit to fall almost a third from the previous year, hurt by production disruptions after the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/business/global/11toyota.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Explain the reasons for Toyota’s drop in profits. Do you think… Read more »
