Description: ONLY God can make a tree, the poem says. But scientists are working on making artificial leaves that can produce fuels directly from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide, just as real leaves do. One day, the new leaves could help people heat their homes and drive their cars. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 05/21/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/business/22novel.html?ref=energy-environment… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
Rebirth of the American-made mitt
Description: Insignia Athletics of Worcester, Mass., is one of the few athletic manufacturers in the U.S. to make high-end, premium-leather baseball gloves. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 05/12/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/05/05/sbiz_baseball_mitt.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How has this company managed to compete in the marketplace against lower-priced imports? How important do you think the “Made in… Read more »
Pricing, ticket sites hit baseball attendance
Description: Finding cheap tickets may be part of the fun for baseball fans, but all the browsing around and waiting for the best deals may actually be hurting baseball. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 05/14/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pricing-ticket-sites-hit-baseball-attendance-2011-05-14 Questions for discussion: What are the major forces affecting the prices paid for tickets today? How can teams respond to… Read more »
Google begins war against Windows
Description: Google does battle with Microsoft in most of its business areas, but it’s gearing up to tackle the big daddy of them all: Windows. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 05/13/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/13/technology/google_chrome_os/index.htm Questions for discussion: Describe the fundamental shift required by users, as planned by Google. Do you think it will succeed with business customers? How… Read more »
Mother’s Day – flower sales bloom
Description: 1800Flowers.com CEO, James McCann says about two-thirds of roughly 84 million American mothers will get flowers on May 8. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 05/06/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/05/05/n_1800flowers.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Who is the target market? How important is Mother’s Day to this company? What other products have they developed for sale on Mother’s… Read more »
How Frito-Lay makes potato chips
Description:  Watch how potato chips are made in an environmentally friendly way at a factory run by PepsiCo, no. 43 on the Fortune 500. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 05/05/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/05/04/f_500_frito_lay.fortune/ Questions for discussion: What kind of production process is used at Frito-Lay? How does the process exercise efficiencies? How much do you… Read more »
Sony Apologizes, Offers $1 Million Insurance After Hacking
Description:  Sony Corp. (6758) Chairman Howard Stringer apologized and offered U.S. users of its PlayStation Network and Qriocity online services a year of free identity-theft protection after the system was crippled by hackers. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 05/06/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-06/sony-offers-network-users-free-identity-theft-service-after-hacker-attack.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the events that have led to this situation. Do you think Sony’s… Read more »
iPhone tracking ‘no big deal’
Description: iPhone users outside the Apple store during the launch of the white iPhone 4 say the iPhone’s location tracking does not scare or bother them. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 04/28/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/04/28/t-tt-iphone-privacy-mos.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think this event is a serious public relations problem for Apple? Judging from these interviews,… Read more »
Can RIM win back investors after missteps?
Description: Research In Motion Ltd. lost much of its remaining support on Wall Street Friday after the company took down its estimates for the May quarter, leaving some to wonder whether the wireless-device maker can win back support from investors who have been burned by the stock this year. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 04/29/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/can-rim-win-back-investors-after-missteps-2011-04-29… Read more »
Parties Seeking to Blame Each Other’s Policies for Gas Prices
Description: Congress returns next week to a flaring brawl over oil industry profits and tax breaks, with both parties hoping to capitalize on growing public ire at high gasoline prices. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 04/29/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/30/business/30gas.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for concern over rising gasoline prices? How do rising fuel costs affect businesses… Read more »
