Description: Vivendi SA, owner of the world’s biggest music company, can decide as soon as today to sell its 20 percent stake in NBC Universal, paving the way for General Electric Co. and Comcast Corp. to combine their media assets. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 11/15/2009 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a4UvueFpO4oE Questions for discussion: Summarize the strategic thinking behind a… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Steve Jobs – CEO of the Decade
 Description: Apple’s CEO is Fortune’s top business leader of the last 10 years for his impact on computing, movies, music and cell phones. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 11/04/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2009/11/04/tt_steve_jobs_apple_ceo.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the contribution made by Steve Jobs to Apple? What motivational role has Jobs played as CEO at Apple?… Read more »
Skype Founders Join Buyout Group, Drop Litigation
Description: The founders of Skype agreed to join the investor group buying the Internet-calling service from EBay Inc. and to drop litigation that had threatened to shut down the company. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 11/06/2009 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=armXJAA3nReg Questions for discussion: Do you think Skype should be managed independently of EBay or as a part of it? … Read more »
Microsoft seen as Diller’s best bet for Ask.com
Description: Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) is viewed as the most likely buyer or partner for IAC/InterActiveCorp’s (IACI.O) Ask.com if CEO Barry Diller decides to throw in the towel on the struggling search engine. Source: Reuters.com Date: 10/28/2009 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/americasPrivateEquityNews/idUSTRE59R44720091028 Questions for discussion: Why do you think Ask.com failed to meet expectations for IAC/InterActive? Why do you… Read more »
Ford to build new plant in China
Description: In a global push, the carmaker will open its third plant in China and introduce four new vehicles before 2012. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 9/25/2009 Keys: International business, management, marketing, strategic planning Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2009/09/25/mkts_asia_ford_china_u3x.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Why do you think Ford is building new plants in China? Explain your thinking…. Read more »
Big week ahead on Wall Street
Description: One year after Lehman Brothers, the stock market is right back where it was. Beyond the anniversary, reports on the consumer loom. Source: CNN News Date: 9/12/2009 Keys: Marketing, pricing, new product development, technologies Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/12/markets/sunday_lookahead/index.htm?postversion=2009091206 Questions for discussion: Explain why the stock market fell and returned to the current valuation during the past… Read more »
Skype founders’ Joost ousts chairman Mike Volpi
Description: Web TV firm Joost, owned by the founders of Skype, removed its high-profile chairman Mike Volpi by shareholder vote, it said in a statement late on Friday. Source: Reuters News Date: 9/12/2009 Keys: Management, investing, marketing Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/ousivMolt/idUSTRE58B0UZ20090912 Questions for discussion: Why do you think the same people keep emerging as top managers? Explain… Read more »
I.B.M., Looking to Buy Sun, Sets Up a Software Strategy
I.B.M.’s interest in acquiring the server computer maker Sun Microsystems for nearly $7 billion may seem at first to be a reversal of its recent efforts to move away from the hardware business. But analysts say there is more to Sun than servers, which are used in corporate data centers. They say its strengths in… Read more »
