Posts Categorized: Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives

General Motors invests $500 million in Lyft, plans self-driving cars

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  General Motors Co. is betting $500 million that ride-hailing services such as Lyft Inc. will be crucial to the future of autonomous vehicles. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: Jan 04, 2016 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/general-motors-invests-500-million-in-lyft-plans-self-driving-cars-2016-01-04?dist=lcountdown Questions for Discussions: What does the article suggest is the reason for GM management’s decision? Do you think this strategy makes sense for… Read more »

How Coca-Cola Profited From Another Company’s Mistake

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: It happened a 100 years ago. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Dec 28, 2015 Link: http://for.tn/1mexR8h Questions for Discussions: Do you think packaging is still as significant a part of Coke’s successful branding as it once was? What other consumer products are so clearly identified by their unique packaging?

Chipotle shares have plunged and it’s the butt of jokes – can it recover in 2016?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Chipotle is having a no good, very bad year. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Dec 29, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2015/12/29/news/companies/chipotle-e-coli-outbreak-outlook/index.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the managerial issues facing the firm. How should the firm respond?

Online Surge Means Many Not-So-Happy Returns for Retailers

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: A surge in online sales this holiday season is boosting expenses for some retailers as more shoppers return merchandise purchased with the click of a mouse. Source:  Bloomberg.com Date:  Dec 28, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-29/online-surge-leads-to-many-not-so-happy-returns-for-retailers Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues related to online sales. How can merchants mitigate the financial costs?  

Online Still Primary Channel Used to Book Travel Accommodations

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Mobile booking of travel services is growing and US mobile travel sales are slowly gaining on desktop sales. Still, online is the primary channel digital travelers worldwide use to book accommodations. Source: eMarketer.com Date: Dec 30, 2015 Link:  http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Online-Still-Primary-Channel-Used-Book-Travel-Accommodations/1013404#sthash.Ytgu2NPT.dpuf Questions for discussion: Why do you think the trend is growing? How should managers in… Read more »

Paper Lions: Why Hyperlocal Newsweeklies Are Making A Quiet Comeback

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  On the corner of Oakland and Asheville in Hendersonville, N.C.–behind a used-cardealership where banged-up late-model sedans sport “AS IS” stickers and sub-$4,000 price tags–sits an 812-square-foot trailer that houses what just might be the future of local print journalism. Source: Forbes.com Date: Dec 29, 2015 Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2015/12/09/paper-lions-why-hyperlocal-newsweeklies-are-making-a-quiet-comeback/ Questions for Discussions: What does the article… Read more »

How Yves Behar Designed the August Smart Lock

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: It can automatically unlock your door from your smartphone. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Dec 10, 2015 Link: http://for.tn/1NcgMUY Questions for Discussions: Who do you think will like this product? How much of a premium in price do you think these customers will be willing to pay? What are the possible risks and… Read more »

Diagnosing Theranos

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: It couldn’t have been easy for Elizabeth Holmes, CEO & founder of the controversial blood test company Theranos, to prepare for an interview with Matt Herper at the Forbes Healthcare Summit. Source: Forbes.com – video report Date: Dec 05, 2015 Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/stephenbrozak/2015/12/05/diagnosing-theranos/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the managerial issues facing the firm. How should Elizabeth… Read more »

VW Says Emissions Cheating Was Not a One-Time Error

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description: The chairman of Volkswagen said on Thursday that the decision by employees to cheat on emissions tests was made more than a decade ago, after they realized they could not meet United States clean air standards legally. Source: NYTimes.com – video report Date: Dec 10, 2015 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/11/business/international/vw-emissions-scandal.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: What does VW… Read more »

A Middle Ground Between Contract Worker and Employee

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Description: For roughly the first two years of its existence, Munchery, an on-demand food preparation and delivery service, classified its drivers as independent contractors. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Dec 10, 2015 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/11/business/a-middle-ground-between-contract-worker-and-employee.html?ref=business&_r=0 Questions for discussion: What are the managerial issues raised in this report? How should the industries involved be regulated, in your opinion?