Why emerging markets matter to Medtronic

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 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak says emerging markets are the ‘most important’ to his medical technology company. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 02, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/magazines/fortune/2012/11/02/ldrshp-medtronic-2.fortune/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the thinking about emerging markets as discusses by Medtronics CEO Omar Ishrak. Why does “cost” play such an important point of consideration regardless… Read more »

A roaring success: how acoustics make us spend more money on cars

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:  As automotive engineering has improved, our rides have gotten quieter. Even non-hybrid cars cocoon their drivers in comfortable silence. But some companies are trying to give motorists a little more motor. The new Ford Focus will have engine noise pumped in when the driver steps on the gas. Other cars, like the BMW M5… Read more »

As New York City Marathon Sponsor, ING Comes Under Fire

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:  ING’s (ING) sponsorship of the New York City Marathon turned into a branding disaster this week as a divided city debated whether the city should hold the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Nov 02, 2012 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-11-02/as-sponsor-of-new-york-city-marathon-ing-comes-under-fire#r=hpt-lst Questions for Discussions: What are the public relations lessons to be learned… Read more »

Is Apple starting to unravel without Jobs?

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, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  Apple Inc.’s shares are now down nearly 15% since they briefly passed the $700 mark in mid-September. Source:  Marketwatch.com Date: Nov 01, 2012 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/is-apple-starting-to-unravel-without-jobs-2012-11-01?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: What does this report suggest is the reason for Apple’s stock performance? Do you agree with this assessment? Do you see a managerial solution or is… Read more »

Q&A: Is Whole Foods Market spearheading a new form of advertising?

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.

Description:  If it weren’t for the fine print, you’d never known the two were connected.  On the entire Dark Rye website, the Whole Foods logo is nowhere to be seen. And yet, Vadan Less, co-founder of Dark Rye, says the online magazine does not mean to hide that it’s published by Whole Foods Market. Source:… Read more »

The Plot to Destroy America’s Beer

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 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  Brian Rinfret likes imported beer from Germany. He sometimes buys Spaten. He enjoys an occasional Bitburger. When he was 25 years old, he discovered Beck’s, a pilsner brewed in the city of Bremen in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot, the German Purity Law of 1516. It said so right on the label. After that, Rinfret… Read more »

Gas guzzlers need to go on a diet

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: CNN’s Fareed Zakaria reports that cars have gotten increasingly heavier and looks at one scientist’s design for the lighter car of the future. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 19, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/10/19/t-cars-guzzlers-diet.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What are the design implications of moving to the manufacturing of automobiles using light-weight materials? Do you… Read more »

Southwest CEO: Higher oil prices ahead

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Southwest Airlines’ Gary Kelly says the outlook for fuel prices in the fourth quarter is getting worse. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 18, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/10/18/n-southwest-gary-kelly.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the state of business affairs at Southwest. How is Gary Kelly planning to deal with rising fuel costs over the next few… Read more »

High Fashion, No Airbrushing

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.

Description:  Like most women, Tina Hines has her size — an 8 — and then she has her list of clothes that actually look good on her. Side pockets are out (they make her hips look too wide). Halter tops are difficult (she needs to wear a bra). Defined waists are good, and she likes… Read more »

Lance Armstrong Gets the Paterno Treatment at Nike HQ

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:  Following Nike’s (NKE) abrupt reversal on sticking by disgraced brand ambassador Lance Armstrong, as well as Armstrong’s own resignation today as chairman of the charity he founded, author Daniel Coyle took to Twitter to solicit suggestions for renaming the Lance Armstrong Center at Nike headquarters. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Oct 17, 2012 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-17/lance-armstrong-gets-the-paterno-treatment-at-nike-hq#r=hpt-fs Questions… Read more »