Description: Instead of showing appreciation exclusively during the holidays, some businesses are building it into their day-to-day and reaping business benefits on account of it. Source: Fortune.com Date: 11/23/2011 Link:  http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/11/23/why-gratitude-is-good-for-business-year-round/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: What are the management and marketing lessons learned from this article?
Posts Categorized: Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
Unleash the Entrepreneurs
Description: Bad policies are holding back the ultimate job creators. Source: City-Journal.org Date: Fall 2011 Link: http://www.city-journal.org/2011/21_4_entrepreneurs.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points presented in the article about the relationship between job creation and entrepreneurialism. What are the statistical arguments? Why do you suppose government still looks to older industry and big-businesses as the… Read more »
Disney’s Big Ambitions for Swampy, an App Star
Description: The cartoon alligator’s hit game on the Apple App Store may lead to books, toys, and a movie Source: Businessweek.com Date: 11/17/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/disneys-big-ambitions-for-swampy-an-app-star-11172011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize this new business model. Do you think it can be successful? Explain why. What are some other character concepts that could work for Disney?
HP: Nowhere to go but up?
Description: I started the week with a column about IBM (IBM, Fortune 500), so it’s only fitting that I end the week with a piece about a company I like to call IBM Lite. Or “Little Blue,” if you will. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 11/18/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/18/technology/thebuzz/index.htm?iid=HP_LN Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points presented in… Read more »
Robot army helps run warehouses
Description: The future of warehouses may be one with fast shipments and few human employees if robots like Kiva Systems continue to invade the workplace. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report com Date: 11/09/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/11/08/ts_kiva_robotics_robot.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How can this system improve productivity in a warehouse? How would a financial manager make a decision… Read more »
To Win Customers, Get Out of the Way
Description: Advice from Hawaiian Airlines executive Charles Nardello Source: Businessweek.com Date: 11/11/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/management/to-win-customers-get-out-of-the-way-11112011.html Questions for discussion: What does Charles Nardello have to say about management? Do you agree with his thinking?
Analysts like Demand Media. Its writers? Not so much
Description: The company turned in solid quarterly results that analysts cheered. But the site’s writers are telling a very different story. Source: Fortune.com Date: 11/11/2011 Link: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/11/11/demand-media-writers/?iid=SF_F_Lead Questions for discussion: Describe the business model for this firm. How is production controlled? Do you think Google’s actions were fair-minded? What should the company do in the… Read more »
Groupon: Investor Beware!
Description: In his On the Mark segment, Evan Newmark says Friday’s Groupon IPO should be waded through with caution by investors, because it is another example of Wall Street shenanigans. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 11/04/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/groupon-investor-beware/5DE4D58B-F543-470C-880B-4F2183A8AE19 Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons presented why investors should stay away from this stock. Do… Read more »
From failure to Facebook
Description:   Facebook’s Carolyn Everson explains how she learned from the failure of her startup Pets.com. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 11/04/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/11/03/ts_40_u_everson_facebook.fortune/ Questions for discussion: What did you learn about business success and failure by watching this clip? Do you think Carolyn Emerson is a better corporate executive at Facebook due her earlier… Read more »
Apple’s Supply-Chain Secret? Hoard Lasers
Description: The iPhone maker spends lavishly on all stages of the manufacturing process, giving it a huge operations advantage Source: Businessweek.com Date: 11/03/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/apples-supplychain-secret-hoard-lasers-11032011.html Questions for discussion: Why does Apple have a competitive advantage in R&D over other firms? How important is the scale of production to Apple’s success in R&D and production?
