Description: An enthusiasm for vintage threads led entrepreneurs to create the successful online clothing retailer, ModCloth.com. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 11/10/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2009/11/10/sbiz_makeover_modcloth.smb/ Questions for discussion: Why do you think this small business has succeeded? What problems are these entrepreneurs facing, now that they are beginning to grow their business? How would… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives
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 »
Buffett buying Burlington rail in his biggest deal
Description: Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc will pay $26 billion to buy out Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp in a bet the nation’s largest rail company will benefit from a recovering U.S. economy. Source: Reuters.com Date: 11/03/2009 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5A22A720091103 Questions for discussion: Do you think this investment will turn out to be a good one… Read more »
U.S. Companies’ Electronic-Discovery Spending Tripled in 2009
Description: Budgets for managing electronic data tripled this year at average-sized U.S. companies, according to a study, as businesses braced for an influx of lawsuits stemming from a recession that’s been partly blamed on fraud. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 10/20/2009 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a_qD_YdAZA7o Questions for discussion: Why is spending in this area increasing so drastically? How important… Read more »
Next great Windows OS?
Description: Windows 7 is drawing rave reviews, but can Microsoft parlay the momentum into its other products? Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 10/13/2009 Keys: Marketing (p388), New product development (p420), Management (p252) Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2009/10/13/tt_windows_7_ballmer_microsoft.fortune/ Questions for discussion: What do you think Microsoft’s future looks like, especially in terms of new products? Do you agree… Read more »
Want a job on Wall Street? Good luck.
Description: Job cuts in the financial world are expected to persist for some time. But there are bright spots for MBAs, bond traders and investment bankers. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 10/03/2009 Keys: HR (p286), Economy (p66) Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/30/news/companies/wall_street_jobs/index.htm?postversion=2009100320 Questions for discussion: Are there any differences in the hiring and firing practices of Wall Street HR departments… Read more »
How Yahoo is betting its cloud will pay off
Description: There was a day when information technology personnel toiled behind the scenes to make their corporate computing infrastructure work. But in the Internet era, those experts increasingly are getting starring roles in corporate computing leadership rather than being supporting cast members. Such is the case for Shelton Shugar, Yahoo’s senior vice president of cloud… 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 »
Study shows U.S. bank CEO pay dwarfs rest of world
Description: You wouldn’t know it by his pay stubs, but Jiang Jianqing heads the world’s largest bank. Jiang, chairman of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, made just $234,700 in 2008. That’s less than 2 percent of the $19.6 million awarded to Jamie Dimon, chief executive of the world’s fourth-largest bank, JPMorgan Chase & Co…. Read more »
Xerox: A smooth CEO transition
Description: Outgoing chief Anne Mulcahy and incoming head Ursula Burns discuss their historic CEO handoff. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 9/16/2009 Keys: Management, HR, strategic planning Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2009/09/16/f_mpw_xerox_transition.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the similarities and differences you can observe about these two CEOs. Do you find it strange that their educational backgrounds are… Read more »