Description: Jet-lagged but determined, Salomon Salcedo thought nothing of trekking to this small hilltop town in the Marches region on a muggy June afternoon to satisfy a lifelong desire: buy a made-in-Castelfidardo accordion. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 07/01/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/business/global/02accordions.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: How has this company managed to succeed? Are there lessons to be shared… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 4: Marketing Management
Six Innovation Secrets Your Boss Never Told You
Description: Innovation is hard enough without tripping over your feet. Consider these guiding truths. Intelligence is learning from your own mistakes. Wisdom is learning from the mistakes of others. Here, we offer some hard-earned innovation wisdom. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/28/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/management/six-innovation-secrets-your-boss-never-told-you-06282011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. Do you… Read more »
France’s secret weapon: Video games
Description: Ubisoft, the maker of ‘Just Dance,’ ‘Assassin’s Creed,’ and other hit games, is taking advantage of being the only large publisher in France, which allows it to recruit top talent. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/24/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/06/24/t_ubisoft_video_games.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How does globalization help a business like Ubisoft? How are employees managed… Read more »
Secrets of a used car factory
Description: Paragon Honda of Queens, N.Y. shows us how it builds its used car inventory by buying customers’ cars when they get them serviced. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/24/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/06/24/sbiz_used_car_honda.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the business model used by this firm. Why is it so successful? Why is this business doing well… Read more »
Web Games Threaten the Console
Description: A generation of new titles from the cloud have all the action and graphical richness of traditional shoot-em-ups and strategy games Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/23/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_27/b4235037448495.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. Do you agree or disagree with the findings? What are some technological and social factors that… Read more »
Did you know IBM invented this … ?
Description: Look back at 100 years of IBM’s history and innovative breakthroughs. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/15/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/06/15/n_ibm_100_inventions.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How has IBM managed to remain successful for the last 100 years? How would you define IBM’s business model? What sorts of products could you see IBM developing in the future?
Connecting With Clients Through the Power of Tech
Description: In Lynn Milos’s previous business endeavors as a caterer and private chef, customer service was old school and face to face  the longstanding marketplace advantage enjoyed by small businesses over big businesses. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 06/15/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/business/smallbusiness/16sbiz.html?ref=smallbusiness Questions for discussion: How has Lynn Milos made use of technology to improve customer service?… Read more »
The tech cure for tone-deaf singers
Description: UJAM co-founder Peter Gorges talks about how and why he created a web app that allows non-musicians to make music. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/06/10/t_tt_ujam_music_sharing.cnnmoney Questions for discussion: Explain the popularity for this software/website? Why is it important to create mobile and other platforms? How can this product be monetized?
Honda Fails With Toyota to Dominate American Sedan Market: Cars
Description: Stephen Ragsdale is no longer one of Honda Motor Co.’s “Happy Drivers.†A loyal owner for a decade, he ditched a 2009 Accord just 18 months after he bought it. The reason: He coveted his mother’s stylish Kia Optima. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-06-10/honda-fails-with-toyota-to-dominate-american-sedan-market-cars.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made about… Read more »
Toyota Expects 31% Profit Slump
Description: Toyota Motor said Friday that it expected its annual net profit to fall almost a third from the previous year, hurt by production disruptions after the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/business/global/11toyota.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Explain the reasons for Toyota’s drop in profits. Do you think… Read more »
