Description: Behind the drug advertisements in your inbox is a multimillion-dollar mail-order pharmaceutical business Source: Businessweek.com Date: 12/08/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/spam-works-12082011-gfx.html Questions for discussion: Why does spam “work� Which products appear to work best? Why do you think this is the case? Is span a problem or a service?
Posts Categorized: Part 5 Managing Technology and Information
No lines at eBay’s pop-up shop
Description: The online giant has opened a holiday pop-up store in the U.K. where shoppers can purchase items with their phones and have it delivered to their homes. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 12/02/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/12/02/t-ts-ebay-popup.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What are the advantages and disadvantages of this sort of retailing strategy? Who are the… Read more »
RIM finds new ways to disappoint investors
Description: Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM-T17.08-1.73-9.20%) took a hit of nearly half-a-billion dollars on its PlayBook tablet, but it was troubling news about sales of its BlackBerry smartphones that stoked fresh worries from investors about the tech giant. Source: GlobeandMail.com Date: 12/02/2011 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/rim-finds-new-ways-to-disappoint-investors/article2257745/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights in this report. Would you… Read more »
Facebook buys Gowalla
Description: Facebook has acquired location sharing service Gowalla for an undisclosed sum, according to a source close to Gowalla. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 12/02/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2011/12/02/technology/gowalla_facebook/index.htm?iid=SF_BN_Lead Questions for discussion: What are the reasons behind this and other acquisitions by Facebook? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this strategy from a strategic managerial as well as… Read more »
Blue Nile: ‘High-end market is the healthiest’
Description: Blue Nile CEO Mark Vadon discusses Black Friday sales for the online jeweler, and says the ‘healthiest part of the market is the very high-end.’ Source: CNNMoney.com – video report com Date: 11/25/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/11/25/n_blue_nile_ceo.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Who is the target market for Blue Nile? How is online shopping for rings different than… Read more »
The $25 Computer That Plays High-Definition Video
Description:    The Raspberry Pi, a credit-card sized computer that plugs into your TV and a keyboard will be available next year. It’s a PC that does many of the things your desktop PC does and is aimed at the educational sector. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: 11/22/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/the-25-computer-that-plays-high-definition-video/7E9D6C97-80D5-4175-9D23-454018240138 Questions for discussion: How might… Read more »
1998 all over again for IPOs
Description: Angie’s List is the latest dot-com to go public with a questionable business model, joining the ranks of Groupon, Pandora, and soon Yelp. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report com Date: 11/18/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/11/18/mkts_am_buzz_angi.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How do you explain the success of these IPOs? Do you think investors are repeating mistakes made 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 »
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 »
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?
