Google Revenues Sheltered in No-Tax Bermuda Soar to $10 Billion

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  Google Inc. (GOOG) avoided about $2 billion in worldwide income taxes in 2011 by shifting $9.8 billion in revenues into a Bermuda shell company, almost double the total from three years before, filings show.

Source:  Bloomberg.com

Date: Dec 10, 2012

Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-10/google-revenues-sheltered-in-no-tax-bermuda-soar-to-10-billion.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Explain how tax laws have influenced financial planning at Google.
  • Is there anything ethically wrong with management’s decisions?
  • How should government respond to the situation?

$7 coffee success ‘stuns’ Starbucks CEO

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Howard Schultz says he is surprised by how popular the $7 coffee is among Starbucks customers.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Dec 07, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/12/06/n-starbucks-schultz-clover-coffee.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Can you explain the success of these expensive brews?
  • Who is the target customer?
  • What utility is being satisfied by this purchase?
  • Do you think other retailers such as McDonalds should offer the same choice of coffees at these premium prices?

Old school bookstore thrives in NYC

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: The Strand Bookstore in New York has held on for over 80 years despite the changing city around it.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Dec 07, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2012/12/07/sbiz-old-bookstore-the-strand-new-york.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe the similarities and differences between the operations of this book store and online competitors?
  • Who is the target customer for this book store?

In Canada, Social TV Viewers Tune In

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  The convergence of TV and social networking is well underway in Canada, as consumers share comments and post clips on social sites, becoming mini-ambassadors for their favorite shows. Nearly three out of 10 internet users in the country considered themselves a “social TV viewer,” according to a Q2 survey from Solutions Research Group.

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: Dec 07, 2012

Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1009529&ecid=a6506033675d47f881651943c21c5ed4#zzfLAMZRxD7SWE1s.99

Questions for Discussions:

  • Explain the social networking potential for marketers of television shows.
  • How can this developing trend be managed to increase brand and tv show awareness?
  • Why do you think viewers contribute to social networking sites?

Alternatives to Running Your Business From Home

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.

Description:  When Melissa Thompson began developing her online counseling business, TalkSession, in February, she worked out of a Manhattan apartment. “After three days, we referred to it as purgatory,” she says. “The lines became so blurred between living and working, productivity was affected. I woke up on weekends and my walls were all covered in Post-it Notes. It’s not good because you’re already thinking about your business all the time and you need a break.”

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Dec 06, 2012

Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-12-06/alternatives-to-running-your-business-from-home#r=hpt-ls

Questions for Discussions: 

  • Why is it important for some people to work in a location other than where they live?
  • What benefits are derived by having an office where one can meet clients instead of public locations such as hotel lobbies?

The Internet of Things: does it start with parking?

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.

Description:  They say trying something again and again but expecting a different outcome is a sign of insanity. If you’ve ever circled a few city blocks, over and over again, searching for a parking spot, you’ve probably felt your own sanity slipping away.

Source:  SmartPlanet.com

Date: Dec 06, 2012

Link:  http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/report/the-internet-of-things-does-it-start-with-parking/720?tag=nl.e660&s_cid=e660

Questions for Discussions:

  • Should municipal governments or not-for-profit organization be helping to develop this technology by buying into these installations?
  • How does this technology improve city life?
  • What useful planning  information does it provide city governments?
  • What other application could be incorporated into the technology to help offset the costs of operations?

Fiscal cliff? OMG. Like who cares?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: American Eagle is the latest youth-oriented retailer to report strong results, a sign that teens are continuing to shop despite economic worries.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Nov 28, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2012/11/28/investing-american-eagle-outfitters.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Explain the financial results at the firms mentioned in this report?
  • How are they related to the buying behavior of their customers?
  • Do you think their customers are likely to change their buying behavior in response to economic news reports about the “Fiscal Cliff”?
  • What is the “Fiscal Cliff”?

$500 caviar from a vending machine

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: California holiday shoppers can spend $12 to $500 for caviar from a vending machine in a shopping mall.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Nov 29, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/11/29/n-caviar-vending-machine.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Who is the target customer for this machine?
  • Explain the reasons for the success of selling caviar through this channel?
  • How influential is the holiday shopping season on the success of this approach?
  • What other products would sell as well?

Dumping its CEO won’t fix Groupon

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:  (MoneyWatch) After disappointing results and slowing growth, the board of Groupon (GRPN) meets today and will talk to CEO Andrew Mason about his performance. The news came out with a surprise question to Mason at a conference in New York yesterday.

Source: CBSNews.com

Date: Nov 29, 2012

Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-57556227/dumping-its-ceo-wont-fix-groupon/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Explain Groupon’s business model.
  • Is Groupon’s success sustainable?
  • How would you change Groupon’s business model?
  • Does Groupon have a management problem?

The Game of Business

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

Description:  Ever watch gamers thumbing away at Fruit Ninja, World of Warcraft, or Angry Birds? They’re totally absorbed in the moment. What are they playing for? The personal satisfaction of reaching a new expert level or using a magical sword to slay imaginary monsters? Don’t scoff: The video game business is a $70 billion industry. Now imagine if you could harness that energy to get your employees and customers as engaged in your business.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Nov 29, 2012

Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-11-29/the-game-of-business#r=hpt-fs

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is “gamification”?
  • What do you think of this concept as a way to motivate employees?
  • Illustrate this concept with an example in a work place setting.