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:  What a difference a decade makes for manufacturers of personal computers.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: Aug 22, 2012

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/now-its-dell-being-told-junk-pcs-2012-08-22?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for Discussions:

  • What has happened to the PC business over the past decade?
  • What are the possible choices facing management?
  • What would you advise?

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: Progressive Insurance tried to use twitter to calm public outrage in a controversial death case, but it only made things worse.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Aug 17, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/08/16/n-progressive-insurance-social-media.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the legal issues in this case.
  • What lessons are there for management that does not recognize the public perception of ethical business behavior?
  • What should management do in the future when a similar case arises?

Posted by & filed under Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:   The carnage in Facebook shares has prompted one major question: Is it finally time to buy? Steven Russolillo has the answer on Markets Hub. Photo: Getty.

Source: Marketwatch.com – video report

Date: Aug 17, 2012

Link: http://on.wsj.com/Pr3feI

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think Facebook is a good buy today?
  • What are the metrics that can be used to evaluate the stock?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s shares rose to a record and the company’s market value surpassed $600 billion on speculation that production has started on a smaller version of the iPad tablet as well as a new television product.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Aug 17, 2012

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-17/apple-rises-to-intraday-record-on-ipad-mini-research-note#r=bloomberg

Questions for Discussions:

  • What explains the value of Apple stock?
  • What are the sources of revenue that can be derived from their different products?
  • How much risk is there from competing  firms, in your opinion?

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

Description: Given the tight labor market, it’s tempting to immediately accept any job offer you might get. But how can you tell if a prospective employer is making the best financial offer for the position in question? Here are six ways to figure out if a company is low-balling you:

Source: CBSNews.com

Date: Aug 15, 2012

Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57492611/how-to-tell-what-a-company-can-afford-to-pay/?tag=nl.e713

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the main points presented in this report?
  • How do you think HR managers would respond to these negotiating strategies?

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:  Nearly nine in 10 US companies with at least 100 employees will use social networks for marketing activities this year, eMarketer estimates. With so many companies tapping social networks to build brand awareness, gain new customers and keep current ones loyal, how much room is left for growth?

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: Aug 17, 2012

Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1009273&ecid=a6506033675d47f881651943c21c5ed4#1HyYpfzYBJwSEIP2.99

Questions for Discussions:

  • What unique feature does each social network offer marketing managers?
  • Do you believe growth has reached a plateau?
  • Do you think the rankings will change over the next five years?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: The remake of ‘Total Recall’ bombed at the box office, highlighting Hollywood’s problem with recycling old classics.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Aug 09, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/08/09/n-total-recall.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why are old films recycled?
  • Why do some recycled films flop at the box office?
  • What is the recipe for success?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description:   The Games have borne their first Internet meme after gymnast McKayla Maroney’s scowl started showing up the Sistine Chapel, among other places. Designer Gavin Alaoen joins digits to discuss.

Source: Marketwatch.com – video report

Date: Aug 08, 2012

Link: http://live.wsj.com/video/olympics-mckayla-is-not-impressed-with-your-meme/05BDF74C-8DB1-4A9A-AF96-87FCD37CDF9C.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why is this funny to some people?
  • Do you think the publicity for gymnast McKayla Maroney is positive?
  • From a public relations point of view, how could she capitalize on the publicity generated by this phenomenon?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description:  As president of digital marketing agency MediaWhiz, a Hyper Marketing Inc. agency, Ed Kats is responsible for overseeing everything that goes into helping clients drive profitable digital marketing programs. Kats spoke with eMarketer’s Lauren Fisher about the online marketing tactic that holds the majority of successful digital marketing campaigns together: email marketing.

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: Aug 10, 2012

Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1009253#5hRv4QxQcHPFH9Eu.99

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does Ed Katz say about the role of email marketing?
  • How should managers strategize with this communication tool?

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description: The online advertising industry—with all its data on who people are and what they like to buy—is a sophisticated animal … sometimes. At other times, it looks an awful lot like a gangly adolescent trying to figure out its place in the world.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Aug 10, 2012

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-08-10/to-be-or-not-to-be-an-online-ad

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the recipe for a successful online ad, according to the report?
  • What are your thoughts on the matter? Explain your thinking.