Colleagues complaining? Why you need to tune it out

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

Description: Incessant exposure to negativity isn’t just a drag — it’s actually bad for your brain, researchers say. Here are some ways to protect yourself.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Aug 09, 2012

Link: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/08/09/colleagues-complaining-why-you-need-to-tune-it-out/?iid=F_F500M

Questions for Discussions:

What are the highlights in this report?

As a manager, how would you minimize negativity?

LinkedIn isn’t Facebook. Hooray!

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

Description: LinkedIn is not the sexiest social media firm. But its earnings were solid and may even help lift Facebook’s stock.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Aug 03, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2012/08/03/investing-bz-facebook-linkedin.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the sources of revenue for social media companies?
  • Why is LinkedIn a better choice, in the eyes of investors?
  • Would you invest in these companies?

Twitter Goes to the Movies

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

Description:   The Hollywood marketing playbook now prominently features social media. John Edwards on Lunch Break looks at how a ribald campaign on Twitter and Facebook helped to turn “Ted” into a blockbuster.

Source: Marketwatch.com – video report

Date: Aug 03, 2012

Link: http://live.wsj.com/video/twitter-goes-to-the-movies/0D04F6F8-F054-474E-99BA-6D818BB12581.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe how social media is being used by studios to promote films.
  • Do you think this strategy works?
  • What does the demise of the film ‘Bruno” say about this technology?

Police Chief’s $204,000 Pension Shows How Cities Crashed

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, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  Stockton, California, Police Chief Tom Morris was supposed to bring stability to law enforcement when he was appointed to the job four years ago.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: July 31, 2012

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-01/police-chief-s-204-000-pension-shows-how-cities-crashed.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Explain the crisis facing these cities in terms of financial mismanagement of budgets and cash flow estimations?
  • Is there a financial solution?
  • Could legislation be used to regulate pensions?
  • What are the ethical issues in this situation?
  • How might labor relations be affected?

 

 

Vanity variety takes off on the Internet

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

Description: As a new wave of big names enter the growing field of Web series, leave it to Larry David to keep enthusiasm in check. “I wouldn’t say I’m excited, but I’m looking forward to it,” David says at the start of Jerry Seinfeld’s new series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

Source: Montrealgazette.com

Date: July 30, 2012

Link: http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Vanity+variety+takes+Internet/7013601/story.html#ixzz22IXwThLP

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think the development of niche web-based television is a trend or a temporary phenomenon?
  • What are the reasons it could succeed or fail to catch on?
  • What does this development suggest for the industry today and for Internet firms such as Facebook?

To Build Consumer Trust, Reviews Are the Key

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

Description:  Amid a sea of information, consumers respond to authenticity and expertise provided by brands.

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: July 31, 2012

Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1009229&ecid=a6506033675d47f881651943c21c5ed4#bpjrVDtFgA8dRZxi.99

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why are reviews so valued by consumers?
  • How can companies use social media to leverage this promotional tool?

What’s next for Apple?

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

Description: Analyst Gene Munster says new versions of the iPhone and iPad are key. He also expects a new Apple TV to be launched.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: July 25, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/07/25/t-apple-tv-next-few-years.fortune/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the projections for Apple and competitors in this business?
  • What product do you think will be the next great success with consumers?

Your credit card costs small biz thousands

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

Description: Retail merchants get charged a fee when you use plastic and recent reforms don’t seem to be reducing the burden on small businesses.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: July 20, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2012/07/19/sbiz-credit-card-costs.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe how cash, credit and debit card processing affect the operations of retailers.
  • Do you think these costs fairly reflect the value of services that card companies provide?
  • Should rates be left to the market to decide or should they be legislated?
  • What alternative payment systems might be able to compete?

Dating Sites Aim for a Novel Idea: Actual Dates

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

Description: New Yorkers—wait for it—like to dine at trendy restaurants on a first date. In Detroit, they prefer to do the serving themselves via volunteer work. Singles living in sunny Los Angeles are apt to be sporty and hit the hiking trails for a first outing together, according to data collected by the website HowAboutWe.com, a startup that offers a platform to suggest first dates.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: July 27, 2012

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-27/dating-sites-aim-for-a-novel-idea-actual-dates

Questions for Discussions:

  • What distinguishes this site from the competition?
  • What does it say about consumer behavior in this area?
  • What other variations on dating sites would succeed?

Andalusia’s small business crushed by Spanish slump

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

Description: Andalusia’s sunny beaches, shady plazas and flamenco dancing attract millions of northern European visitors each year but the southern region has become symbolic of Spain’s decline and its small businesses are paying the price.

Source: Reuters.com

Date: July 26, 2012

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/26/us-spain-andalusia-idUSBRE86P0WZ20120726?type=smallBusinessNews

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize and explain the highlights in this report.
  • How can small businesses in this region manage the crisis?