Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment.

Description: It was probably inevitable that the Occupy Wall Street movement would be rife with contradictions. Back on Sept. 15, two days before the first protest began in lower Manhattan, an organizing principle of sorts appeared on the Adbusters website. “Hey President Obama, get ready for our one demand!” the post announced.

Source:  Bloomberg.com

Date: 10/16/2011

Link:   http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-17/occupy-wall-street-loves-capitalism-s-pearls-commentary-by-william-cohan.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the main points presented in this report.
  • Do you agree with the analysis and conclusions?

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

Description:  Startup Rent the Runway is a company born out of the recession where you can rent high-end designer fashion for a fraction of retail prices.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 10/14/2011

Link:   http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/10/13/n_rent_the_runway.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Explain the success of this firm?
  • Who are the target customers?
  • Do you think this business model will wane when the economy returns to “normal”?

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 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:   Enbridge CEO Pat Daniel says that more regulation of oil pipeline safety will give the public greater confidence in the oil industry.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 10/13/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/10/12/n_enbridge_oil_sands_pipeline.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of a pipeline supplying energy?
  • Do you think a pipeline delivering energy from Canada’s oil sands is a good idea for the U.S. or for Canada?

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 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  The University of California Medical Center in San Francisco spends more than $3 million a year on translation services for thousands of patients who don’t speak English. Since 2009, the demand for foreign language interpreters from the center’s medical personnel has risen by a third, for languages ranging from Farsi to Mongolian.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: 10/14/2011

Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-14/language-line-plans-a-roll-up-as-translation-demand-soars.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Describe the business model of the firm.
  • Do you think growth will continue as it has so far?
  • What other sources of revenue can the firm develop?
  • Would you invest in this firm?

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 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description: Smartphone case makers rely on rumors and leaks to get their products on the market first

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: 10/14/2011

Link:   http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/the-shadowy-world-of-iphone-cases-10132011.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What did you learn in this report about risk-taking and the planning process?
  • How would you make decisions in this business environment?

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

Description: Stock up 30% for the year as company builds up mobile business

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: 10/14/2011

Link:   http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-hits-record-high-as-iphone-4s-launches-2011-10-14

Questions for discussion:

  • Explain the reasons for consumer reaction and sales of the latest model?
  • Do you think this sales rate is likely to fade quickly?

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

Description:  Steve Jobs’ enthusiasm and sense of humor were on full display at the launch of some of Apple’s greatest hits.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 10/06/2011

Link:   http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/10/06/n_jobs_in_his_words.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Describe the evolution of product development at Apple?
  • Apple started as a computer company. How would you define the company today?
  • What do you think it will become in 5 years time?

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 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:   Former Apple CEO John Sculley reflects on how Steve Jobs recruited him to run the tech company and why its board ultimately fired Jobs in 1985.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 10/06/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/10/06/t_gc_sculley_jobs.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • According to John Sculley, what sort of businessman and entrepreneur was Steve Jobs?
  • Do you think Steve Jobs was unfairly treated by the board of directors?
  • What does this report tell you about the influences of financial considerations in the running of a company?

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 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  Toyota Motor Corp. (7203), Asia’s biggest carmaker, is telling parts suppliers in Japan to slash prices or face being replaced by overseas rivals as the yen’s value appreciates, four people involved with the discussions said..

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: 10/07/2011

Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-07/toyota-said-to-tell-partsmakers-in-japan-to-slash-prices-as-yen-advances.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Explain the connection between the value of the Japanese currency and the business decisions made by Toyota?
  • How does this article illustrate the global nature of business?

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: First off, forget budget-cutting and think about training your existing staff

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: 10/04/2011

Link:   http://www.businessweek.com/management/five-steps-to-job-creation-10042011.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the prescriptions for job creation presented in the article.
  • Do you think small businesses are more likely to respond to these suggestions?