Is Tiger Woods running out of money?

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

Description: With only a few endorsement deals left, a recent divorce settlement, a hefty house mortgage, and even a pay cut from Nike, Tiger Woods’ lifestyle is looking a lot less glamorous.

Source: Fortune.com
 
Date: 07/015/2011

Link:  http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/07/15/is-tiger-woods-running-out-of-money/

Questions for discussion:

  • How does Tiger Woods generate revenue? 
  • Is the title of this article misleading, given the numbers presented?
  • How could Tiger Woods improve revenue generation (besides winning more tournaments)?
  • Do you think he can make a comeback?

Facebook teams with Skype

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

Description:  The social network giant has built video chat capabilities via Skype into its instant messaging platform.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 07/06/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/07/06/t-tt-facebook-video-chat.fortune/

Questions for discussion:  

  • Do you believe this collaboration will shut competitors out of this service?
  • How can these firms monetize this service?
  • How would you respond if you were a competitor like Google?

Turning an American classic on its head

Posted by & filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Meet one ‘food truck without wheels’ in East Atlanta, Ga., that is a unique twist on the familiar American hot dog stand: this one only sells chicken sausage.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 07/08/2011

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/07/08/smb_delias_sausage.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the reasons for the success of this business.
  • What other start-ups might work just as well if they employed the same thinking as this firm?

Cameron Orders Two Inquiries Into Hacking Scandal as Former Aide Is Arrested

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 British police on Friday arrested a former editor of The News of the World who is also a former senior aide to Prime Minister David Cameron, and rearrested the newspaper’s former royal editor. The arrests deepened the crisis swirling around Rupert Murdoch’s media empire in Britain over allegations of phone hacking and corruption.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: 07/07/2011

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/09/world/europe/09britain.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion: 

  • Who do you believe is responsible for this scandal?
  • What responsibility does management of the firm and the British presses have in this situation?
  • Do you think there was any alternative but to shut the newspaper down completely?

Sniping at Charges for Swiping Debt Cards

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

Description: Both merchants and banks balk at a Federal Reserve compromise on fees that businesses pay financial institutions

Source: Businessweek.com
 
Date: 07/07/2011

Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/sniping-at-charges-for-swiping-debt-cards-07072011.html

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the key points made in the report.
  • Do you agree or disagree with the decision?
  • Who should set price for these services?
  • What are the consequences for small businesses and consumers?

Terrafugia Triumph: At Long Last, Here Come the Flying Cars

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

Description: Sure, video chat on Facebook is important, but what will really let us know the future has arrived are the flying cars. I’m totally serious. And it’s about to happen. Massachusetts startup Terrafugia is cleaning the final hurdles to getting its $250,000 flying car in the skies — and on the roads.

Source: BNET.com
 
Date: 07/07/2011

Link:  http://www.bnet.com/blog/auto-industry/terrafugia-triumph-at-long-last-here-come-the-flying-cars/1047?tag=fd-featureRoto;fd-featureRoto2

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the key selling points for this concept and specific product.
  • Do you think this product will sell well?
  • Who are the target customers? 

Meet the world’s last pinball maker

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:  Stern pinball – the last pinball manufacturer in the world – has found its key to success is to make machines featuring popular brands and names.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 07/01/2011

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/06/30/t-tt-stern-pinball.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Why is there only one remaining producer of this device?
  • What does this say about the industry?
  • Could another company compete with this firm?
  • What would they need to do in order to succeed?

BlackBerry maker’s struggles

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: Shares of BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion are down 50% from the start of the year, largely due to disappointing smartphone and tablet sales.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 07/01/2011

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the reasons for the demise of company’s share value.
  • Given that the product sells well outside of North America, what would you recommend that management do in the short run?
  • What should management do in the long run in order to compete in the North American market?

An Accordion Epicenter Shrinks and Thrives

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:  Jet-lagged but determined, Salomon Salcedo thought nothing of trekking to this small hilltop town in the Marches region on a muggy June afternoon to satisfy a lifelong desire: buy a made-in-Castelfidardo accordion.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: 07/01/2011

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/business/global/02accordions.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion:

  • How has this company managed to succeed?
  • Are there lessons to be shared with other businesses facing similar threats?
  • What other advice would you offer the company management?

RIM Averts Shareholder Showdown in Agreement to Study Chairman Role Change

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

Description:  Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM), facing a shareholder vote on whether to split its chief executive and chairman roles, agreed to study the overhaul of its management structure to avoid a public showdown at its investors’ meeting this month.

Source:  Bloomberg.com

Date: 07/01/2011

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-30/rim-said-investor-s-proposal-to-split-roles-withdrawn-as-committee-formed.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this report have to say about who controls the management of large firms?
  • Summarize the management issues in play for the company today?