Solar Panel Maker Moves Work to China

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

Description:  Aided by at least $43 million in assistance from the government of Massachusetts and an innovative solar energy technology, Evergreen Solar emerged in the last three years as the third-largest maker of solar panels in the United States.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 01/14/2011

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/business/energy-environment/15solar.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the reasons given for moving operations to China.
  • On what basis should businesses decide where to locate operations?
  • How should governments respond to this particular move?
  • How should governments respond to business decisions to relocate operations outside the U.S. in general?

Wikipedia, 10 years old, targets India

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

Description: With China virtually cut off and Western markets maturing, Wikipedia is targeting India first and possibly Brazil next to reach its goal of 1 billion users, Executive Director Sue Gardner says.

Source:  Reuters.com

Date: 01/12/2011

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70B6DP20110112

Questions for discussion:

  • Explain why Wikipedia’s user base has grown so rapidly.
  • Do you believe this rate of growth will be maintained internationally?
  • What issues does Wikipedia have to deal with as it considers more international growth?
  • How could Wikipedia commercialize itself?

P&G’s push into rural China

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Procter & Gamble launches its ‘$2 a Day’ project, hoping to serve poor people in the emerging market.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 01/06/2011

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/01/06/n_proctor_and_gamble_two_dollar_a_day_consumer.fortune/

Questions for discussion: 

  • How are consumers in the third world different?
  • Is there anything unethical about a firm like P&G marketing products to this market?
  • What are the positive and negative effects of developing consumer demand for products in the third world?

digits: Tablets, Smart TVs in Spotlight at CES

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Lauren Goode reports live from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and tells Simon Constable and Spencer Ante why tablets and Smart TVs are expected to be in the spotlight at this year’s show, which kicks off Wednesday.

Source:  Marketwatch.com – video report

Date: 01/04/2011

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/digits-tablets-smart-tvs-in-spotlight-at-ces/8A408F6D-A323-49BB-B862-03B1C2446440

 Questions for discussion:

  • Which one of the new products mentioned in this report do you think will be well received by consumers?
  • Do you think tablets produced by competitors to Apple’s iPad will be more successful?

The Fresh Prince of Streetwear

Posted by & filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business.

Description:  Jonathan Koon, auto-pimping mogul and designer, wants to be a billionaire by 30.

Source: Businessweek.com
 
Date: 01/06/2011

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_03/b4211074000503.htm

Questions for discussion: 

  • How do you explain the entrepreneurial success of Jonathan Koon?
  • What characteristics do you think are needed to succeed?

Profits are Booming. Why Aren’t Jobs?

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

Description:  To gaze upon the world of American corporations is to see a sunny place of terrific profits and princely bonuses. American businesses reported that third-quarter profits in 2010 rose at an annual rate of $1.659 trillion, the steepest annual surge since officials began tracking such matters 60 years ago. It was the seventh consecutive quarter in which corporate profits climbed

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 01/08/2011

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/weekinreview/09powell.html?scp=1&sq=Profits%20are%20Booming.%20Why%20Aren%E2%80%99t%20Jobs&st=Search

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the reasons given for slow growth in job creation.
  • Do you believe that employment will return to the levels that were normal in the past?
  • How should employers and employees respond to these new economic conditions?
  • What are the long term prospects for economic growth if employment levels remain low?

America, it’s time to start taking risks again

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

Description: After bidding farewell to 2010, many Americans are suffering from a hangover — but it isn’t from excessive partying. Quite the opposite: The unemployment rate in December fell to 9.4%, but job gains for the month disappointed. Meanwhile public confidence about the nation’s future has fallen to historic lows.

Source:  CNNMoney.com

Date: 01/07/2011

Link: http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/06/news/economy/risk_taking_solution_economy.fortune/index.htm

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the sentiments expressed by this journalist about risk-taking and investing.
  • Do you agree with these views?
  • How do you think people will behave towards risk-taking in the near future?

Microsoft’s Kinect: It’s a 3D camera!

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Developers are writing programs for the motion controller that lets it be used as a 3D camera, holographic puppet generator and other uses Microsoft never foresaw.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 12/23/2010

Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2010/12/22/t_tt_kinect_hacks.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • What are some of the entertainment product applications for this developing technology?
  • How will the added-value of 3D technology affect the selling price of products?
  • Which customers do you think will be most receptive to the added-value of 3D technology to their existing 2D games?
  • What sort of non-entertainment product development can you see emerging from this technology?

Will Apple sour in 2011?

Posted by & filed under Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Readers of ‘The Buzz’ are surprisingly bearish on the technology giant despite a super 2010.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 12/23/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/12/23/n_bz_apple_aapl_2011.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the reasoning that supports further increases ahead for Apple and those that don’t.
  • What do you think will happen to Apple stock value?

End the Ethanol Insanity: Ed Wallace

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

Description:  Ethanol damages engines and is not a viable alternative to fossil fuels, but farmers and lobbyists don’t want you to know that.

Source: Businessweek.com
 
Date: 12/23/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/dec2010/bw20101221_927461.htm

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the highlights of this report.
  • Why do you think there is so much controversy over this economic policy?
  • Who are the current winners and losers?
  • Would you change the current policy?