Chasing Pirates: Inside Microsoft’s War Room

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

Description:  AS the sun rose over the mountains circling Los Reyes, a town in the Mexican state of Michoacán, one morning in March 2009, a caravan of more than 300 heavily armed law enforcement agents set out on a raid.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 11/06/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/technology/07piracy.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize how Microsoft deals with piracy?
  • Why is fighting piracy so important to Microsoft?
  • What are the criticisms of this strategy?
  • What are the ethical and social issues related to piracy?
  • Are there alternative strategies for the firm to follow that would solve the problem?

Federal Reserve to buy $600 billion in bonds

Posted by & filed under Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: The Federal Reserve pledged on Wednesday to start a controversial new $600 billion bond-buying spree to rescue the economy from its current doldrums.

Source:  Marketwatch.com

Date: 11/03/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-to-buy-600-billion-in-government-bonds-2010-11-03

Questions for discussion:

  • How does this action by the Federal Reserve help stimulate the economy?
  • What are the consequences associated with this action in the long run?

Fiat’s New Uphill Climb in the U.S.

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  With the 500 subcompact, it makes an auspicious return to the States—but it’s a crowded market

Source: Businessweek.com
 
Date: 11/04/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_46/b4203024823719.htm

Questions for discussion: 

  • Why is there concern about the potential success of Fiat in the American auto market?
  • What does Fiat have going for it as it tries to establish itself?
  • Do you believe the firm will be successful?

Bitten by a billion dollar industry

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

Description: Stephen Woolley, producer of “Interview with a Vampire,” talks about why we love horror, the supernatural and vampires.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
 
Date: 10/29/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/10/29/n_vampires_halloween.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • Explain the global success of this genre of film and publishing business.
  • Do you agree with the analysis presented in the video?
  • What other genres seem to have international and universal appeal to consumers around the world?
  • Are there commonalities that these products seem to share?

Pogue: Six Factors for Highly Unsuccessful Products

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

Description:  At the FailCon 2010 conference in San Francisco, New York Times technology columnist David Pogue identifies the stumbling blocks to success.

Source:  BNET.com – video report
 
Date: 10/27/2010

Link: http://www.bnet.com/videos/pogue-six-factors-for-highly-unsuccessful-products/479076

Questions for discussion: 

  • Do you agree with the explanations provided in the video?
  • Provide one additional example that illustrates each of the errors listed in the presentation.
  • Can you think of other reasons for failures?

Windows Phone 7 ‘Really’ Ad Sends the Wrong Message

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  This clever ad campaign obscures Microsoft’s core Windows Phone message: This isn’t Windows Mobile.

Source: PCMag.com
 
Date: 10/29/2010

Link: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371747,00.asp 

Questions for discussion:

  • After watching the advertisement that is embedded in the article, do you agree with the criticism made?
  • Analyze the message sent to the audience watching the advertisement.
  • Who is the target audience?

Pontiac, 84, Dies of Indifference

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  Pontiac, the brand that invented the muscle car under its flamboyant engineer John Z. DeLorean, helped Burt Reynolds elude Sheriff Justice in “Smokey and the Bandit” and taught baby boomers to salivate over horsepower, but produced mostly forgettable cars for their children, will endure a lonely death on Sunday after about 40 million in sales.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 10/29/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/business/30pontiac.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you think closing down the Pontiac brand was a good move by GM?
  • Why do you think management took that decision?
  • Would they have benefited more by selling off the brand to another firm?
  • What other car brands are likely to face tough economic times as the cost of fuel rises?

Monster roars. Good news for jobs?

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

Description: The job market may not exactly be healthy. Unemployment is still relatively high around the country and those who have been out of work a long time are really struggling to find permanent, well-paying jobs.

Source:  CNNMoney.com

Date: 10/29/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/29/news/economy/thebuzz/index.htm

Questions for discussion:

  • How does Monster.com  use technology to attract business away from competitors?
  • What other factors have contributed to its recent stock market success?
  • Why does the stock reflect economic activity?

Baidu feels lucky in Q3

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

Description: The Chinese search engine’s profits doubled after seeing a surge in customers following Google’s shutdown in China.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report
 
Date: 10/21/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2010/10/22/mkts_baidu_q3.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • Why has Baidu’s profits grown so dramatically?
  • Is this growth sustainable?
  • How should investors look at the risk associated with this firm?
  • Do you believe Google will return to the Chinese market one day soon?
  • Is there an ethical issue here, in the way Google is being prevented from competing in China by the Chinese government?

digits: Steve Jobs Jabs at Competition

Posted by & filed under Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: On yesterday’s earning call, Apple CEO Steve Jobs issued a string of criticisms about Apple’s rivals from Research in Motion and Google to unnamed companies making seven-inch tablets. Plus: what analysts have to say this morning about Apple’s growth overriding concerns. Peter Kafka and Jennifer Valentino-DeVries discuss on Digits.

Source: Marketwatch..com  – video report

Date: 10/19/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/digits-steve-jobs-jabs-at-competition/CB58AF5B-10DF-44C8-858C-F87DB7BFBFA4

Questions for discussion: 

  • What were the reasons given that might explain Steve Jobs’ criticisms of competitors?
  • What is your understanding of the financial situation at Apple?
  • Given financial conditions described, what would suggest to the firm?
  • What is your view of a merger between Apple and Facebook?
  • Why would this deal make sense for both parties?
  • What does the loss of senior management at Microsoft mean for the firm?