Hewlett-Packard’s battered culture

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

Description: Founders’ folksy approach became guiding principle for other companies

Source:  Marketwatch.com

Date: 08/09/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/h-p-known-for-its-culture-in-yet-another-scandal-2010-08-09?siteid=nwtwk
 
Questions for discussion:

  • Why do you think H-P has had so much trouble with its recent CEOs? 
  • Do you think H-P will be hurt by this recent problem in terms of management recruitment of other employees, motivation, control, and so forth?
  • Is there something that H-P could do to prevent any future damage by executives?

Learning to Milk a Profit

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

Description:  Tired of working at Deloitte, an Iceland native dedicated himself to making yogurt

Source: Businessweek.com
 
Date: 08/12/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_34/b4192095592773.htm

Questions for discussion:

  • What were the common entrepreneurial characteristics in this report?
  • What message about motivation and success can be derived from this story?

Detroit Goes From Gloom to Economic Bright Spot

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

Description:  After a dismal period of huge losses and deep cuts that culminated in the Obama administration’s bailout of General Motors and Chrysler, the gloom over the American auto industry is starting to lift.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 08/13/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/business/14auto.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the key points presented in the article.
  • Are you optimistic that the US auto industry will experience a long period of economic recovery?
  • What are the global factors that are continuing to challenge the auto industry domestically and internationally?
  • How do you think the industry should respond to these challenges?

digits: Will Torch Fire Up BlackBerry?

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  Research In Motion just unveiled its first BlackBerry touchscreen device with a slide-out keyboard and featuring its much-anticipated BlackBerry OS 6 software. Lauren Goode, Spencer Ante and George Stahl have details and analysis.

Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
 
Date: 08/03/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/digits-will-torch-fire-up-blackberry/F8D18558-5BE4-4BE6-B66F-30A9EE7C5DE3

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the comments made about RIM’s new Blackberry Torch.
  • Do you agree with the analysis?
  • Is the target market for smart phones converging into one indistingusiable form aimed at both business people and consumers?
  •  How would you market the Torch?
  • How would you expect Apple to react to the introduction of the Torch?
  • On the second item in the report, do you believe there is a greater amount of competition in the epublishing and eretailing arena? 
  • Do you think there is a rush to the lowest market price for ebooks?

Building literacy around the world

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

Description:  Room to Read has built over 10,000 libraries around the world using big business practices and social networking.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 07/30/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/08/06/n_cc_room_to_read.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • Why is literacy a fundamental pillar of economic development?
  • How is the development of literacy skills going to help businesses profit in the future?
  • Do you believe that businesses that support John Wood’s effort are motivated by altruistic goals alone?
  • How can social networking help with fundraising?
  • How else can social networking sites help through publicizing this not-for profit global organization and effort?

Teen stores lead declines among disappointing July sales

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: With teen unemployment at triple the rate of the already high national average and consumer confidence at its lowest level since February, retail chains posted disappointing July sales numbers, signaling that promotions may intensify for the pivotal back-to-school selling period.

Source:  Marketwatch.com

Date: 08/05/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/teen-stores-pace-retailers-july-sales-shortfall-2010-08-05?siteid=nwtwk
 
Questions for discussion:

  • Why do you think sales have fallen in these stores?
  • Would lowering prices be a good strategy?
  • What else could these retailers do besides lower prices?
  • Do you think teens could be shopping, but not at these particular retailers?

From Kenmore, Talking Washers and Dryers

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

Description:  They’ll explain their problems via phone—and, the company hopes, result in vastly more efficient service.

Source: Businessweek.com
 
Date: 08/05/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_33/b4191023607461.htm

Questions for discussion:

  • How can the manufacturers justify the additional cost of this technology?
  • What are the benefits received by the companies and their customers?
  • Should manufacturers emphasize this technology as an integral part of their products?
  • Which customers would be most affected knowing this technology is built into their appliances?

But Will It Make You Happy?

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

Description:  How you spend has a greater effect on your happiness than how much you spend, researchers say.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 08/07/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/business/08consume.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the key points presented in the article.
  • Do you think there is an emerging trend among consumers to reject the levels of consumption that would seem normal to most of us today?
  • Why do you suppose consumers behave the way that they do?

Auto industry in the fast lane?

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  While the government touts the ‘comeback stories’ of GM and Chrysler, some say it’s too early to celebrate.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 07/30/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/07/30/n_obama_michigan_fact_check.cnnmoney/

Questions for discussion: 

  • Do you think these results are reason enough to celebrate the recovery in the US auto industry?
  • What lessons do you think were learned by these firms and industry employees?
  • What recommendations would you send to the auto industry in order to avoid a repetition of the collapse?

News Hub: Four Market Myths That Won’t Die

Posted by & filed under Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description:  Investors hear the standard calming myths over and over again. Brett Arends discusses four that need extra scrutiny.

Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
 
Date: 07/27/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/news-hub-four-market-myths-that-wont-die/955D32F8-9497-4754-AD5D-2CB05EB8E01E

Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the comments made about investing myths?
  • Why do you suppose they continue to circulate?
  • How should an investor approach the challenge of understanding the stock and bond markets?