D8 Video: Steve Case in Full Session

Posted by & filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  Steve Case and Kara Swisher meet again onstage at the D8 Conference. What has the Revolution CEO been up to on the 25h Anniversary of American Online?

Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
 
Date: 07/02/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/d8-video-steve-case-in-full-session/2B7724EE-756E-4975-893A-BBA244AFD4B3

 Questions for discussion: 

  • Summarize the history of AOL and the development of the Internet.
  • What surprises you the most in this interview?
  • What future do you see for AOL and for Steve Case?

Dell faces fresh threat from old PC failures

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

Description: A six-year-old hardware meltdown that plagued millions of computers is coming back to haunt Dell.

Source:  CNNMoney.com

Date: 07/01/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/01/technology/dell_lawsuit/index.htm
 
Questions for discussion:

  • What did this problem “cost” Dell in terms of money, sales, customer loyalty, and brand image?
  • What would you have recommended Dell do to handle the problem better in the first place?
  • What would you recommend to Dell today to help mitigate the marketing damage?

BP Wants Partners to Help Shoulder Spill Cost

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

Description:  BP has said repeatedly that it will pay for the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But its actions show that it does not intend to go it alone.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 07/04/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/us/05liability.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion: 

  • Who do you believe should be held financially responsible for the oil spill?
  • What is your reaction to BP’s effort to share the costs with partners?

Andy Grove: How America Can Create Jobs

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

Description:  The former Intel chief says “job-centric” leadership and incentives are needed to expand U.S. domestic employment again

Source: Businessweek.com
 
Date: 07/01/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_28/b4186048358596.htm

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the arguments presented in this article.
  • Do you think they are self-serving for Intel or a correct way of thinking about the way forward for American industry?

Why Coca-Cola succeeds in Africa

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business.

Description:  Former CEO Neville Isdell explains that the franchise system makes business owners in Africa feel more invested in the company.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: 06/26/2010

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/06/26/f_gf_coke_africa.fortune/

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the reasons presented that explain Coca-Cola’s success in Africa?
  • Do you agree with the explanation?
  • Are there other reasons that might explain its success?
  • Would you change any strategies the company is currently following?
  • Does the firm present ethical business behavior?
  • How does this strategy compare to the one in the U.S.?

Apple’s iPhone 4: Great, But Needs New Network

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  Three years ago, Apple wasn’t in the mobile phone business at all. Now, it’s rolling out the fourth generation of its game-changing iPhone. WSJ’s Walt Mossberg reviews the iPhone 4, which he says has a number of cool new features as well as a “big downside.”

Source: Marketwatch.com – video report
 
Date: 06/22/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/apple-iphone-4-great-but-needs-new-network/45957C7F-11CE-40EB-A59B-637207DD3794

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the improvements to the iPhone that are in this latest version?
  • Do you think it represents good value for the price?
  • What price do you think customers would be willing to pay for monthly data-plans at AT&T?
  • Is the target customer mostly a consumer or business client?
  • What other features would you like to see in your version of an ideal smartphone?

Google victorious in Viacom’s YouTube lawsuit

Posted by & filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description: A federal judge has ruled in favor of Google Inc. in the company’s courtroom battle with Viacom Inc. over alleged copyright violations on Google’s YouTube video service.

Source:  Marketwatch.com

Date: 06/23/2010

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/google-victorious-in-viacoms-youtube-lawsuit-2010-06-23?siteid=nwtwk
 
Questions for discussion:

  • What are the arguments that support YouTube’s legal position?
  • Do you think YouTube will change the way it distributes copyrighted files in the future?
  • How does YouTube make money?
  • Do you think they will change this strategy in the future?

In Price War, E-Readers Go Below $200

Posted by & filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  A price war is brewing in the growing market for electronic reading devices.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 06/21/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/technology/22reader.html?src=busln

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you agree with the analysis of this report?
  • Is there a market for a single-application device?
  • Who are the customers in this market?
  • What price would be appropriate for the device?
  • Can you envision these devises being given away with the purchase or subscription of ebooks?

Vancouver’s Real Estate Bubble Trouble

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

Description:  Brokers are rock stars, cabbies flip condos, and shacks are going for $1 million
Source: Businessweek.com
 
Date: 06/24/2010

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_27/b4185064551500.htm 

Questions for discussion:

Summarize the arguments presented that explain real estate price movements in Vancouver.

  • Do you think a bubble is forming?
  • What might trigger prices to fall?
  • Do you think that any of the economic and banking differences that exist in U.S. and Canada significantly affect the real estate markets in each country?
  • What is the primary factor that determines the value of real estate in any location?
  • How important are interest rates in predicting real estate prices?

BP CEO testifies on Capital Hill

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

Description:  CNN’s Larry King and his panel discuss BP chief executive officer Tony Hayward’s testimony on Capitol Hill.

Source:  CNN.com – video report

Date: 06/18/2010

Link: http://cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2010/06/18/lkl.bp.hearing.discussion.cnn

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the main arguments presented by the panel in this discussion about the appropriation of “blame” for the oil spill and its aftermath.
  • What is your view of corporate and government responsibility in this matter?
  • Do you believe that President Obama was correct in his handling of BP?
  • Are there any longer term ramifications for the industry now that this ecological disaster has occurred?
  • How might you expect oil companies and governments behave in the future?