Description: The global consumer products company wants to grow its consumer base from 4 billion to 5 billion in the next five years. Source: CNNMoney – video report  Date: 11/18/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2009/11/18/f_sl_procter_gamble_growth.mov.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Discuss P&G’s effort to expand internationally in terms of ethical and social responsibility? What are the arguments for and… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Competing in World Markets (p100)
Ferrero family steps out of shadows for Cadbury
Description: The Ferrero family’s round Rocher chocolates are recognized worldwide but Italy’s richest man, Michele Ferrero, and his two sons, have shunned publicity and kept their company very private — up until now. Source: Reuters.com Date: 11/18/2009 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/ousivMolt/idUSTRE5AH4U220091118 Questions for discussion: What advantages and disadvantages are there for the Ferrero company, should it go… Read more »
Panama remakes its famous canal for giant ships
Description: One of the world’s greatest engineering marvels is being overhauled as work crews blast through hills to widen and deepen the Panama Canal to make room for a new generation of mega-ships. Source: Reuters.com Date: 11/18/2009 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSN1834602520091118 Questions for discussion: Summarize the economic value of this project to local as well as international… Read more »
McDonald’s: 1,000 new restaurants in 2010
Description: Fast food giant plans to increase sales by 5% and invest $2.4 billion to enhance its brand. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 11/13/2009 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/12/news/companies/McDonalds/index.htm Questions for discussion: What do these plans at McDonald’s suggest to you about management’s sense of its future? Explain your thinking.  Do you believe McDonald’s will find more growth outside of… Read more »
Google eyes China as Baidu fumbles
Description: In 2005, China administered a spelling test that asked respondents to spell “Google” for a search market report: only 60 percent took the test and more than 20 percent got it wrong. Four years later, Google Inc (GOOG.O), whose whimsical name is synonymous with Internet search in much of the world, is still struggling… Read more »
Vivendi May Decide to Sell NBC Stake as Sale Window Opens Today
Description: Vivendi SA, owner of the world’s biggest music company, can decide as soon as today to sell its 20 percent stake in NBC Universal, paving the way for General Electric Co. and Comcast Corp. to combine their media assets. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 11/15/2009 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a4UvueFpO4oE Questions for discussion: Summarize the strategic thinking behind a… Read more »
Skype Founders Join Buyout Group, Drop Litigation
Description: The founders of Skype agreed to join the investor group buying the Internet-calling service from EBay Inc. and to drop litigation that had threatened to shut down the company. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 11/06/2009 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=armXJAA3nReg Questions for discussion: Do you think Skype should be managed independently of EBay or as a part of it? … Read more »
Wikipedia founder in HP online magazine print deal
Description: The founder of online encyclopedia Wikipedia said on Wednesday he had entered into a partnership with computer company Hewlett Packard that will allow users to create and print magazines. Source: Reuters.com Date: 10/21/2009 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE59K4MX20091021 Questions for discussion: Do you think this business model of on-demand magazine printing will become popular? Who do you… Read more »
Google sparks e-books fight with Kindle
Description: Google plans to launch an online store to deliver electronic books to any device with a Web browser, threatening to upset a burgeoning market for dedicated e-readers dominated by Amazon’s Kindle. Source: Reuters.com Date: 10/16/2009 Keys: Competing in world markets (p100), Marketing (p387) Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE59E28H20091016 Questions for discussion: Do you think Google’s strategy will… Read more »
McDonald’s Offers Potato Burger With Fries, No Onions in India
Description: McDonald’s Corp. is staking its future in India on burgers made from mashed potatoes, peas and spices. Sumil Mittal says it’s a good bet. Mittal, 19, sits beneath the golden arches at a McDonald’s in Ambala, a small town 125 miles north of New Delhi. He’s eating the vegetarian McAloo Tikki sandwich, with french… Read more »
