Take a risk, make a buck

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

Description:  The founder of flash sale site Rue La La shares his thoughts on succeeding in business. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/16/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/06/16/smb_sbt_ruelala.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What advice is presented to entrepreneurs? Why do you suppose this advice is ignored, quite often?

Why American Management Rules the World

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives.

Description: The U.S. may lag at soccer, but Americans are the Brazilians of the boardroom, according to a group of European researchers. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/14/2011 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/jun2011/ca20110614_682279.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. Do you agree or disagree with any of the findings? Can these findings be useful to… Read more »

Vietnam Cheaper-Than-China Appeal Diminishes as Labor Strikes

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives.

Description:  Japanese motor maker Minebea Co. chose Cambodia over Vietnam to build a plant for 5,000 workers in a sign growing labor disputes are hurting Vietnam’s appeal as a low-cost alternative to China. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 06/16/2011 Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-15/vietnam-cheaper-than-china-appeal-diminishes-as-labor-strikes.html Questions for discussion: What does this article teach you about the global nature of business? How… Read more »

Men’s Wearhouse is in fashion

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

Description:  Shares of Men’s Wearhouse surge after the retailer reported profits that doubled from a year ago, helped by strong sales across the board. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/09/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2011/06/09/mkts_midday_menswear.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How has the company managed to succeed while other retailers have faced problems? How has the product and customer… Read more »

Behind Google’s tablet war with Apple

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Google chairman Eric Schmidt says that Android’s open-tablets will ultimately “bring more volume, more users, and more investment” to the platform. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 05/17/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/05/17/f_schmidt_gps.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the differences between the strategies to gain customers followed by Google and Apple. Do you think one strategy is superior… Read more »

Rebirth of the American-made mitt

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Insignia Athletics of Worcester, Mass., is one of the few athletic manufacturers in the U.S. to make high-end, premium-leather baseball gloves. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 05/12/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/05/05/sbiz_baseball_mitt.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How has this company managed to compete in the marketplace against lower-priced imports? How important do you think the “Made in… Read more »

How Frito-Lay makes potato chips

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives.

Description:   Watch how potato chips are made in an environmentally friendly way at a factory run by PepsiCo, no. 43 on the Fortune 500. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 05/05/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/05/04/f_500_frito_lay.fortune/ Questions for discussion: What kind of production process is used at Frito-Lay? How does the process exercise efficiencies? How much do you… Read more »

Taco Bell and the Golden Age of Drive-Thru

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

Description: Operational innovations at restaurants like Taco Bell rival those at any factory in the world. A view from the drive-thru window at how they do it. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 05/05/2011 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_20/b4228064581642.htm Questions for discussion: How is the Drive-Thru process similar to the production process? Why is it so important to Taco Bell to… Read more »

The Unstoppable Rise of the Celebrity Trainer

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

Description: The likes of Jake Steinfeld and Gunnar Peterson have created a micro industry of personal trainers as celebrated as the celebrities they train. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 04/28/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_19/b4227065670730.htm Questions for discussion: What is the secret to becoming a celebrity trainer? How does marketing yourself as a celebrity come into this strategy? Can anyone… Read more »

Parties Seeking to Blame Each Other’s Policies for Gas Prices

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: Congress returns next week to a flaring brawl over oil industry profits and tax breaks, with both parties hoping to capitalize on growing public ire at high gasoline prices. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 04/29/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/30/business/30gas.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for concern over rising gasoline prices? How do rising fuel costs affect businesses… Read more »