Point of Sale

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

Description:  When most successful athletes endorse a brand, they usually lend their faces and names to commercials and print ads, and show up to smile and shake hands with fans for public appearances. They choose brands that align well with their image — for example, Wayne Gretzky and Skechers or Serena Williams and Gatorade. They… Read more »

Twelve Ways Leaders Fail New Managers

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

Description: When you place a colleague or a new hire into a management position, you’d better not abandon the poor soul. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 04/19/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/apr2011/ca2011044_047640.htm Questions for discussion: What are the lessons for managers in this report? Do you disagree with any? What other ways can leaders fail new managers?

At Swatch, an Enviable Problem: An Excess of Eager Customers for Its Products

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: BASEL, Switzerland — Nick Hayek, the chief executive of the Swatch Group, is facing a problem many of his corporate counterparts might envy: he’s doing too much business. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 04/22/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/23/business/global/23swatch.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for the firm’s success? How should it deal with the current imbalance in production?… Read more »

WET Design and the Improv Approach to Listening

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

Description: This interview with Mark Fuller, C.E.O. (which stands for chief excellence officer) of WET Design, was conducted and condensed byAdam Bryant. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 04/16/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/business/17corner.html?_r=1&ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize the ideas presented for new ways to train and develop employees. Do you think any of them are particularly clever or foolish? How… Read more »

How Apple plays hardball

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

Description: Guy Kawasaki, author and former Apple executive says the company maintains consumer appeal despite its business tactics. Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/31/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/03/30/ctd_kawasaki_apple.fortune/ Questions for discussion:  What is the recipe for management success as suggested in this report? Do you think Apple’s brand will suffer after Steve Jobs?

Making heavy equipment weightless

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

Description: Equipois’ “zeroG” devices help lift heavy objects — a major breakthrough for industrial workers. Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/24/2011 Link:   http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/03/24/t-tt-robot-arm.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  How might a manager evaluate the cost versus the benefit of installing this sort of equipment? Do you think the purchase of this  sort of equipment would produce… Read more »

Silicon Valley Hiring Perks: Meals, iPads and a Cubicle for Spot

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

Description:  Eric Firestone began a new job at a Web start-up here three weeks ago, and he’s already thinking about what he might do next. But that’s just fine with his new employer. Source: NYTimes.com   Date: 03/25/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/technology/26recruit.html?_r=1&ref=business Questions for discussion:  What does this report suggest about the hiring environment in Silicon Valley?… Read more »

Remembering the Triangle Fire 100 years later

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

Description: As labor unions battle to retain collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin, Ohio and other states, they are marking the centennial of a tragic factory fire that started the movement that first won those rights. Source:  CNNMoney.com Date: 03/25/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/24/news/Triangle_fire_centennial/index.htm Questions for discussion:  Summarize the details of this event. How has it come to influence… Read more »

4-Hour Guru, Tim Ferriss: “Don’t Focus on Personal Branding”

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

Description:  Tim Ferriss‘ first book, The 4-Hour Workweek, hit the bestseller lists in its first weeks of publication in 2007and has remained an influential and talked-about phenomenon ever since (as has Ferriss’ blog).   Memorably dubbed “part scientist and part adventure hunter,” Ferriss developed his manifesto for productivity and personal freedom from his early success as… Read more »

Buffett Says Pricing Power Beats Good Management When Evaluating Companies

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

Description:  Warren Buffett, the billionaire chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said he rates businesses on their ability to raise prices and sometimes doesn’t even consider the people in charge. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 02/18/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-18/buffett-says-pricing-power-more-important-than-good-management.html Questions for discussion:   What does Warren Buffet have to say about the importance of management and the ability… Read more »