Description:  (MoneyWatch) Steve Jobs, General Patton, and Mother Teresa. They were leaders who broke the mold, using their uniqueness to do what no one else could do. What they had in common was that they were unique. Source: MoneyWatch.com Date: 02/08/2012 Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57372852/look-to-weaknesses-to-find-your-leadership-strengths/?tag=nl.e857 Questions for discussion: Summarize the ideas expressed in this article about leadership? What… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Production and Operations Management (p314)
250,000 ask Apple to change its labor ways
Description: Petitions with over 250,000 signatures were delivered to Apple stores calling for reforms to working conditions in its suppliers’ factories. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/02/09/t-ts-change-org-signatures.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think Apple is being singled-out when the concerns likely apply to any company manufacturing in China? How should Apple’s management deal with… Read more »
An Idea for Fixing Education: Skip College, Work at a Startup
Description: Skip college, work at a startup. That’s the idea behind a new two-year program called Enstittue that started accepting applications Tuesday. Source: Mashable.com Date: 02/02/2012 Link: http://mashable.com/2012/02/07/enstitute/ Questions for discussion: What do you think of these arguments for learning on the job? For which careers is attending college a better choice for more efficient… Read more »
How Zuckerberg changed the game
Description: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg grew the college dorm room startup to a global tech giant with more users than most countries’ populations. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 02/03/2012 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/02/02/f_game_changers_facebook.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Who is Mark Zukerberg? Do you think his engineering background affected the way he managed the development of the company?
Small Business Exports Edge Up
Description: Small businesses have increased their share of exports in the two years since President Obama set a goal to double U.S. sales abroad by 2015, according to new federal data. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 02/02/2012 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/running_small_business/archives/2012/02/small_business_exports_edge_up.html Questions for discussion: What are the reasons for the improved exports by small businesses? Can this be sustained?… Read more »
Kaiser CEO: Time to end piecemeal healthcare
Description: George Halvorson, CEO of non-profit healthcare insurer Kaiser Permanente, says the current U.S. healthcare system will drive the economy into the ground. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 01/26/2012 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/01/26/n_davos_halvorson_health.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Describe how the not-for-profit and for-profit healthcare businesses work? How should healthcare work, according to CEO George Halvorson? How could… Read more »
Amazon’s Hit Man
Description: Larry Kirshbaum was the ultimate book industry insiderâ€â€until Amazon called Source: Businessweek.com Date: 01/25/2012 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/amazons-hit-man-01252012.html?chan=magazine+channel_top+stories Questions for discussion: Describe the changes that management is dealing with in the publishing industry. How has management at Amazon been affected by technological changes? Do you think management decision-making has been responsive?
Six Strategy Insights RIM’s New CEO Can Use
Description: The usual moves won’t work when new technologies and rivals dramatically shake up the field Source: Businessweek.com Date: 01/24/2012 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/management/six-strategy-insights-rims-new-ceo-can-use-01242012.html Questions for discussion: What are the recommendations made in this report? Do you agree with them? What else would you suggest to RIM’s top management?
Leaving the plastic (and fees) behind
Description: Dwolla, of Des Moines, Iowa, is taking on credit cards by allowing users to transfer money and pay for items on their phones for a small fee. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 01/17/2012 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/01/13/t_dwolla_credit_cards.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Describe why this business is better than competitors? What are the problems managers will have… Read more »
MySpace Co-founder Moves From Social Networking to Social Commerce
Description: MySpace co-founder Josh Berman knows how to capitalize on online trends. The entrepreneur behind one of the Web 2.0 era’s most successful companies bet on the rise of social networks, and after spending four years at MySpace and selling the company for over $500 million, he’s on to the next trend. Source: Sprouter.com Date:… Read more »
