Description: Shares of BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion are down 50% from the start of the year, largely due to disappointing smartphone and tablet sales. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/01/2011 Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for the demise of company’s share value. Given that the product sells well outside of North America, what… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Production and Operations Management (p314)
An Accordion Epicenter Shrinks and Thrives
Description: Jet-lagged but determined, Salomon Salcedo thought nothing of trekking to this small hilltop town in the Marches region on a muggy June afternoon to satisfy a lifelong desire: buy a made-in-Castelfidardo accordion. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 07/01/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/business/global/02accordions.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: How has this company managed to succeed? Are there lessons to be shared… Read more »
RIM Averts Shareholder Showdown in Agreement to Study Chairman Role Change
Description: Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM), facing a shareholder vote on whether to split its chief executive and chairman roles, agreed to study the overhaul of its management structure to avoid a public showdown at its investors’ meeting this month. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 07/01/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-30/rim-said-investor-s-proposal-to-split-roles-withdrawn-as-committee-formed.html Questions for discussion: What does this report have to… Read more »
Six Innovation Secrets Your Boss Never Told You
Description: Innovation is hard enough without tripping over your feet. Consider these guiding truths. Intelligence is learning from your own mistakes. Wisdom is learning from the mistakes of others. Here, we offer some hard-earned innovation wisdom. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/28/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/management/six-innovation-secrets-your-boss-never-told-you-06282011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. Do you… Read more »
France’s secret weapon: Video games
Description: Ubisoft, the maker of ‘Just Dance,’ ‘Assassin’s Creed,’ and other hit games, is taking advantage of being the only large publisher in France, which allows it to recruit top talent. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/24/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/06/24/t_ubisoft_video_games.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How does globalization help a business like Ubisoft? How are employees managed… Read more »
Secrets of a used car factory
Description: Paragon Honda of Queens, N.Y. shows us how it builds its used car inventory by buying customers’ cars when they get them serviced. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/24/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2011/06/24/sbiz_used_car_honda.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the business model used by this firm. Why is it so successful? Why is this business doing well… Read more »
Writing a Check to Make a Bribery Charge Go Away
Description: In late June 2004, a plant manager for one of Tyson Foods’ poultry processing plants in Mexico sent a memo to company headquarters in Springdale, Ark.: two women who “most definitely do not work for Tyson Foods in Mexico†each were paid 30,700 pesos, or about $2,700, a month and had been for years…. Read more »
Soaring Silver Price Slows Transition to Solar Energy
Description: Soaring silver prices are hampering the solar industry’s ability to compete with fossil fuels. Panel makers consume about 11 percent of the world’s supply of silver, the material in solar cells that conducts electricity. The metal has appreciated 74 percent to $35.30 a troy ounce on average so far this year from $20.24 last… Read more »
Take a risk, make a buck
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
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 »
