Secrets of a used car factory

Posted by & filed under Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

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 »

Web Games Threaten the Console

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: A generation of new titles from the cloud have all the action and graphical richness of traditional shoot-em-ups and strategy games Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/23/2011 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_27/b4235037448495.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in the report. Do you agree or disagree with the findings? What are some technological and social factors that… Read more »

Did you know IBM invented this … ?

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description: Look back at 100 years of IBM’s history and innovative breakthroughs. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/15/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/06/15/n_ibm_100_inventions.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How has IBM managed to remain successful for the last 100 years? How would you define IBM’s business model? What sorts of products could you see IBM developing  in the future?

Connecting With Clients Through the Power of Tech

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: In Lynn Milos’s previous business endeavors as a caterer and private chef, customer service was old school and face to face — the longstanding marketplace advantage enjoyed by small businesses over big businesses. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 06/15/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/business/smallbusiness/16sbiz.html?ref=smallbusiness Questions for discussion: How has Lynn Milos made use of technology to improve customer service?… Read more »

The tech cure for tone-deaf singers

Posted by & filed under Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description: UJAM co-founder Peter Gorges talks about how and why he created a web app that allows non-musicians to make music. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/06/10/t_tt_ujam_music_sharing.cnnmoney Questions for discussion: Explain the popularity for this software/website? Why is it important to create mobile and other platforms? How can this product be monetized?

Honda Fails With Toyota to Dominate American Sedan Market: Cars

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description: Stephen Ragsdale is no longer one of Honda Motor Co.’s “Happy Drivers.” A loyal owner for a decade, he ditched a 2009 Accord just 18 months after he bought it. The reason: He coveted his mother’s stylish Kia Optima. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-06-10/honda-fails-with-toyota-to-dominate-american-sedan-market-cars.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made about… Read more »

Toyota Expects 31% Profit Slump

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Toyota Motor said Friday that it expected its annual net profit to fall almost a third from the previous year, hurt by production disruptions after the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/business/global/11toyota.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Explain the reasons for Toyota’s drop in profits. Do you think… Read more »

In search of the world’s best pizza

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:  When Corky’s closed, a little slice of me died. How I found it back in business. Source:  Fortune.com Date: 06/10/2011 Link: http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/06/10/pizza-a-love-story/?iid=H_F_News&iid=H_M_News Questions for discussion: What does this article teach you about business success? How important is the entrepreneurial drive in order to become successful?

Amazon May Soon Need to Collect Sales Tax

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description: A proposal in the U.S. Senate aims to end the longtime exemption for e-commerce Source: Businessweek.com Date: 06/02/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_24/b4232041319222.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the key arguments made in this article about tax collection. What are some of the alternative solutions to the collection of taxes that is fair to all parties?

25 ways of downloading Angry Birds

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information.

Description: Rovio has a blockbuster franchise just as notable for its flock of revenue streams as its wildly addictive game play. Source:  Fortune.com Date: 06/03/2011 Link: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/06/03/25-ways-angry-birds/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for the success of this business? Why has it become such a global hit? What other prospects exist for this brand?