Ikea May Open Standalone Restaurant

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Description: For all you Swedish meatball fans Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Sep 28, 2017 Link: http://for.tn/2fvA0Lg Questions for discussion: Do you think this concept will work in North America? Who is the target customer? Would you develop a wider menu choice or stick to the limited options?

Rovio, Angry Birds Maker, Valued at $1 Billion in I.P.O.

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Description: LONDON — It turns out Angry Birds is a billion-dollar idea. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 28, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/business/dealbook/rovio-angry-birds-ipo.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: What is the basis for the valuation? How else can the firm generate revenues?

Successful Entrepreneurs Should Know These 6 Thinkers, Artists And Authors

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Description: When Warren Buffett was asked recently to describe a successful business, he brought up one of Ben Franklin’s bon mots: “Keep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee.” Source: Forbes.com Date: Sep 21, 2017 Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2017/09/21/entrepreneurs-thinkers-artists-authors/#67a6eaf86799 Questions for discussion: What message is the author of this article trying to convey about entrepreneurial thinking?… Read more »

Nestlé Makes Billions Bottling Water It Pays Nearly Nothing For

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Description: The company’s operation in Michigan reveals how it’s dominated the industry by going into economically depressed areas with lax water laws. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Sep 20, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-09-21/nestl-makes-billions-bottling-water-it-pays-nearly-nothing-for Questions for discussion: What are the ethical issues presented in this article? Do you believe the firm is doing anything improper?

Introducing Fortune’s 2017 Fastest-Growing Companies List

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Description: Here are the top ten. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Sep 11, 2017 Link: http://for.tn/2eTKRSl Questions for discussion: What do the firms on this list have in common? Do they represent good investment opportunities at this time, or is it “too late” to get on board?  

Apple’s Real Advantage Is What’s Inside the New iPhones and Watch

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: When Apple Inc. unveiled a trio of new iPhones, an Apple Watch and TV set-top box on Tuesday, much was made of the products’ elegance, new features and luxury-level prices. But perhaps the more important story is what’s under the hood: semiconductor technology that could keep Apple ahead of rivals and force people with older phones to… Read more »

How Rosalind Brewer, Starbucks’ First Woman COO, Got the Job

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Description: Rosalind Brewer’s first step toward the COO job at Starbucks(SBUX, -1.55%) happened completely by chance. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Sep 07, 2017 Link: http://fortune.com/2017/09/07/rosalind-brewer-starbucks-coo/ Questions for discussion: Why is Rosalind Brewer a good choice for this job? What does the article say about corporate cultures for executive development?

Apple Is Losing Its Cool Factor And That’s A Problem If They Want To Break Into TV.

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Description: Apple spent much of the 00s riding high on a wave of cool. Whether it was MP3 players, smartphones, tablets or laptops, Apple was the brand that everyone wanted and anything else seemed like the “sensible” (read: uncool) pair of sneakers your parents forced you wear in sixth grade. (Growing up in New York… Read more »

Amazon Is Planning a Second Headquarters With 50,000 Jobs

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Description: Amazon said on Thursday that it was searching for a second headquarters in North America, a huge new development that would cost as much as $5 billion to build and run, and would house as many as 50,000 employees. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 07, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/technology/amazon-headquarters-north-america.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news Questions for discussion: What criteria has Amazon… Read more »

General Mills CEO Leadership Advice

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Description: CEO Jeff Harmening has a plan to bring up sales by the end of 2017. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Sep 02, 2017 Link: http://for.tn/2wpIkVO Questions for discussion: Do you think Jeff Harmening’ planning strategies make sense? How would you describe his leadership style?