The economic recession is forcing companies to reduce costs in order to remain viable. Labor costs, both pay and benefits, represent one of the biggest cost items for companies. As a result, health insurance and pensions are increasingly scrutinized. Many employers are transferring responsibility for managing benefits to workers. This means that workers are expected… Read more »
Monthly Archives: October 2009
Windows 7 Launch
The launch of Windows 7 renews debate about technological change in organizations. Many companies skipped the upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista and are now wondering whether to make the move to the latest version. At the same time Microsoft competitors are touting Linux as a viable alternative. QUESTIONS: Would upgrading from earlier versions… Read more »
Las Vegas Luxury
Las Vegas has long been known for its extravagant, glitzy hotels and casinos. In the early part of this decade, Las Vegas was booming, gambling revenues were high, as were occupancy rates at hotels across the city. Developers rushed in to meet the demand for more rooms. Now, many of those projects have been scaled… Read more »
Udder-ly Fresh
Snowville Creamery is a small dairy located in Southeastern Ohio. The creamery began when John Taylor, a life-long dairyman, grew frustrated with industry practices and the taste of commercial milk. Taylor partnered with Bill Dix and Stacy Hall to develop a sustainable dairy to serve local markets. QUESTIONS: What elements of the story suggest that… Read more »
Flu Vaccine Availability
Since the outbreak of Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) last year, there has been much concern about a global pandemic. In the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services along with the Centers for Disease Control worked feverishly to develop a vaccine for the virus and get it into production. The cycle times for… Read more »
A Nobel Effort
In a surprise announcement, the Nobel Committee awarded U.S. President Barack Obama the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to create global cooperation. Obama is the fourth U.S. President to receive the award and the third to receive it while in office. In a press conference following the announcement, the President acknowledged that the… Read more »
GM’s Online “Experiment”
In an attempt to boost sagging sales, General Motors partnered with online seller eBay to offer a limited set of new vehicles for sale in California. The program (called an “experiment” by GM) ended September 30, with the auto maker reporting limited interest and unrealistically low offers. Dealers, however, indicated that the program ended too… Read more »
Erin Andrews in the Spotlight
In July 2009, illegally obtained video footage of nationally-recognized sports reporter Erin Andrews surfaced on the internet. Andrews’ employer (ESPN) contacted the owners of the website and demanded removal of the video. The story became national press and reporters for the New York Post were banned from appearing on ESPN following publication of photographs taken… Read more »
