Even as a hobby, stamp collecting is not at the forefront of public awareness. Stamp collecting has been around for nearly two centuries and is big business for some, but interest is declining. Yet for 2,000 of the world’s top collectors, stamps are an obsession. QUESTIONS: What need level(s) is/are satisfied for stamp collectors such… Read more »

Ohio University wide receiver Taylor Price never made much of a name for himself in high school or college football. That is, until he was invited to play in the Senior Bowl and participate in the recent NFL combine in Indianapolis. Against better known players from football-rich schools, Taylor set about showcasing his talent with… Read more »

The wireless phone market is nearing saturation and the number of new subscribers has been dropping for two years. Service providers are faced with declining revenues and the reality that they must look for other revenue streams. AT&T holds a strong position due to exclusive rights to provide services for the iPhone, but this is… Read more »

A comprehensive study conducted by researchers at Harvard University and McGill University shows the United States trailing other economically competitive nations in terms of benefits guaranteed to workers. These benefits have implications in terms of productivity, leave, and the cost of doing business. QUESTIONS: From the standpoint of general recruiting, what advantages do paid sick… Read more »

Skilcraft pens are a government icon. The pens trace their origin to the Wagner Act, which established that the government would buy a certain amount of goods produced by blind workers. The specifications for the manufacture of these pens are exacting, but their performance has been unsurpassed for decades. QUESTIONS: It is just a pen!… Read more »

Recent research into men’s friendships reveals that men rarely discuss personal and family issues with their male counterparts. Instead, men are more activity-oriented and prefer to reminisce about the past. In contrast, women prefer to pour out their hearts to one another. Men just want to keep their social relationships simple. First and foremost, the… Read more »

Wal-Mart is known nationally as a discount retailer, yet the company is stepping up efforts to market itself as a low-price leader. Current advertising focuses on internal operating efficiencies that are helping keep prices down. This strategy was implemented because the discount giant believes that consumers are still concerned about the economy. At the same… Read more »

The one bright spot in the economic downturn may be prolonging it. Since the current recession began, worker productivity has been increasing. The upswing is not due to investment in technologies. It is simply the result of swelling worker output. QUESTIONS: Before reading the article, look at the brief section on productivity in Chapter 18…. Read more »

As March Madness comes to a close, there are lots of interesting stories involving leadership – of both coaches and players. The one constant, in terms of success, for more than a decade has been Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo. Coach Izzo’s teams reached the Final Four in six of the last twelve years. This… Read more »