Description: In the five years since Nortel went bankrupt, many possible explanations have been suggested for its demise. Poor strategy, weak finances, low-cost competition from China, a misguided board of directors, hubris, the federal government’s refusal to backstop it during the recession, you name it. Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Mar 17, 2014 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/03/17/lessons-from-nortel-acquisitions-spree-bad-management-calls-led-to-tech-giants-fall-study-says/ Questions for… Read more »
Monthly Archives: March 2014
Bob Marley inspires son’s coffee startup
Description: Reggae legend Bob Marley’s son Rohan co-founded Marley Coffee, a brand dedicated to sustainable farming and social entrepreneurship. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Mar 14, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2014/03/14/marley-coffee-rohan-jamaica-bob-marley-son.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What is the basic argument for introducing this latest brand of coffee into the marketplace. Do you think there is a saturation… Read more »
$1.8M Ferrari race car for amateurs
Description: Ferrari XX Program allows a few of the most passionate fans to buy a FXX or a 599XX race cars and drive them on race tracks around the world. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Mar 14, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/pf/2014/03/14/pf-latt-ferrari-599xx-race-car-formula-one.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for discussion: How does this program promote the Ferrari brand internationally? Who is… Read more »
This Is the Real Reason Sbarro Is in Bankruptcy
Description: The reason Sbarro is having a rougher time than other, more solvent purveyors of not-good food goes to the root of its business: You eat Sbarro not because you want Sbarro, but because it is the food that is available at the moment you want some food. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Mar 13, 2014 Link:… Read more »
Your Job Taught to Machines Puts Half U.S. Work at Risk
Description: Who needs an army of lawyers when you have a computer? When Minneapolis attorney William Greene faced the task of combing through 1.3 million electronic documents in a recent case, he turned to a so-called smart computer program. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Mar 12, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-12/your-job-taught-to-machines-puts-half-u-s-work-at-risk.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the highlights in this… Read more »
Facebook Unveils Video Ads to Court TV’s Market
Description: Facebook Inc. (FB) is releasing its long-awaited video-advertising product today, as the world’s largest social network moves to diversify its revenue by tapping into television-marketing budgets. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Mar 14, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-13/facebook-unveils-video-ads-to-court-tv-s-market.html Questions for Discussions: Describe this new business model at Facebook? Do you think it fits into the Facebook user experience?… Read more »
Looking forward to performance reviews?
Description: Performance reviews can be scary, but they can also mean a fatter paycheck. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Mar 04, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/pf/2014/02/28/pf-performance-reviews.moneymag/index.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the commentary presented about performance reviews. What stands out for managers and for the employee facing a review?
Why Mary Barra has never asked for a raise
Description: The first female CEO of a major automaker explains her philosophy on climbing up the corporate ladder. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Mar 03, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/magazines/fortune/2014/03/03/gm-ceo-mary-barra-career.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for discussion: What does this report tell you about the personality and character of Mary Barra? Do you think she exemplifies common characteristics in managers… Read more »
What I Learned (the Hard Way) About Outsourcing
Description: Many businesses outsource work to other countries. But outsourcing can be scary. How do you know you’re not going to be ripped off, with a job that will return half-baked or not at all? Source: NYTimes.com Date: Mar 04, 2014 Link: http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/what-i-learned-the-hard-way-about-outsourcing/?ref=smallbusiness Questions for Discussions: What are the lessons learned about outsourcing, as reported… Read more »
Who will occupy RadioShack’s retail desert?
Description: The electronics chain announced that it will close 1,100 stores. Who will fill all that space? Think burritos. Source: Fortune.com Date: Mar 05, 2014 Link: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2014/03/05/who-will-occupy-radioshacks-retail-desert/ Questions for Discussions: Why did RadioShack business decline so dramatically? Is there a new business strategy management should consider? What sort of business is likely to fill the… Read more »
