Indications That ‘Side-Gigging’ Is More Than a Fad

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Description: In recent months, the media has labelled the rise of traditionally employed workers taking on part-time side work (a.k.a. “side-gigging”) a trend that will likely fade with a surging economy. Source: Entrepreneur.com Date: Jan 08, 2016 Link: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/253922 Questions for Discussions: What does the article say to management about changing attitudes toward work? What is… Read more »

Notable CEO Screw-Ups Of 2015

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Description: Leading business titans made some major missteps in 2015. From price gouging to software manipulation and strategic woes, here are some of the noted CEO screw-ups of the year. Source: Forbes.com Date: Jan 08, 2016 Link: http://onforb.es/1MutHxC Questions for Discussions: What is your impression of these people and their screw-up stories? Which do you… Read more »

Tesla’s Elon Musk: Apple’s electric car is ‘open secret’

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Description: Musk also takes swipe at Jeff Bezos and SpaceX rival Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Jan 11, 2016 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/teslas-elon-musk-apples-electric-car-is-open-secret-2016-01-11?dist=lcountdown Questions for Discussions:  Do you think any of these companies enjoys a competitive advantage due to their respective CEO? Why do you think these firms are leaders in these technologies?

Fitbit’s Game Plan For Making Your Company Healthy

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Description: Given how things often go in Silicon Valley, Fitbit shouldn’t be here. It started selling wearable activity trackers when other hardware startups struggled for funding. Source: Forbes.com Date: Jan 08, 2016 Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2016/01/08/fitbit-wearables-corporate-wellness/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the reasons for the firm’s success in the marketplace thus far. How should management respond to the… Read more »

VW CEO Flubs Interview With Apology Tour Off to Rocky Start

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Description: Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Officer Matthias Mueller is struggling to find the right tone on his first official U.S. visit, where he’s under pressure to placate lawmakers and regulators to emerge from the emissions-cheating scandal. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Jan 12, 2016 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-12/vw-ceo-flubs-interview-with-u-s-apology-tour-off-to-rocky-start Questions for discussion: Do you think Matthias Mueller… Read more »

How Freshii is riding the health food boom and finding inspiration from fast fashion to fuel its rapid expansion

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Description: Freshii founder Matthew Corrin hasn’t heard back from McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook since the former’s cheeky proposal last year suggesting the two go into business together. But clearly the home of the Big Mac has been influenced in recent years by Freshii’s style of fast food: healthy, convenient and nutrient-dense. Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Jan… Read more »

Lululemon Athletica Inc’s naked pants, part II: This time, they’re doing it on purpose to improve design

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Description: Lululemon Athletica Inc. is at a turning point. But the landscape has changed since then. Lululemon’s stock has fallen into a slump, hurt by slowing sales and mounting competition. Under Armour, meanwhile, has surged. It’s been two years since the active-wear company brought in Laurent Potdevin as chief executive officer. His task: cut the… Read more »

Telecommuting Can Make the Office a Lonely Place, a Study Says

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Description: Ever since telecommuting became a viable option for a broad spectrum of workers, some companies have offered it as a tempting perk. Why not make workers happier by allowing them to spend more time with their families, avoid long commutes and exert more control over their schedules? Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 02, 2016 Link:… Read more »

Girl Scout Cookie Sales Go Digital, With Help From Visa and Dell

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Description: Now that the Girl Scouts have taken their cookies digital, companies are following them online. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 03, 2016 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/04/business/media/girl-scout-cookie-sales-go-digital-with-help-from-visa-and-dell.html?ref=business&_r=0 Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues related to online sales and activities. Do you believe this is a good direction to be moving?