For a Decade, G.M. Response to a Fatal Flaw Was to Shrug

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Just six months ago, a group of senior General Motors executives gathered to review a series of PowerPoint slides concerning a question that had been smoldering inside G.M. for a decade: Should the company recall hundreds of thousands of small cars because of a dangerous defect? Source: NYTimes.com Date: June 05, 2014 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/06/business/gm-response-to-a-fatal-flaw-was-to-shrug.html?ref=business… Read more »

The Collateral Damage of NYC’s Bike Share Program: Bike Shops

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Charlie McCorkell supported New York’s Citi Bike program from the beginning, as one of the bicycle-sharing network’s founding members. But he’s also the owner of several local bike shops. This presents a problem. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: June 05, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-05/the-collateral-damage-of-nyc-s-bike-share-program-bike-shops.html Questions for Discussions: How has the introduction of bike-sharing impacted small business bike… Read more »

15 Years After Napster: How the Music Service Changed the Industry

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Fifteen years after Napster launched, we asked a dozen music journalists and editors to give their thoughts on the service that revolutionized the way we share and listen to songs. Source: The DailyBeast.com Date: June 4, 2014 Link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/06/15-years-after-napster-how-the-music-service-changed-the-industry.html Questions for Discussions: How was the music industry affected by the introduction of new technologies?… Read more »

Real reason Apple is buying Beats

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: The headphones are just part of what Apple is buying as they acquire Beats for $3 billion. They get a streaming service and a powerful music executive too. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: May 30, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/05/29/t-apple-buying-beats-3-billion-headphones-streaming-dr-dre-jimmy-iovine.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What are the assets acquired by Apple as a result of  this… Read more »

Salesforce: L.A. Clippers of software

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is buying the Clippers. But new CEO Satya Nadella just inked a key partnership with cloud software firm Salesforce. And that might be the smarter deal. Source: CNN.com – video report Date: May 30, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/30/investing-the-buzz-microsoft-nadella-salesforce-clippers-steve-ballmer.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: How does the Microsoft deal with Salesforce make sense?… Read more »

Look out Lululemon, this exploding Australian fitness brand aims to eat your lunch

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: An activewear brand with a cult following in Australia is planning a massive global expansion in the U.S., Asia and Europe. Source: NationalPost.com Date: May 29, 2014 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/05/29/look-out-lululemon-this-exploding-australian-fitness-brand-aims-to-eat-your-lunch/ Questions for Discussions: How does this report reflect growing globalization and international business? How should managers approach the challenge? Does the home country of a… Read more »

Effective Marketing Critical for US Telecoms to Remain Relevant

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: The telecom industry is the fourth-largest spender on digital advertising in the US after the retail, financial services and automotive sectors. Despite telecom’s size, eMarketer expects the industry to lag almost all other US verticals in digital ad spending growth, according to a new report, “The US Telecom Industry 2014: Digital Ad Spending Forecast… Read more »

Top 5 reasons why your CEO just got a big fat raise… and 5 reasons why you didn’t

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: WASHINGTON — Pay for globe-trotting CEOs has soared to new heights, even as most workers remain grounded by paychecks that are barely budging. Source: NationalPost.com Date: May 27, 2014 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/05/27/the-ceo-of-your-company-just-got-a-huge-raise-you-didnt-heres-why/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the overall explanation provided in this report for the wide gap in pay. Do you agree? Should anything be… Read more »

French don’t pan baguette vending machine

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: A new vending machine serves hot baguettes, and even the fussy French approve. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: May 23, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/05/23/n-french-baguette-vending-machine.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What are the advantages and disadvantages to a baker who chooses to install this machine? Do you think the installation of the machine would affect customers who… Read more »

What the heck is going on with GM?

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: General Motors has now set a company record with the number of vehicles recalled in a single year. But will it cost the auto giant sales or the new CEO her job? Source: CNN.com – video report Date: May 22, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/05/22/gm-recall-hits-record.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: How does the report answer the question posed… Read more »