Description: Walmart and Target both reported stellar third-quarter earnings this week, sending their shares soaring. And once again, the biggest headline for both was e-commerce. Walmart (WMT) said its online sales rose 79% in the quarter. Target (TGT) said its online sales rose 155%. Source: Yahoo.Finance.com – video report Date: Nov 20, 2020 Link: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/target-and-walmart-prove-the-pandemic-ecommerce-surge-wont-reverse-133454888.html Questions for discussion:… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Control
Hard Lessons and Simple Routines Helped These Founders Beat the Stress of 2020
Description: How confronting personal crises led one company’s co-founders to emerge stronger. Source: INC.com Date: Nov 12, 2020 Link: https://www.inc.com/magazine/202011/cameron-albert-deitch/front-mathilde-collin-laurent-perrin-cancer-depression-crisis.html Questions for discussion: What are the lessons managers and entrepreneurs should take away from this article? Are there more general lessons about life and work balance and the challenges we deal with?
Chairman of Elite Wine Group Resigns Amid Its Sexual Harassment Scandal
Description: Devon Broglie is the latest figure in the Court of Master Sommeliers to be accused of an inappropriate relationship. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 06, 2020 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/06/dining/drinks/court-master-sommeliers-chairman-resigns.html Questions for discussion: How can the organization deal with this public issue in the short term? What can they do longer-term to reduce the chances of a… Read more »
Posthaste: Working Canadians are showing the strain of 7 months of pandemic, not only in our state of mind, but on the job
Description: Employers need to check in with their employees ‘or risk detrimental and long-term impacts on business performance’ Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Nov 12, 2020 Link: https://financialpost.com/executive/executive-summary/posthaste-posthaste-nov-12-nearly-half-of-working-canadians-say-they-need-help-and-its-hurting-our-productivity Questions for discussion: What does the report say is happening to working Canadians? What should management be doing about these developments?
The White Issue: Has Anna Wintour’s Diversity Push Come Too Late?
Description: Vogue’s September issue celebrated Black culture and contributors. But some employees say the magazine’s powerful editor fostered a workplace that sidelined women of color. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Oct 24, 2020 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/24/business/media/anna-wintour-vogue-race.html Questions for discussion: What does the article say about the diversity issue at the firm and within the industry? What would you… Read more »
Walmart reportedly ends contract with inventory robotics startup Bossa Nova
Description: Robotics and automation startups have seen a strong uptick in interest over the course of the pandemic. And it’s easy to see which companies have a newfound interest in automating their workforce amid a seemingly endless virus-driven shutdown. But Walmart, which has long promised to take an increasing focus on such technology, has reportedly pulled the… Read more »
SPOS #745 – Danny Iny On Teaching Your Gift
Description: Source: Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #745 – Host: Mitch Joel. One of the things that I miss most during these Covid times, is my breakfast meetings. Danny Iny is one of the usual suspects that I meet up with. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: Danny is a kind-hearted,… Read more »
Companies with robot workers tend to have more human workers, too, Statscan says
Description: Companies with robot workers tend to have 15 per cent more human employees Source: CBC.ca Date: Nov 05, 2020 Link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/robot-workers-statscan-1.5786528 Questions for discussion: What does the research say about the relationship between the use of robots and human workers? Explain the changes to the roles of managers and management employment?
This Office Landlord Is Betting CEOs Will End Work-From-Home
Description: Working from home is overrated and everyone will be back in the office before you know it. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Oct 29, 2020 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-29/brookfield-ceo-bets-work-from-home-won-t-last-when-cities-revive?srnd=premium-canada Questions for discussion: What does the report say about the future for office workplaces? Do you agree with these assessments? How should managers deal with the fast changing workplace… Read more »
How Amazon keeps a close eye on employee activism to head off unions
Description: Amazon warehouse workers have a long history of agitating for change. But the coronavirus crisis has generated new momentum for employees to speak candidly about workplace conditions. Source: CNBC.com Date: Oct 24, 2020 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/24/how-amazon-prevents-unions-by-surveilling-employee-activism.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail Questions for discussion: How does the report describe the attitude of Amazon management toward organization efforts to unionize? Do you… Read more »
