Volkswagen Begins Firing Execs In The Wake Of Pollution Scandal

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Description: The automaker’s top U.S. manager and R&D chiefs of Audi and Porsche are out. Source: HuffingtonPost.com Date: Sep 24, 2015 Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/volkswagen-firing-scandal_5603f0b2e4b0fde8b0d157a9?utm_hp_ref=business Questions for discussion: What are the managerial consequences of this fiasco and the firing of top managerial talent? Could these decisions be harming the firm even more? How will the corporate culture… Read more »

Meet the woman remodeling construction

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Description: Construction tends to be a man’s world, but McKissack & McKissack, a New York City company, successfully turned that convention on its head. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Sep 18, 2015 Link: http://for.tn/1KmPKql Questions for discussion: Why is this an empowering story of success? What does it say to those who argue that… Read more »

The Icon A5 Is a Folding Personal Plane Designed for Fun

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Description: For a quarter million dollars, and fewer training hours than are required to pilot most planes, you can take off in this two-seat hybrid seaplane. It’s almost too easy — and the founders of Icon Aircraft are betting that flying-for-fun will be a new growth sector for the private aviation market. (video by Zach Goldstein,… Read more »

China VCs Are Going Crazy for Girl Groups

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Description: The 119-member SNH48 is one of the country’s top musical acts Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Sep 17, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2015-09-17/china-vcs-are-going-crazy-for-girl-groups Questions for discussion: Describe the method investors have used to create this entertainment phenomenon? Explain the reasons for its success? Do you think the method could work in America?

Robots Will Help Iron-Ore Miners Survive Price Rout

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Description: When the rout in prices ends for the world’s iron-ore producers, those left standing probably will have more robots on their side. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Sep 10, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-10/surviving-iron-ore-blood-bath-requires-a-lot-more-mining-robots Questions for discussion: How is robotics changing the mining industry? What are the managerial considerations  of robotics?

A Path for Entrepreneurs, When a Start-Up Is Not the Goal

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Description: When friends heard that James Higgins, 31, his wife, Trish, 29, and his brother Palmer, 27, left their traditional jobs in finance and sold their charming Greenwich, Conn., townhouse, they assumed it was for an exciting opportunity elsewhere. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 09, 2015 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/business/smallbusiness/entrepreneurs-who-buy-small-companies.html?ref=smallbusiness Questions for discussion: What does the article say… Read more »

Now you can brew Campbell’s soup in a Keurig

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Description: The coffeemaker has partnered with the 146-year-old soup company to produce “Campbell’s Fresh-Brewed Soup.” Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 10, 2015 Link: http://for.tn/1J0nBn1 Questions for Discussions: Do you think Keurig customers will start using their devices to make soup? Is there good synergy between these companies?

This is why we feel so overworked

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Description: There’s a really simple secret to happiness and greater productivity on the job. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: Sep 10, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2015/09/10/pf/working-too-hard/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom Questions for Discussions: What are the highlights of the report? Why is there such a disconnect between what is recommended and what is in fact the normal work environment? How should managers deal… Read more »