Description: Over at the NY Times, Anna North asks if we can become more creative by using an unusual search engine called Yossarian that purports to help us see things in new ways—ways that go beyond the predictable associations we’re inclined to make when thinking about people, things, ideas, events, etc. Source: Forbes.com Date: Sep… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Management
Oracle’s Larry Ellison steps down as CEO
Description: He founded the company that would become Oracle in 1977. He’s worth over $50 billion dollars. Now Larry Ellison is stepping down as the company’s CEO. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 18, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/09/18/larry-ellison-steps-down-oracle-ceo.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why is it so surprising that Larry Ellison is stepping aside at Oracle? What… Read more »
How Alibaba works: explained with 280 pairs of pants
Description: Alibaba’s IPO could be the biggest in history. Bloomberg’s Sam Grobart explains how Alibaba works through the experience of ordering 280 pairs of pants manufactured overseas. Video by: Dan Przygoda, David Yim (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Sep 15, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/alibaba-how-it-works-explained-with-280-pairs-of-pants-YkEKoSTHT3qV5qDnQthiWA.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the operations of Alibaba as… Read more »
How immigrant entrepreneurs are making it
Description: For immigrant-owned small businesses in the U.S., ties to their home countries can be very lucrative. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: Sep 18, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2014/09/18/smallbusiness/immigrant-entrepreneurs-exports/index.html?iid=HP_River Questions for Discussions: How can immigrant entrepreneurs leverage their skills and knowledge to grow their businesses? What are some characteristics common to the entrepreneurs profiled in this report?
Robots Work Their Way Into Small Factories
Description: Robots aren’t just for the big guys anymore. A new breed of so-called collaborative machines—designed to work alongside people in close settings—is changing the way some of America’s smaller manufacturers do their jobs Source: WSJ.com Date: Sep 17, 2014 Link: http://online.wsj.com/articles/robots-work-their-way-into-small-factories-1410979100 Questions for Discussions: How have robots improved productivity, as illustrated in the report?… Read more »
The Government Keeps Helping People Buy Failing Cold Stone Creamerys
Description: Would you loan someone money to buy a Cold Stone Creamery franchise if you knew that more than a quarter of those loans default? If you’re the U.S. government, the answer is yes. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Sep 16, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-16/franchises-the-government-keeps-helping-people-buy-failing-brands#r=nav-fst Questions for Discussions: Why do you suppose the SBA loans continue to be… Read more »
Kids playing with toys shows Wal-Mart what to order
Description: For any major retailer, nailing the right holiday season product inventory is essential. That’s why Wal-Mart turns to kids between 18 months and 12-years old. Today, the big-box giant releases the results of its “Chosen By Kids” survey. Bloomberg’s Julie Hyman went to Dallas to see what the kids liked best. Source: Bloomberg.com –… Read more »
Apple Watch is Here: Why Apple’s big bet is a big deal
Description: Now that Apple has entered the watch market with the Apple Watch, Bloomberg’s Sam Grobart takes a look at two things: the current state of play in smartwatches and whose world gets upended if Apple’s bet pays off.(Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Sep 09, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/apple-watch-what-it-means-for-wearables-and-watchmakers-lkbm4f2lTTSMPp5T23Nfvw.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize… Read more »
A Hedge Fund’s 294-Page Recipe for Fixing Olive Garden
Description: Olive Garden doesn’t know how to cook pasta, soaks its salads in too much dressing, dumps sauce haphazardly atop its dishes, forgets to sell wine, and has strayed far from its Italian roots with dishes no one in Italy would touch. And that’s how the slumping restaurant chain is seen by people who dearly… Read more »
Skills Gap Bumps Up Against Vocational Taboo
Description: Federal, State Governments Push Apprentice Programs, but Find Few Domestic Takers Source: WSJ.com Date: Sep 05, 2014 Link: http://online.wsj.com/articles/skills-gap-bumps-up-against-vocational-taboo-1410473392?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_business Questions for Discussions: What does this report say about the effort to establish apprenticeship programs? Why do you think more managers are not getting on board this initiative? How can incentives be used to increase… Read more »
