Deere: Dealer network gives us our edge

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Description: John Deere CEO Sam Allen explains the competitive advantages Deere has over its competitors. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 03, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/09/03/f-leadership-deere-ceo-sam-allen-dealer-networks.fortune/index.html Questions for Discussions: According to Sam Allen, what is the basis for Deere’s competitive advantage? What sort of management culture do you think operates at Deere?

Bank of America to Pay $39 Million in Gender Bias Case

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Description: Bank of America agreed on Friday to pay $39 million to women who worked in its Merrill Lynch brokerage operation, another costly settlement of a discrimination case filed by its employees. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 06, 2013 Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/bank-of-america-to-pay-39-million-in-gender-bias-case/?ref=business Questions for Discussions: Are you surprised to see this issue in the news today at… Read more »

Startup Hubs Don’t Spring Up Overnight

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Description: There’s a seemingly endless fascination with the notion of startup hubs, particularly in smaller cities like Des Moines or Boulder, Colo., that aren’t always thought of as industrial centers. There’s good reason for the interest: A growing strain of economic research has highlighted the importance of fast-growth tech firms as engines of job creation…. Read more »

Why We’ll Be Better Off if the Walmart Protests Fail

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Description: Employees of the big box store are planning a national day of protest for higher wages. Economist Richard Vedder on why we’ll all be in trouble if they get their way. Source: Thedailybeast.com Date: Sep 05, 2013 Link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/05/why-we-ll-be-better-off-if-the-walmart-protests-fail.html Questions for Discussions: How would a jump in minimum wage to $12/hour affect companies now… Read more »

Ford Fusion now made in U.S.

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Description: For the first time, Ford Fusion vehicles are being built just outside Detroit, a positive sign that the automotive industry is bringing production back to the U.S. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: August 26, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/08/29/n-ford-fusion-detroit-plant.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What do you think motivated Ford management to start building Ford Fusion in the… Read more »

Wal-Mart’s plan sells ‘American made’

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Description: Wal-Mart SVP Michelle Gloeckler explains her company’s $50 billion dollar effort to sell more American made goods over the next ten years. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: August 28, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/08/28/n-cmr-walmart-made-in-usa.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Why do you suppose Wal-Mart management is motivated to lead the way in more American-made product sales? Do… Read more »

Inside YouTube’s new LA studio

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Description: YouTube’s newest office space is a professional television studio that is free to use for its most popular content creators. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: August 26, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/08/26/t-youtube-studio-la.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What is YouTube’s management’s thinking behind providing free-access production studios to their top channels? Do you think they should also… Read more »

Post-Ballmer, Microsoft Must Focus on Products to Avoid Extinction

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Description: Whip out the elegant, light, superthin Asus (2357:TT) Zenbook on an airplane, and you’re sure to attract stares. The PC stands out even more with Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows 8 software, its touchscreen full of colorful tiles promising a glimpse of the future. But that view starts to get foggy when Windows 8 tries to work with… Read more »

‘Plants vs. Zombies 2’ At Nearly 25 Million Downloads In Under Two Weeks

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Description: “Why is everything moving to freemium?” the gamer crowd cries, myself included, much of the time. Source: Forbes.com Date: Sep 01, 2013 Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2013/09/01/plants-vs-zombies-2-at-nearly-25-million-downloads-in-under-two-weeks/ Questions for Discussions: What is “freemium”? Describe how the company intends to make money using this business model? What are the pros and cons of using this model? Do you… Read more »

Priceline CEO: Opportunity in mobile

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Description: With Priceline stock on a tear, CEO Jeffery Boyd says ‘the shift to mobile is one of the most important transitions we’ve seen’ and consumers are starting to really change their travel booking behaviors. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: August 22, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/08/22/n-priceline-ceo-jeffery-boyd-mobile-travel-booking.cnnmoney/index.html   Questions for Discussions: What strategic advantage does Priceline… Read more »