Citi Chairman Is Said to Have Planned Chief’s Exit Over Months

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Description:  Vikram Pandit’s last day at Citigroup swung from celebratory to devastating in a matter of minutes. Having fielded congratulatory e-mails about the earnings report in the morning that suggested the bank was finally on more solid ground, Mr. Pandit strode into the office of the chairman at day’s end on Oct. 15 for what… Read more »

Southwest CEO: Higher oil prices ahead

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Description: Southwest Airlines’ Gary Kelly says the outlook for fuel prices in the fourth quarter is getting worse. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 18, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/10/18/n-southwest-gary-kelly.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the state of business affairs at Southwest. How is Gary Kelly planning to deal with rising fuel costs over the next few… Read more »

Starbucks CEO on opening in India

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Description: Howard Schultz talks about Starbucks new store in Mumbai, a joint venture with India’s Tata Group. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 19, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/10/19/n-starbucks-schultz-india.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Explain Starbucks strategy for entry to the Indian market? Do you think it was a wise decision? Do you think it will be successful?

Models on Abercrombie Jet Had Rules on Proper Underwear

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Description:  The actors and models who worked on an Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) Gulfstream G550 jet had crystal-clear rules for serving Chief Executive Officer Michael Jeffries. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Oct 18, 2012 Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-18/models-on-abercrombie-jet-had-rules-on-proper-underwear.html Questions for Discussions: Describe the affect this publicity might have on the firm’s management. Why would the firm’s management indulge… Read more »

Small Players Seek an Alternative to the Expense of Pay-Per-Click

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Description: When Tom Telford helped found a vacation rental management company, Blue Creek Cabins, in 2001, he wanted a quick and easy way to connect with people looking to rent the 20 cabins he and his partner managed in and around the mountains of picturesque Helen, Ga. Source:  NYTimes.com Date: Oct 17, 2012 Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/business/smallbusiness/as-pay-per-click-ad-costs-rise-small-businesses-search-for-alternatives.html?ref=smallbusiness… Read more »

The future of rechargeable batteries

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Description: Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory are developing car and smartphone batteries that can hold 50 percent more energy. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 10, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/10/10/t-lithium-battery-volt.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: How do you think the development of this new technology will change the transportation and communications industries? Which other industries are likely… Read more »

The Car From Google That Drives Itself

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Description: See one of Google’s self-driving cars, which the Internet giant has been developing since 2009. While the self-driving technology won’t be available for years, the company hopes such vehicles will revolutionize the way humans get around. (Photo & Video: Google) Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: Oct 11, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/SUMHjd Questions for Discussions:… Read more »

For Some Drivers, an Electric Motorcycle Could Be the Best of Both Worlds

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Description:  Zipping around on a motorcycle can be fun, but being in a downpour or an accident on one is not. Driving a car is safer and more comfortable, but traffic and parking can be annoying. What if you got rid of the bad parts of both? Source: NYTimes.com Date: Oct 10, 2012 Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/technology/start-ups/for-some-drivers-electric-motorcycle-could-be-the-best-of-both-worlds.html?ref=business… Read more »

In Praise of Micro-Managers

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Apple has been without Steve Jobs for one year now, and it has become clear that what the company misses most is not Jobs’s innovative thinking, but his micro-management. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Oct.11, 2012 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-11/in-praise-of-micromanagers#r=hpt-fs Questions for Discussions: Summarize the points made in the article about micro-managers. Do you agree with these sentiments?