Description: Best Buy Co., the largest U.S. electronics chain, swung to a fourth-quarter loss, hurt by charges and lower sales of notebook computers and televisions. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 03/30/2012 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/best-buy-swings-to-loss-to-shut-50-stores-2012-03-29?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons for Best Buy’s financial problems. Do you think they can be resolved easily?
Posts Categorized: Management
JetBlue Actions Show How Training Altered Cockpit Culture
Description: The events aboard a March 27 JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU)flight, on which the co-pilot locked an erratically behaving captain out of the cockpit and diverted the plane to a safe landing, show how much has changed in a culture once typified by autocratic captains browbeating underlings even in the face of potential hazards, safety… Read more »
Getting a Grip on Medicine’s Slippery Price Tag
Description: How much should a diabetes screening cost? Does 50 bucks sound about right? How about $400? Doctors in the same health insurance network charge vastly different prices for common preventive tests, according to a report to be published today by Change Healthcare, a company that helps employers and health-plan providers understand the cost of… Read more »
Taiwan dumpling sensation goes worldwide
Description: A local Taiwanese chain restaurant sees a boost in business as their ever expanding dumpling restaurant continues to gain success across the globe. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/21/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/03/19/n-dumpling-empire.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What is the recipe for success as described in this report? What are the similarities and differences of this… Read more »
Why Relationship Marketing is Important for Businesses
Description: In this video I interview Mari Smith, author of The New Relationship Marketing and Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day. Mari shares how relationships have evolved and why businesses need to focus on P2P (people to people) marketing today. You’ll also discover the story of how Mari came to Facebook marketing and pick up… Read more »
Memo to CEOs: Stop Blathering About Innovation and Do Something
Description: I have come to realize how much time is wasted teaching managers about the practical skills of innovation. It is the chief executive officer that needs the lesson. Everything else that is central to reaping the fruits of innovation emerges from this simple observation. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 03/20/2012 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-20/memo-to-ceos-stop-blathering-about-innovation-and-do-something Questions for discussion: Summarize… Read more »
Helping One Big Client, but Wanting to Spread Out
Description: THE Four Horsemen Toy Design Studios is a toy company based in New Jersey that creates highly detailed action figures for Mattel while making its own toys that are sold online to adult collectors. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 03/21/2012 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/business/smallbusiness/tied-to-one-big-client-but-wanting-to-cut-the-cord.html?ref=smallbusiness# Questions for discussion: What are the particular problems facing these businessmen? What are the… Read more »
‘Mad Men’ and Ad women: A love-hate relationship
Description: Despite its sexualized portrayal of gender roles in the office, many women in advertising are eagerly awaiting the return of the hit television show. Source: Fortune.com Date: 03/23/2012 Link: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/03/23/mad-men/?iid=SF_F_Lead Questions for discussion: Why do you think this show has become so popular? What message does it send to today’s managers about business ethics… Read more »
What’s driving the manufacturing rebound?
Description: Manufacturing jobs are not close to pre-recession levels, but auto jobs, especially in Michigan, are showing signs of life. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/16/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/03/16/n-us-manufacturing-autos.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Why has manufacturing rebounded? What does this mean for production managers andx the economy as a whole?
Pricey undies, made in the U.S.A.
Description: Hanky Panky is one of very few apparel makers that makes its lingerie in America. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/15/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/03/14/n-hanky-panky-usa.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: How is it that this product category can defy the odds and sell successfully? Are there other products that could do as well, in your opinion?
