Making ‘whoopie’ from home

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description:  Staying home with small children while earning an income is a common dilemma among parents.  Amy Bouchard of Garinder, Maine, figured it out, turning her knack for whoopie pies into a profitable business. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 02/22/2012 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2012/02/22/smb_sbt_wicked_whoopies.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the formula for this entrepreneurial success story? How… Read more »

YouTube bets $100 million on original content

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description:   YouTube is enlisting Hollywood’s help to reach a generation of viewers more familiar with smartphones than TV remotes. Source:  USAToday.com Date: 02/20/2012 Link:  http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/story/2012-02-20/youtube-original-content/53170394/1 Questions for discussion: Do you think this production strategy can work? What other YouTube channel concepts do you think would succeed? Who are the target markets for these concepts? How… Read more »

Entrepreneurship Isn’t About Money, It’s About Changing the World

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description:   Entrepreneur Matt Mullenweg recently said that his motivation isn’t to make money, it’s to change the world. Source:  Sprouter.com Date: 02/22/2012 Link:  http://sprouter.com/blog/matt-mullenweg-wordpress-automattic-profile/?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=22+February+2012+%2F%2F+Hottest+StartUps%2C+Events+%26+Resources&utm_campaign=Sprouter+Weekly%3A+February+22%2C+2013&utm_term=_0D_0AEntrepreneurship+Isn_E2_80_99t+About+Money_2C+It_E2_80_99s+About+Changing+the+World_0D_0A Questions for discussion:  Describe the characteristics that make Matt Mullenweg an entrepreneur. Are any of these unique when compared to the general description of entrepreneurs?

Total Worldwide Social Network Ad Revenues Continue Strong Growth

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description:   Worldwide social network ad revenues are still going strong and set to grow nearly 50% this year, according to eMarketer estimates. Source:  eMarketer.com Date: 02/24/2012 Link:  http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1008862 Questions for discussion: What explains this rate of growth? At what point do you think it will level off? How should marketing managers deal with this information?

A wonderland of chocolate

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description:  Koppers Chocolate factory is the oldest and largest factory left in New York City. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 02/14/2012 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2012/02/13/sbiz_koppers_chocolate.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Describe the business model for this company. Why do you think it has remained relatively small when compared to  bigger competitors? What advantages are there to choosing to… Read more »

A new jobs program for people trapped in unemployment

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description:   The chances of finding a job are grim for the four million long-term unemployed in the U.S., but Joe Carbone is looking to change that in his Connecticut town. Scott Pelley reports. Source:  MoneyWatch.com Date: 02/19/2012 Link:  http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7399352n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox Questions for discussion: Summarize the problems faced by the long term unemployed. Why does this paid-internship… Read more »

America’s Blue Collar Nostalgia Masks Future Challenges

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description:  The U.S. manufacturing sector needs more skilled workers and can’t support middle class living standards as it once did. Source: Businessweek.com Date: 02/17/2012 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/finance/americas-blue-collar-nostalgia-masks-future-challenges-02172012.html Questions for discussion: What message is there here for managers? How would you expect HR managers to respond to this report?

For Small Theaters, the Digital Future Is Dark

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description:  Independent movie houses scramble to pay for expensive new gear Source: Businessweek.com Date: 02/17/2012 Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/for-small-theaters-the-digital-future-is-dark-02162012.html Questions for discussion: Why are smaller theatres having problems? Will these strategies work, in your opinion? What else could management do?

Gen Y Speeds Up Luxury Goods Spending

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description:   Flash sale sites and the fashion industry’s maturing web presence boost sales to young consumers Source:  eMarketer.com Date: 02/22/2012 Link:  http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1008854&ecid=a6506033675d47f881651943c21c5ed4 Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights in this report. Do you agree with the reasons given? Where do you think the marketplace is headed?

The euro dream that became a nightmare

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description:   When countries post a 40% youth unemployment rate, you know something is terribly wrong. The last time developed countries experienced such an employment disaster was during the Great Depression, and it is a moot question as to whether the current period will prove to be worse for the southern European countries than the Great… Read more »