Description: Fortune’s annual list is filled with executives who defied expectations (buying a newspaper, leaving luxury for Apple), executed big turnarounds, and delivered stellar results for their shareholders. Source: Fortune.com Date: Nov 22, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/gallery/leadership/2013/11/21/business-person-year.fortune/index.html Questions for discussion: What are some fundamental characteristics shared by these managers? Explain their successes? What are the lessons… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Organizational Behavior
Facebook, Still Dominant, Strives to Keep Cachet
Description: When Evan Spiegel peered into a crystal ball to divine a future for his company, Snapchat, he did not see Facebook. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 17, 2013 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/18/technology/facebook-strives-to-keep-its-cachet.html Questions for discussion: What does this report suggest about the future for social websites like Facebook and its partners? How do you think Facebook will… Read more »
‘Little Box’ Stores Vie for Black Friday Shoppers
Description: Three years ago, American Express (AXP) claimed the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday, enticing shoppers with rebates if they swiped their AmEx cards at local independent stores the day after Black Friday’s big-box doorbuster sales. The next year, shopkeepers in Portland, Ore., asked: Why not make Black Friday for small business, too?… Read more »
High tech ‘old-fashioned’ ice cream
Description: Smitten Ice Cream in San Francisco is using a super cold liquid nitrogen ‘Brrr’ machine to make ice cream made to order. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 13, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/11/13/t-high-tech-smitten-ice-cream.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: How does this technology provide competitive advantage to the firm? Do you think a franchise network would be… Read more »
Messages gone in 10 secs worth billions?
Description: Messaging app Snapchat turned down a reported buyout offer from Facebook for $3 Billion. Laurie Segall reports. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 14, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/11/14/t-what-is-snapchat.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What is the business model for this software? Are the barriers to entry to existing photo sharing software firms likely to prevent them… Read more »
Snapchat, How Quickly You Have Grown
Description: While some might have been shocked this week by the multi-billion dollar offers the start-up Snapchat turned down, I found something else entirely perplexing about the valuation of this little company: just how quickly it grew. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 15, 2013 Link: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/15/from-university-class-project-to-billion-dollar-valuation/?ref=business Questions for Discussions: What does this article have to say… Read more »
Fast-Food Chains Inch Toward Healthiness
Description: Going cold turkey is hard—especially if it means denying yourself a 730-calorie frozen caramel coffee Coolatta or an 840-calorie steak and cheese sandwich. That’s why restaurants are getting Americans off unhealthy food gradually. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Nov 14, 2013 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-11-14/2014-outlook-fast-food-chains-inch-toward-healthiness#r=hpt-ls Questions for Discussions: How are fast food retailers dealing with the movement toward… Read more »
Lululemon Ripped For ‘Alienating The Customer’ As Stock Tumbles
Description: Lululemon’s repeated missteps are taking a toll. The yoga-wear retailer is both alienating current customers and “making it tough” to get new ones, an analyst at Sterne Agee, Sam Poser, wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. Poser downgraded the company’s stock and sent Lululemon shares downhill 4 percent to $66.24 on Thursday… Read more »
Blockbuster: Killed by Netflix
Description: Blockbuster’s announcement that it will close its remaining 300 video stores in the U.S. is a reminder that Netflix and other streaming sites have changed consumer habits. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 01, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/11/08/n-end-of-blockbuster.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: What is the common theme presented in this report that should concern all… Read more »
Toms’ new marketplace: More than just shoes
Description: Entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie discusses Toms Shoes’ ‘One for One’ program which gives free shoes to a poor children for every pair sold at retail and the company’s new digital marketplace. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 08, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/11/08/n-toms-shoes-blake-mycoskie.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Describe the new business model? What are the critical characteristics… Read more »
