We might as well jump on the royal bandwagon. But seriously, where else could the need for planning be more evident than with the event that took place on April 28, 2011 and what is to follow? No other monarchy in the world receives as much attention as the British royal family. In recent decades,… Read more »

After delaying an announcement for more than a week, Sony finally admitted its network had been hacked, compromising the data of 77 million users of PlayStation and potentially putting their credit information at risk. The backlash was immediate. In its defense, Sony argued the delay was necessary to give the company time to conduct investigations…. Read more »

The U.S. dollar fell last week to its lowest point in nearly two years, but key economic policy makers in the United States have yet to take action to prevent the currency’s decline. The U.S. dollar has dropped almost 8% against a trade-weighted basket of currencies in 2011. Although Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has… Read more »

The Doha Round of global trade talks aimed at promoting free trade may be on the brink of failure. Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) seem increasingly gloomy about the prospects for a successful resolution in the current round of negotiations of the WTO. The Doha Round began in 2001, a time when China,… Read more »

Research is emerging on the social implications of smart (cellular) phone usage. This research along with revelations by Apple that iPhones catalog phone usage along with location is raising ethical concerns. While firms such as Google and AT&T claim that any data gathered is done so anonymously, research clearly indicates that the level of knowing… Read more »

Shawn Bravender is an avid cyclist and cycling is his preferred method of commuting. Naturally, riding a bike to and from work causes a few concerns (e.g., hygiene, appropriate business attire), so when Bravender’s employer gave him the task of figuring out how to make it work, he did. The move may become more common… Read more »

Retail giant Wal-Mart is testing home delivery in California. The move is in response to similar tests by Amazon and Sears. Wal-Mart already has a successful home delivery business in Europe and recently brought a top-level executive from that subsidiary to the United States. In addition, the company purchased Kosmix to help develop a new… Read more »

Truckers in Shanghai have mounted three days and counting of protests and work stoppages over rising costs and fees. China’s inflation hit 5.4% in March, which is its fastest pace in 32 months. The truckers contend that rising fuel costs and other expenses are making it impossible for them to be profitable. China’s level of… Read more »

Gold continued on its upward trajectory last week and closed above $1,500 per ounce for the first time on Thursday. Gold closed at record highs every day last week and it has gained 5.8% so far this year. Investors are turning to gold as a safe haven investment. Many of the major currencies have issues… Read more »

Rumors indicate that medical giant Johnson & Johnson is once again looking to acquire a medical equipment manufacturer. The suspected target is Swiss-based Synthes. Johnson & Johnson’s medical equipment sales appear to be at a plateau, so the company would like to acquire a company that offers some protection against competition. QUESTIONS: Should Johnson &… Read more »