United CEO won’t buy a refinery

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Description:  United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek says he wouldn’t buy an oil refinery and talks about why he believes consolidation is good for business. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 26, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/06/26/n-united-airlines-ceo.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussion: What does this report say about operational decision-making at United? How does United perceive and deal with… Read more »

Alfa plots “Il Ritorno” as U.S. re-entry takes shape

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Description: As Italian automaker Fiat SpA (FIA.MI) plots the U.S. relaunch of its sporty Alfa Romeo brand there is plenty riding on its success, from a justification of the Chrysler acquisition to the business reputation of its CEO Sergio Marchionne. Source: Reuters.com Date: June 28, 2012 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/28/us-fiat-us-alfaromeo-idUSBRE85R0BP20120628 Questions for Discussions: What is the logic… Read more »

Encana probes collusion accusation

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Description:  Encana Corp. has launched an internal investigation after the State of Michigan said it is examining allegations that the company worked with rival Chesapeake Energy Corp. to avoid competing in state land auctions for shale gas. Source: GlobeandMail.com Date: June 26, 2012 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/encana-probes-collusion-accusation/article4368056/ Questions for Discussions: What are the financial implications for both… Read more »

Bayo in Hot Water Over Controversial Ads, Again

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Description:  Fashion brand Bayo’s latest ad campaign is causing a furor because of its racially charged content. Weeks earlier, the company had to pull an earlier phase of its advertising campaign. The WSJ’s Patrick Barta tells Deborah Kan what the controversy is all about. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: June 18, 2012 Link: http://live.wsj.com/video/bayo-in-hot-water-over-controversial-ads-again/B06B0867-917E-4A8A-8F2D-299DD51C900A.html… Read more »

The hardest question any leader can ask

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Description: Is it worth daring to be great?  No buzzwords, no ambiguity, just a simple question that couldn’t matter more. Source: Fortune.com Date: Jun 21, 2012 Link: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/06/21/the-hardest-question-any-leader-can-ask/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: Summarize the highlights in this report. What do you think about them?  

Comcast: VOD ad impressions set to increase “tenfold”

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior, Uncategorized.

Description: The pay TV business thinks it’s about to cash in on a new revenue stream. Source: Businessweek.com Date: June 21, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/gigaom/articles/2012_06_20_comcast_vod_ad_impressions_set_to_increase_tenfold.html?iid=SF_F_River Questions for Discussions: What are the managerial implications for the shifts taking place? How would you advise managers in each segment of the industry to negotiate division of the revenue pie?… Read more »

Rajat Gupta Convicted Of Insider Trading By U.S. Jury

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Description: Rajat Gupta, who reached the pinnacle of corporate America as managing partner of McKinsey & Co. and as a director at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Procter & Gamble Co. (PG), was convicted by a federal jury of leaking inside information to hedge-fund manager Raj Rajaratnam. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: June 15, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-15/rajat-gupta-convicted-of-insider-trading-by-u-s-jury.html… Read more »

Immigrants’ Role in the Small Business Economy Grows

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Description: The share of U.S. small businesses owned by immigrants has expanded by 50 percent since 1990, with almost one-fifth of business owners born outside the country, according to a new report (PDF) by the Fiscal Policy Institute. Source: Businessweek.com Date: June 15, 2012 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-14/immigrants-role-in-the-small-business-economy-grows Questions for Discussions: What are the highlights of this… Read more »

Pfizer Sees Harvard Collaboration As Spark For New Drugs

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Description:  When Hal Dvorak, a Harvard scientist whose ideas helped spur the advance of targeted cancer drugs, sought a partner recently to help him develop new treatments, he only had to walk two blocks to find one. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: June 15, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-15/pfizer-sees-harvard-collaboration-as-spark-for-new-drugs.html Questions for Discussions: Describe the relationships between educational institutions and… Read more »

Disney Will Ban Junk-Food Ads on Kids Programs by 2015

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Description: Walt Disney Co. (DIS), aiming to combat childhood obesity by banning junk-food ads, will require that food and beverage advertising to kids on its TV networks and radio stations meet new nutritional standards by 2015. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: June 05, 2012 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-05/disney-to-impose-new-rules-on-junk-food-ads-on-kid-s-shows-1-.html Questions for Discussions: What are the pros and cons of this… Read more »