Why Direct Selling Is Booming

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Description: While the traditional job market remains stagnant, the direct-selling industry is booming. More than 15 million people now make a full or part-time living as independent representatives for a direct-sales company. Susan Solovic has details on Lunch Break. Photo: Reuters. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: Sep 12, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/OgWDMF Questions for Discussions:… Read more »

American Retailers Face Challenges in Expanding to Canada

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Description:  Nordstrom and Target are about to open stores in Canada, J. Crew and Tory Burch just did so, and Ann Taylor and Kate Spade are scouting locations. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 14, 2012 Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/15/business/american-retailers-expanding-to-canada.html?ref=business Questions for Discussions: Summarize the challenges facing American retailers entering the Canadian retail market. What are the factors that… Read more »

How Crayola crayons are made

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Description: For over 100 years, Crayola has mixed and molded crayons in the hopes of encouraging creativity in children. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Aug 29, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2012/08/29/sbiz-hwgs-crayola-crayons.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Why do you think crayons and Crayola brand in particular have endured for so many generations? Describe the manufacturing process that was… Read more »

Facebook Shares Hit New Lows

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Description: Facebook shares fell 5% to new lows Friday as two analysts from firms that underwrote its initial public offering cut their price targets on the shares, Paul Vigna reports on the News Hub. Photo: AP. Source: Moneywatch.com – video report Date: Aug 31, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/R3hzXy Questions for Discussions: Summarize the explanation in this… Read more »

Tony Hayward Gets His Life Back

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Description:  IF there’s a public villain of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill — one person who, rightly or not, will be remembered for the deadly blowout, the black slick and all that followed — it’s probably Tony Hayward. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 01, 2012 Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/business/tony-hayward-former-bp-chief-returns-to-oil.html?ref=business Questions for Discussions: What does this report have… Read more »

Job Hopping Is the ‘New Normal’ for Millennials: Three Ways to Prevent a Human Resource Nightmare

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Description:  The average worker today stays at each of his or her jobs for 4.4 years, according to the most recent available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but the expected tenure of the workforce’s youngest employees is about half that. Source: Forbes.com Date: Aug 14, 2012 Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeannemeister/2012/08/14/job-hopping-is-the-new-normal-for-millennials-three-ways-to-prevent-a-human-resource-nightmare/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the… Read more »

Obama’s small biz solar star fades

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Description: A small solar business, once the leading light of President Obama’s green jobs program, is now caught in an international trade dispute. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Aug 24, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/08/23/n-obama-solar-star-not-shining.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the history of this start-up business. What are the lessons to be learned about the globalization of… Read more »

How AT&T gets new ideas to your phone

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Description: AT&T created a unique innovation pipeline for its 250,000 employees to streamline their ideas towards production Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Aug 23, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/magazines/fortune/2012/08/23/f-l-att-idea-pipeline.fortune/ Questions for Discussions: Describe the innovation process at AT&T. What lessons are there to be learned by managers when designing innovation processes and product development?

Using Facebook & face-scans to offer deals

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Description: Facedeals uses cameras in stores to recognize your face and send you targeted deals using your Facebook profile. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Aug 15, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/08/15/t-facedeals.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What are the ethical issues that management needs to address if they are going to participate in this sort of technology? How… Read more »