The future of rechargeable batteries

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Description: Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory are developing car and smartphone batteries that can hold 50 percent more energy. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 10, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/10/10/t-lithium-battery-volt.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: How do you think the development of this new technology will change the transportation and communications industries? Which other industries are likely… Read more »

For Some Drivers, an Electric Motorcycle Could Be the Best of Both Worlds

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Description:  Zipping around on a motorcycle can be fun, but being in a downpour or an accident on one is not. Driving a car is safer and more comfortable, but traffic and parking can be annoying. What if you got rid of the bad parts of both? Source: NYTimes.com Date: Oct 10, 2012 Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/technology/start-ups/for-some-drivers-electric-motorcycle-could-be-the-best-of-both-worlds.html?ref=business… Read more »

In Praise of Micro-Managers

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Description: Apple has been without Steve Jobs for one year now, and it has become clear that what the company misses most is not Jobs’s innovative thinking, but his micro-management. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Oct.11, 2012 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-11/in-praise-of-micromanagers#r=hpt-fs Questions for Discussions: Summarize the points made in the article about micro-managers. Do you agree with these sentiments?

Carol Bartz’s advice to Marissa Mayer

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Description: Ex-Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz’s advice to the current CEO Marissa Mayer – ‘changing culture is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.’ Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Oct 03, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/magazines/fortune/2012/10/02/f-mpw-carol-bartz-advice-to-mayer.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the views presented by Carol Bartz. What is your opinion of these positions?

How a Dashboard Can Set You Free

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Description: Creating value in a business often starts with a change in the behavior of the owner. See if this sounds like you: Source: NYTimes.com Date: Oct 04, 2012 Link: http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/how-a-dashboard-can-set-you-free/?ref=smallbusiness Questions for Discussions: What is the Dashboard concept and how is it supposed to help managers? Describe the specific problems faced by the author of… Read more »

The farmers market goes digital

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Description: Mobile apps can shorten the food chain, skipping grocery stores and connecting farmers directly to consumers. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 27, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/09/27/n-farmigo-digital-farmers-market.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Which marketing functions are being provided by the Internet system that is connecting farmers directly with consumers? How is this system more socially responsible?… Read more »

How a tech co. ended up in Concord, Mass.

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Description: Concord, Mass. wasn’t co-founder Paul English’s first choice for Kayak’s HQ, but he did it for the sake of recruiting the best talent. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Sep 27, 2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/magazines/fortune/2012/09/26/ldrshp-kayak-4.fortune/ Questions for Discussions: What does this report say about the way in which businesses are formed and business people are… Read more »

How to argue with the boss — and win

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Description:  (MoneyWatch) The whole problem with advice on how to deal with boss issues is it’s usually black and white. That’s because writing without a distinct point of view is usually very boring. In social media terms, that means it’s not very “clickable.” Source: CBSMoneyWatch.com Date: Sep 25, 2012 Link:  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57519430/how-to-argue-with-the-boss-and-win/?tag=nl.e664&s_cid=e664 Questions for Discussions: Summarize… Read more »

Harley-Davidson Revs Up for Leaner Times

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Description: Harley-Davidson has fine-tuned its operations for smooth riding should the economy slip back into a slump. James Hagerty has details on The News Hub. Photo: Bloomberg. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: Sep 21, 2012 Link: http://on.wsj.com/ONkNP3 Questions for Discussions: How has Harley-Davidson changed production in order to improve productivity? Why do you think… Read more »

Medicare Bills Rise as Records Turn Electronic

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Description:  When the federal government began providing billions of dollars in incentives to push hospitals and physicians to use electronic medical and billing records, the goal was not only to improve efficiency and patient safety, but also to reduce health care costs. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 21, 2012 Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/22/business/medicare-billing-rises-at-hospitals-with-electronic-records.html?_r=1&hp Questions for Discussions: What are… Read more »