The four-day workweek is new standard for 40% of companies, EY survey finds

Posted by & filed under Communication, Control, Decision Making, Ethics & Social Responsibility, Leadership, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: A cooling economy, rising mortgage rates and mass layoffs have done little to dampen executive demand for expanded office presence and increased flexibility for office workers, a new report from Ernst and Young found.  The consulting firm on Wednesday released its second annual EY Future Workplace Index, which showed a growing appetite for hybrid work and an increase in both the use of flexible working options and the presence of a four-day workweek.

​Source: CNBC.com video report

Date: Nov 07, 2022

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/16/four-day-workweek-is-new-standard-for-40percent-of-companies-ey-study-finds.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the research found by EY.
  • Why do you you think these changes have come about?
  • What are the challenges for management and employees with these new hybrid work structures?

Why Have Employees Historically Quit Their Jobs? The Entire Reason Can Be Summed Up in 1 Sentence

Posted by & filed under Communication, Control, Decision Making, Ethics & Social Responsibility, Leadership, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: It also answers the age-old question: Why do so many managers fail at their jobs?

​Source: INC.com

Date: Nov 16, 2022

Link: https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/why-have-employees-historically-quit-their-jobs-entire-reason-can-be-summed-up-in-1-sentence.html?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=IncThisMorning-Nov%2016,%202022&leadId=261346&mkt_tok=NjEwLUxFRS04NzIAAAGIJIyXt0vCmwDXAJ3qmOsAbbdIGeXO1ebIZbUFXs4yo6hNqP2U-b4ZrTcj_gaqS7_vWZWOoM5qCD_8OvsSHzXmPFn-f_lQ2xYKM7by5w

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you think the reason provided by the research is valid?
  • What might be behind the statement?
  • Why would managers not follow this research insight and become better managers?
  • What does all of this say about people in a work environment?

Lightspeed is ‘spending a fortune on hiring’ as tech sector cuts thousands

Posted by & filed under Decision Making, International Business, Leadership, Management, Organizational Behavior, Strategy.

Description: CEO aims to pick up talent that Amazon, Facebook, Shopify and Twitter have let go

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Nov 17, 2022

Link: https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/lightspeed-commerce-hiring-amid-tech-layoffs

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the arguments supporting this managerial move?
  • What are the risks?
  • Do you think management is doing the right thing?
  • Do you think this might give the firm competitive advantage?
    ​

Is This the End Game for Crypto?

Posted by & filed under Communication, Control, Decision Making, Ethics & Social Responsibility, International Business, Leadership, Management, Strategy.

Description: Recent events have made clear the need to regulate crypto, an industry that grew from nothing to a $3 trillion market capitalization a year ago, although most of that has now evaporated. But it also seems likely that the industry couldn’t survive regulation.

Source: NYT.com

Date: Nov 17, 2022

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/17/opinion/crypto-banks-regulation-ftx.html?

Questions for discussion:

  • What does Paul Krugman say about cryptocurrency and the reasons for recent problems?
  • Do you agree with his analysis and commentary?
  • Can crypto be rejuvenated given recent publicity, in your opinion?

Walmart and Target’s quarterly results lay bare the retailers’ stark differences

Posted by & filed under Decision Making, Management, Organizational Behavior, Strategy.

Description: Walmart’s stock surged this week. Target’s shares plunged. The rival big-box players are both known for selling an array of products including food, clothing, home goods and kitchen appliances. Both their CEOs − Walmart’s Doug McMillon and Target’s Brian Cornell − stepped into their roles in 2014.

Source: CNBC.com

Date: Nov 17, 2022

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/17/walmart-and-targets-quarterly-results-lay-bare-retailers-differences.html

Questions for discussion:

  • How important is grocery shopping in explaining the variance between these retailers?
  • How can Target respond?
  • What does this all mean for investors looking ahead?

Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass to step down, join Levi Strauss as CEO in waiting

Posted by & filed under Communication, Control, Decision Making, Leadership, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Kohl’s said Tuesday that CEO Michelle Gass is leaving the company for a new opportunity as its sales continue to fall.  In a separate release, Levi Strauss & Co. said Gass will join the company in early January as president and step into the role of CEO within the next 18 months. She will succeed the company’s CEO Chip Bergh.

​Source: CNBC.com

Date: Nov 08, 2022

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/08/kohls-ceo-michelle-gass-to-step-down.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you think the decline at Kohl’s can be attributed to the leadership of Gass?
  • Why do you suppose Levi Strauss would consider Gass a suitable leadership replacement at this time?

My Employee Gets Stressed Out and Snaps at Me

Posted by & filed under Communication, Control, Decision Making, Leadership, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: He’s smart and capable but this behavior is disruptive

Source: INC.com

Date: Nov 07, 2022

Link: https://www.inc.com/alison-green/my-employee-gets-stressed-out-snaps-at-me.html?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=IncThisMorning-Nov%2007,%202022&leadId=261346&mkt_tok=NjEwLUxFRS04NzIAAAGH9jODEqPBEk5jpl39RWE1uGLJ-rvIGNfBltKaiJKPBEUWK4KfRijoxF3IsudMoqDvHRTYpIWTor7FFHEOBs6nIwUDIu44myeLDT4nFg

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize your interpretation of the dysfunctional issues related to this employee.
  • What was the basic message to the manager for how best to handle the problem?
  • Do you agree with this analysis and advice?

Apple Built Its Empire With China. Now Its Foundation Is Showing Cracks.

Posted by & filed under Control, Decision Making, International Business, Leadership, Management, Organizational Behavior, Strategy.

Description: Every September, Apple unveils its latest phones at its futuristic Silicon Valley campus. A few weeks later, tens of millions of its newest handsets, assembled by legions of seasonal workers hired by its suppliers, are shipped from Chinese factories to customers around the world.

​Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Nov 07, 2022

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/07/business/apple-china-ymtc.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the issues facing Apple as it attempts to deal with changing geo-political conditions?
  • In which direction does the company seem to be moving as it tries to mitigate future risk?
  • What do you think this means for the future of the company?

Canada’s moonshot: The green farming revolution is here, but we must help it grow

Posted by & filed under Control, Decision Making, Management, Organizational Behavior, Strategy.

Description: Opinion: If we don’t act, we will miss our opportunity to lead the world in ensuring agriculture an engine of economic growth

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Nov 07, 2022

Link: https://financialpost.com/commodities/agriculture/green-farming-revolution-canada

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the vision for future operations of the industry.
  • What do you think of the vision?
  • What will this mean in terms of management functions?
    ​
    ​

The big reveal: New laws require companies to disclose pay ranges on job postings.

Posted by & filed under Communication, Control, Decision Making, Ethics & Social Responsibility, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: New York City has joined a handful of places, including Colorado, Washington State and Rhode Island, which require some form of salary transparency. In the case of New York City, companies are required to include a salary range when they post a job opening.

Source: NPR.org

Date: Nov 08, 2022

Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/11/05/1134193927/salary-transparency-range-new-york-pay-laws

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the pros and cons of salary transparency?
  • How do you think this affects employees attitude toward their work and fellow employees?
  • How do you think it affects recruitment and management?
  • Do you think this can affect profitability of firms?