Description: Perhaps the most compelling family business narrative has long been about passing on an enterprise to the next generation. But with small business start-ups proliferating, and frequently growing in step with the children of company founders, it is not just the enterprise but the spirit of enterprise — the desire to create a new one — that is being passed on to the next generation.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: May 27, 2015

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/28/business/smallbusiness/raising-the-next-generation-of-chief-executives.html?ref=smallbusiness&_r=0

Questions for discussion:

• What does this report say about the influence of family members towards entrepreneurship?
• Do you agree with the sentiments?

Description: One can’t help but admire Uber’s willingness to follow the basic logic of economics any place it happens to lead. Even to price gouging.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: May 19, 2015

Link: http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-05-19/the-price-is-right-or-uber-will-raise-it

Questions for discussion:

• What does this report say about pricing strategies and management’s strategic thinking?
• Do you agree with a strategy of tinkering with price in any situation?

Description: You may think the advice that one super-successful corporate titan gives to another super-successful almost-CEO is something you can safely ignore. Yet the last thing that Google founder Sergey Brin told Marissa Mayer right before she ascended to the throne of chief executive of Yahoo is something we all need to hear. Especially women.

Source: HuffingtonPost.com/Fortune.com – video report

Date: May 20, 2015

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/20/advice-marissa-mayer_n_7342312.html?utm_hp_ref=business

Questions for discussion:

• What is the advice?
• What do you think of this suggestion and the implications for management?

Description: The tech industry used to think big. As early as 1977, when personal computers were expensive and impractical mystery boxes with no apparent utility or business prospects, the young Bill Gates and Paul Allen were already working toward a future in which we would see “a computer on every desk and in every home.”

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: May 21, 2015

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/21/technology/personaltech/a-tech-boom-aimed-at-the-few-instead-of-the-world.html?_r=0

Questions for discussion:

• How are these two start-ups different from older start-up businesses, according to the author?
• Do you think this business model is a new wave of future development?

Description: Everyone knows the legendary skills business leaders need to succeed. CEOs of mighty corporations need big strategic vision and superior motivational flair. Entrepreneurs need to be canny risk-takers who move with speed and daring.

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: May 20, 2015

Link: http://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/the-three-skills-ceos-need-most-probably-arent-what-you-expect?__lsa=18a5-b6eb

Questions for Discussions:

• What does the report say about perceptions of important executive skills?
• What other skills do you think are of significant importance? Why?