Broken Links: How labour shortages in Canada’s freight industries keep goods from moving

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

Description: Truckers say reforms are needed for an industry where labour shortages are getting worse

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Sep 20, 2022

Link: https://financialpost.com/the-logic/broken-links-how-labour-shortages-in-canadas-freight-industries-keep-goods-from-moving

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the state of the industry and relations between drivers and the firms they serve, as described in this report.
  • What are the demands made by drivers?
  • What are the factors that will influence the future of this industry?

The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Beers

Posted by & filed under Communication, International Business, Strategy.

Description: “While there used to be stigmas attached to not drinking, that has really changed dramatically in the last 4 or 5 years.” How did the the non-alcoholic beer market go from flavorless to a market forecast to reach $23+ billion in 2025? Rosalie e’Silva and Kate Krader explain. (Source: Bloomberg)

Source: Bloomberg.co – video report

Date: Sep 19, 2022

Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2022-09-19/the-rise-of-non-alcoholic-beer?srnd=premium-canada

Questions for discussion:

  • What do you think explains the success of this product category?
  • Who is the target market?
  • What do you this about the longer term investment in non-alcoholic brewing?

Mark Cuban Says the Worst Career Advice Is ‘Follow Your Passion.’ What Should You Do Instead?

Posted by & filed under Decision Making, Leadership, Management.

Description: Turns out it’s something you already do. You just need to turn it up a notch.

Source: INC.com

Date: Sep 21, 2022

Link: https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/mark-cuban-says-worst-career-advice-is-follow-your-passion-what-should-you-do-instead.html?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=email&leadId=261346&mkt_tok=NjEwLUxFRS04NzIAAAGG_s0bJ4rgO6-Ha4lfXKGHNmrUVBgsf9USSn96kvl21rxRpUyVC1h5Fm2L9rB4yzkHDbrt0menfW10UTIdXAGI6Xw1jRVgdymDiaKb9w

Questions for discussion:

  • What is Mark Cuban’s advice?
  • Do you think it applies well to most people?
  • Do you think most people follow this advice?

Business Owners Make a Strong Case for Responding to Online Reviews

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

Description: In this episode, hear from several business owners about how they use online reviews to strengthen their business practices, boost morale, and encourage customers to return again and again.

Source: Entrepreneur.com

Date: Sep 16, 2022

Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/business-owners-make-a-strong-case-for-responding-to-online/435523

Questions for discussion:

  • With respect to responsiveness to online reviews and communications, what is the advice to owners and managers?
  • What are the trade-offs for following this advice?
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How LinkedIn Became a Place to Overshare

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

Description: “This isn’t Facebook,” users complain. But others are finding it a valuable place to talk about much more than work.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Sep 16, 2022

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/16/business/linkedin-overshare.html

Questions for discussion:

  • How has LinkedIn changed?
  • Why do you think this has happened?
  • Has this change made LinkedIn better or worse as a medium for professionals?
  • How should users adjust their use of LinkedIn?
  • What should management of LinkedIn do, in your opinion?

 

Biden pushed railways, unions to ‘be creative’ and ‘flexible’ to reach a deal and avoid a shutdown, White House says

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

Description: President Joe Biden urged railway executives and union leaders to be creative and flexible in finding a compromise to avoid a shutdown that could have disrupted the transport of goods across the U.S., White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Sep 15, 2022

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/15/biden-pushed-railways-unions-to-be-creative-white-house-says.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the article says about the negotiation process and how a solution was found just before the deadline?
  • Why do you suppose the issue of unpaid sick time was a critical issue?

Indigo’s new CEO Peter Ruis hopes to make retailer ‘bigger and bolder’

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

Description: Promotion ushers in a new era for Canada’s largest book store

Source: FinancialPost.com

​Date: Sep 09, 2022

Link: https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/indigos-new-ceo-peter-ruis-hopes-to-make-retailer-bigger-and-bolder

Questions for discussion:

  • Based on information in this article, what makes Peter Ruis a good choice for this managerial position, in your opinion?
  • What advice would you pass along to him that would help Indigo?
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Fred Franzia, creator of ‘Two Buck Chuck’ and champion of affordable wine, has died

Posted by & filed under Decision Making, Leadership, Management, Strategy.

Description: Fred Franzia, the man behind the famous “Two Buck Chuck,” died on Tuesday at age 79.

Source: NPR.org

Date: Sep 15, 2022

Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/09/15/1123070279/fred-franzia-two-buck-chuck-wine-bronco-dies

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the article say about the marketing of wine and consumer perception of price, in particular?
  • Do you think $2 wine could sell as well in a regular grocery store as it does at Trader Joe’s?

Peloton co-founders John Foley and Hisao Kushi are leaving the company in a broad executive shakeup

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

Description: Peloton on Monday announced the resignations of two of the company’s founders and another top executive, marking the end of an era for the struggling fitness-equipment company as CEO Barry McCarthy dramatically reshapes the business.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Sep 13, 2022

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/12/peloton-co-founders-john-foley-hisao-kushi-are-leaving-company.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What has happened at the firm that explains the restructuring of management?
  • What are the challenges facing the top managers?
  • What has the company done so far to mitigate the damage done to the brand and stock value?
  • What would you advise management do at this time?
  • Would you be an investor?

Change Doesn’t Happen in a Day. That’s Why Consistency Is Key.

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

Description: Changing is an incremental, repetitive task that takes time. But if you earnestly do your best to better yourself, you will succeed.

Source: Entrepreneur.com

Date: Sep 01, 2022

Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/change-doesnt-happen-in-a-day-so-stop-expecting-it-to/432656

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize what the article says about making change happen.
  • Do you agree with this prescription for orchestrating change?
  • What would you add to the discussion?
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