Ditching the cubicle can boost productivity

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Employees at Zurich Insurance are crowdsourcing the design of their new offices.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Jan 07, 2015

Link: http://fortune.com/2015/01/07/office-space-productivity/

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this report say about the participation of employees in the design of work environments?
  • Using any motivational model, explain the affect of workplace design on productivity.

Here’s what working will look like in 2030

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Tremendous forces are radically reshaping the world of work.

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Jan 05, 2015

Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2015/01/05/heres-what-working-will-look-like-in-2030/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the changes predicted in this report.
  • How do you think management will change as a direct result?
  • What conflict do you foresee, if these changes come to pass?

How Disney went digital

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Fortune’s Michal Lev-Ram goes to Disney World and explores the many ways the happiest place on earth has become more digital.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Dec 29, 2014

Link: http://for.tn/13BzWkG

Questions for Discussions:

  • How can this technology provide new information to management?
  • How might it change operations and HRM?

How Royal Caribbean is using tech to get back on top

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Royal Caribbean’s newly redesigned cruise “Quantum of the Seas” is jam packed with new features for the tech lovers dream, including: wifi, robot bartenders and indoor skydiving.

Source: Fortune.com – video report

Date: Dec 29, 2014

Link: http://for.tn/13OTP7L

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe the operational changes on board this ship?
  • Do you think they will resonate with customers?
  • Do you think they will reduce operational expenses or generate new sources of revenues?

The Farm-to-Table Restaurant Chain

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Spoken aloud, the business plan sounded about as viable as planting citrus groves in the Bakken oil fields. Seeking a way to sell directly to consumers, a group of North Dakota farmers banded together about a decade ago to start an upscale, farm-to-table restaurant chain on the East Coast.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Dec 30, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-12-30/founding-farmers-the-farm-to-table-restaurant-chain#r=nav-r-story

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the business plan presented in this report.
  • What are the most challenging managerial issues that come into play?

The promotions (and demotions) of America’s most powerful women execs

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Fortune’s 2014 Most Powerful Women in Business list has seen a lot of change since it was published in September.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Jan 02, 2015

Link: http://fortune.com/2015/01/02/most-powerful-women/

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this report say about these women and their respective organizations?
  • Does this report suggest that these women executives have done well?

White Castle Now Serves Veggie Sliders, but Will Anyone Eat Them?

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Late-night burger chain White Castle announced this week that it will start offering a 99¢ veggie slider, essentially a vegetarian version of the mini beef burgers the chain is known for.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Jan 02, 2015

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2015-01-02/white-castle-introduces-veggie-sliders

Questions for discussion:

  • How does this decision makes sense from an operations point of view?
  • What other changes would you suggest to management?

 

Delta baggage handler wants his job back

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Kip Hedges worked as a baggage handler for Delta for 26 years. He was fired after speaking out about employees’ low wages.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Dec 11, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/12/11/fired-delta-worker.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the issues in this case?
  • Do you think Delta managers have handled this situation properly?
  • What would you do next if you were management at Delta?

Why it’s great to work for Google

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Glassdoor asked thousands of employees to rate their companies. Here’s why Google ranked the highest.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Dec 10, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/12/10/google-best-place-to-work.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the key reasons given for Google’s ranking.
  • What lessons are there for other firms?

Sony exec, producer apologize after insensitive emails

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Sony Pictures Entertainment Chair Amy Pascal and Oscar-winning producer Scott Rudin have both issued apologies after Sony’s massive corporate hack revealed an email exchange of the two making distasteful jokes about President Obama.

Source: Fortune.com – video report

Date: Dec 11, 2014

Link: http://for.tn/1Biqvlv

Questions for Discussions:

  • What lessons should all managers take away from this situation?
  • What does this report suggest about corporate culture and the use of electronic communications such at text messaging and email?
  • Has Sony management done enough to deal with the problem?