FedEx Ground Says Its Drivers Aren’t Employees. The Courts Will Decide

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

Description: FedEx Ground didn’t pay overtime or contribute to Scalercio’s Social Security benefits. That’s because since acquiring RPS and introducing its ground service, the FedEx unit has treated drivers as independent contractors, not employees.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Oct 16, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-16/fedex-ground-says-its-drivers-arent-employees-dot-the-courts-will-decide#r=hp-ls

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe the business model FedEx has used to manage ground operations?
  • Do you think there are any other managerial issues, aside form these legal arguments?
  • Who do you think the courts will favor?

Social Marketing 2015: The Key to ROI Will Come from Within

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

Description: Answers to measuring social success will come from internal metrics, rather than external

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: Oct 17, 2014

Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Social-Marketing-2015-Key-ROI-Will-Come-Within/1011305#sthash.jismopBQ.dpuf

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does this article say about the challenges to measuring the ROI of social media?
  • Why do you think managers of most businesses are willing to employ social media?
  • How would you suggest going about measuring ROI for a car company?

Disney’s nightmare in Europe

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

Description: Walt Disney rescues Disneyland Paris with a $1.25 billion refinancing deal. Visitor numbers at Europe’s top attraction are falling as the economic crisis takes its toll.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 06, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/10/06/euro-disney-numbers-fall-paris.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Who is the target customer for DisneyParis?
  • Why do you think it has consistently lost money?
  • Do you think Disney should just fold up operations or is there a solution?

Meg Whitman defends HP split

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

Description: At Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, CEO Meg Whitman explains why splitting up Hewlett-Packard is good for customers, not only shareholders, and why the right time to do it is now.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 07, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/10/07/meg-whitman-defends-hp-split.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize Meg Whitman’s explanation for the split up of HP, from a managerial point of view?
  • Do you think it will make any difference on a managerial level?

A Small, Spicy Start-Up Prepares for the Demands of Eggnog Season

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

Description: THE CHALLENGE Because they have yet to hire employees, Mr. Hemeyer and Mr. Salenski have been handcrafting, bottling, labeling, packaging and shipping about 750 bottles of their liquid spices themselves each month. The founders expect a bump in sales during the holiday season, but have no idea how big that bump might be.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Oct 02, 2014

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/02/business/smallbusiness/a-small-spicy-start-up-prepares-for-the-demands-of-eggnog-season.html?ref=smallbusiness

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the decisions this small business needs to make?
  • How would you go about making these decisions?

What Snapchat Wants From Yahoo!

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

Description: Reports that Yahoo! (YHOO) is on the verge of investing $20 million in Snapchat, at a valuation of $10 billion, have prompted discussion of how the investment fits with Yahoo’s broader strategy and why some shareholders are less than amused.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Oct 07, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-07/what-snapchat-wants-from-yahoo#r=hp-lst

Questions for Discussions:

  • What strategic advantage is SnapChat offering content providers over other distribution software providers?
  • Summarize the strategic thinking presented by the Yahoo move.
  • Do you think this strategy can generate the revenue the firm seeks?

Second Screening During TV Time—It’s Not What You Think

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description: As digital devices take an increasingly prominent place in the lives of US consumers, media use is becoming characterized not by the influence of any single device or platform, but by the simultaneous use of multiple ones.

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: Oct 06, 2014

Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Second-Screening-During-TV-TimeIts-Not-What-You-Think/1011256#sthash.Tp5UVGeG.dpuf

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the competing threats to the television industry?
  • Can you offer an explanation for this behavior by the audience?
  • How should management deal with this information?

When your news site knows your pant size

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

Description: Thrillist founder Ben Lerer explains how he turned his media company into one that also sells products directly to its readers.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 03, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/10/03/ben-lerer-content-commerce.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe this business model.
  • Develop a strategy for another product category such as electronics.

This company is protecting the NFL & NBA

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

Description: Founded in a basement in 1980, McDavid is now one of the largest manufacturers of protective athletic equipment in the world.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 03, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/10/03/meet-the-company-protecting-the-worlds-best-athletes.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

Who is the target customer for these products?

Would you contract with any single player or team to publicize these products made by the company?

How should management develop a strategy aimed at the amateur customer?

How to Improve Strategic Partnerships (It’s Important)

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

Description: Strategic alliances are more critical than ever before, according to research released in September 2014 by the CMO Council and BPI Network.

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: Oct 01, 2014

Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/How-Improve-Strategic-Partnerships-Its-Important/1011244#sthash.xtxlNA1X.dpuf

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why are strategic partnerships so important, according to the article?
  • Are you surprised by the research data?