The Trouble With IBM

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

Description: In the summer of 2012, five American technology companies bid on a project for a demanding new client: the CIA. The spy agency was collecting so much information, its computers couldn’t keep up. To deal with the onslaught of data, the CIA wanted to build its own private cloud computing system—an internal version of the vast fleets of efficient, adaptable servers that run technically complex commercial services such as Netflix (NFLX).

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: May 22, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-22/ibms-eps-target-unhelpful-amid-cloud-computing-challenges#r=hpf-s

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the highlights in this article.
  • What are the implications for management at companies like IBM?

McDonald’s and America’s new low-wage economy explained

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

Description: Who owns your local McDonald’s or builds your cell phone tower does not matter much to consumers. But it has huge implications for workers.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: May 23, 2014

Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2014/05/23/mcdonalds-and-americas-new-low-wage-economy-explained/?iid=SF_F_River

Questions for discussion:

  • How are wages determined?
  • In your opinion, what are the social responsibilities of the large corporations in this matter?

Can a virtual incubator democratize entrepreneurship?

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

Description: Zana, a new virtual incubator from a prominent venture capitalist, aims to bring startup education to the masses.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: May 23, 2014

Link: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2014/05/23/can-a-virtual-incubator-democratize-entrepreneurship/?iid=SF_F_River

Questions for discussion:

  • How does this concept work?
  • Do you think it is a good tool that can be used by managers?

Protesters: Double minimum wage!

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

Description: Fast food workers are on the streets again, demanding employers double their federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 15, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/05/15/fast-food-protests.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the arguments surrounding the minimum wage issues?
  • What do you think the government should do?
  • How does this issue affect management?

Wal-Mart woes deeper than winter snow

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

Description: It was a rough winter for retailers and Wal-Mart was no exception. But the company also issued weak guidance for the warmer second quarter as it boosts investments to remain competitive against Amazon and Costco.

Source: CNN.com – video report

Date: May 15, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/15/investing-the-buzz-walmart-retailers-kohls.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why did Wal-Mart miss earnings targets, according to this report?
  • Do you think Wal-Mart will have more difficulty competing in a crowded retail market?
  • How should management respond strategically?

Sears is in serious trouble

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

Description: Sears used to be an American retail icon. Ditto for Sears-owned Kmart. But with sales plunging and losses mounting, the only thing left for Sears to do is sell assets and close stores. That’s not a reason to buy the stock.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 15, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/14/investing-the-buzz-sears-kmart-retailer-eddie-lampert.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why is Sears in trouble?
  • Can the company be returned to the valuations it once enjoyed?
  • How should managers respond strategically?

Social Not a Big Help to Ecommerce

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

Description: Ecommerce traffic and sales as a result of social networks extremely low

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: May 15, 2014

Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Social-Not-Big-Help-Ecommerce/1010841/3#sthash.FgYkDA67.dpuf

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the report say about the value of social media for ecommerce sales?
  • Why do you think the numbers are so low?
  • Does this suggest that ecommerce managers should rethink their use of social media?

Study: CVS has largest CEO-to-worker pay disparity among top companies

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

Description: CEO Larry Merlo makes 422 times the median wage for CVS workers.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: May 15, 2014

Link: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2014/05/15/cvs-ceo-worker/

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this report suggest about executive compensation and that of the average worker they manage?
  • Is there a “correct” ratio?
  • How does this research relate to the minimum wage debate?
  • How should employees be compensated?

Dairy Queen CEO on the minimum wage

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

Description: Dairy Queen CEO John Gainor says ‘people need to be paid a fair wage,’ low wages are connected to turnover, and that the company is currently dealing with rising minimum wages in states.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 07, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/05/07/n-dairy-queen-ceo-minimum-wage.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • How does John Gainer see the impact of minimum wage increases on DQ operations?
  • Do you think they would be problematic for management to deal with?
  • How might they impact employee motivation and morale?

Munger: ‘Finance needs a few prosecutions’

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

Description: Warren Buffett’s right hand man, Charlie Munger, says banks are behaving better, but it’s important to charge some individuals with crimes to really change the culture.

Source: CNN.com – video report

Date: May 06, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/05/06/n-charlie-munger-bank-prosecution-criminal-charges-financial-crisis.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does Charlie Munger have to say about controlling questionable behavior of top corporate executives?
  • Do you agree with his suggestion to prosecute some executives as a means to control wrongdoing?