How to pitch Warren Buffett in 60 seconds or less

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

Description: At the world’s richest business plan competition, more than 40 teams delivered a minute-long appeal to an imaginary Oracle of Omaha. Here are our favorites.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Apr 11, 2014

Link: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/11/elevator-pitch-warren-buffett/?iid=SF_F_River

Questions for Discussions:

  • What do you think of the ideas presented in this report?
  • Sketch out a plan highlighting how you would go about fulfilling these plans.

The End of Free Facebook Marketing?

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

Description: Recent changes to the way Facebook serves up its news feeds are making it more difficult for small businesses to get their updates in front of customers. That’s causing some consternation among business owners who feel squeezed to pay for advertising when they used to get free exposure from the social media giant, which claims more than 1 billion monthly active users. One food delivery company upset about the situation went so far as to publicly break up with Facebook (FB).

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Apr 11, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-11/the-end-of-free-facebook-marketing#r=hpt-ls

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the changes taking place at Facebook that are affecting small business managers and their marketing plans?
  • How should these managers respond?

Golden Parachutes: Why it’s bad business

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

Description: Exorbitant payouts to executives for leaving violates the idea of pay-for-performance.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Apr 11, 2014

Link: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/11/golden-parachutes-why-its-a-sour-deal-for-business/?iid=SF_F_River

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the issues presented in the report concerning executive payouts.
  • What is your opinion on this matter?

Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk’s industrial empire

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

Description: So many children dream of fast cars and rocket ships, but few actually grow up to build them — and change the world in the process

Source: CBSNews.com – video report

Date: Mar 30, 2014

Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/tesla-and-spacex-elon-musks-industrial-empire

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think the Tesla will succeed?
  • How does Elon Musk compare to the textbook description of an entrepreneur?

Did GM’s Barra convince lawmakers on recall?

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

Description: Bloomberg’s Matt Miller recaps General Motors CEO Mary Barra’s day on Capitol Hill as she faces a second round of questioning by the U.S. Senate over a delayed recall to fix an ignition-switch problem on Bloomberg Television’s “Bloomberg Surveillance.”

Source: Bloomberg.com – video report

Date: Apr 02, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/is-gm-s-barra-convincing-congress-on-recall-78P6wgd8R8ajyE~UehgICA.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think Mary Barra has represented GM management well at the committee hearings?
  • How has this event affected the GM brand image and the corporate culture at the company, in your opinion?
  • How would you suggest GM go about dealing with the damage to their reputation?

Southwest Airlines’ new cause: ‘Placemaking’

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

Description: Through an innovative partnership, the airline is revitalizing public spaces in Detroit, Providence, and San Antonio. Look for more to come.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Apr 03, 2014

Link: http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/03/southwest-placemaking/?iid=SF_F_River

Questions for Discussions:

  • Explain the concept behind “placemaking” and why it has attracted corporate support.
  • How does this action fit with corporate social responsibility to communities?
  • How might this program of activity strengthen employee loyalty to the firm?

Is Cap’n Crunch Staring Straight Into Your Child’s Soul?

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description: Cereal marketers have worked out a sophisticated way to get children to pay attention to kids’ cereal in the grocery aisle: the old “loooook into my eeeeyes” method.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Apr 02, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-02/is-capn-crunch-staring-straight-into-your-child-s-soul#r=hpt-ls

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the research claims presented in this report.
  • What do you think about their validity and real value to marketing managers?
  • Is there something unethical about this strategy, in your opinion?

Digital Ad Spending Worldwide to Hit $137.53 Billion in 2014

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description: Spending on digital ads will make up around one-quarter of total media ad spending around the world

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: Apr 03, 2014

Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Digital-Ad-Spending-Worldwide-Hit-3613753-Billion-2014/1010736#WsmjlldAxtr2Ffwb.99

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the report say about digital advertising trends?
  • At what level do you think growth will level off?
  • What does this trend say to advertising managers?

Horowitz on Silicon Valley secrets

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

Description: Venture Capitalist Ben Horowitz dishes on Valley secrets, and what he looks for in entrepreneurs. Laurie Segall reports.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Mar 21, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/03/28/t-horowitz-silicon-valley-secrets.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does Ben Horowitz have to say about the sort of entrepreneur he looks for?
  • How does this profile compare to textbook descriptions of successful entrepreneurs?

Magnetic electronics let kids build toys

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

Description: LittleBits are electronic modules that snap together to create battery-powered toys.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Mar 25, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/03/25/t-ts-littlebits.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • How is this business similar to the Lego business model?
  • Do you think the management of the firm should emulate the Lego approach to marketing?
  • How can management capitalize on the socially responsible character of the product?