How HSN’s on-air stars drive business

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

Description: HSN CFO Judy Schmeling explains how celebrities and partnerships with iconic brands allows HSN to ‘tap in’ to new consumers.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Dec 26, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/magazines/fortune/2013/12/26/f-l-hsn-brands.fortune/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What did you learn about management thinking at HSN by watching this report?
  • What lessons apply to businesses in general?

Designer makes clothes in New York City

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

Description: Nanette Lepore preserves the apparel manufacturing tradition of the garment district in the heart of Manhattan.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Dec 27, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/12/27/n-new-york-city-designer-makes-clothes-in-manhattan.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • How has the clothing manufacturing business changed, according to the report?
  • Why would domestic manufacturers still insist on importing goods produced overseas?
  • How important is the social responsibility issue in this discussion?

In-App Purchases Take Over App Revenues

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

Description:  Free apps with in-app purchases account for nearly all nonadvertising revenues Read more at

Source:  eMarketer.com

Date: Dec 30, 2013

Link: http://www.emarketer.com/Article/In-App-Purchases-Take-Over-App-Revenues/1010491#ODxGOkr4cZ3mCQV5.99

Questions for Discussions:

  • Are you surprised by these results?
  • What strategies should managers be developing?

A Holiday Retail Lesson for Small Business: Be More Like Amazon

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

Description:   Here are three things we just learned about Christmas commerce in 2013:

Source:  Businessweek.com

Date: Dec 27, 2013

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-27/a-holiday-retail-lesson-for-small-business-be-more-like-amazon#r=nav-f-blog

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the advice presented to small retailers?
  • Do you think small business managers can and will respond?

 

BlackBerry Ltd faces another year of uncertainty as CEO launches rescue effort

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

Description:  BlackBerry Ltd. hopes to clean the slate again as it heads into the new year with another lease on life and a leader who believes he can do what his predecessors couldn’t — save the company from a slow death.

Source:  FinancialPost.com

Date: Dec 27, 2013

Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2013/12/27/blackberry-ltd-rescue-2014/?__lsa=2acf-e048

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe the current status of the firm.
  • Do you think new management can turn the company around?

 

90 seconds with GM’s next CEO

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

Description: Mary Barra, speaking at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Conference, discusses why she went into the auto industry and her ‘no more crappy cars’ mandate to employees after GM’s bankruptcy.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Dec 11, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/12/10/n-general-motors-next-ceo-first-female-mary-barra.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What did you learn about Mary Barra by watching tis clip?
  • Do you think she can bring a different sort of leadership to the management of the firm?

 

How companies can win consumers’ trust

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description:  Author Stephen M.R. Covey tells Gazelles CEO Verne Harnish that companies need to signal their intentions in order to win the trust of their customers.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Dec 11, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2013/12/11/f-verne-harnish-stephen-covey.fortune/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the advice presented by Covey in this report.
  • Do you think it makes sense for managers to follow this line of strateic thinking in all situations?

 

Inside Hammond’s candy-cane factory

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

Description:  Watch how Hammond’s Candies has been handmaking candy canes for the last 93 years.

Source:  CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Dec 11, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2013/12/10/smb-hammonds-candies.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • How has the candy manufacturing business changed at Hammond since it began operations?
  • Create a list of the key costs of production.

 

Exclusive: The Inside Story of GM’s Comeback and Mary Barra’s Rise

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

Description: Dan Akerson, the chairman and chief executive officer of General Motors (GM), arrives at the company’s Technical Center on Nov. 13 to address about 1,000 engineers and designers.

Source:  Businessweek.com

Date: Dec 11, 2013

Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-12/exclusive-the-inside-story-of-gms-comeback-and-mary-barras-rise

Questions for Discussions:

  • How was GM saved?
  • Is the current financial structure sound?
  • Does the firm have the top management that investors will “like”?

 

New Lululemon Athletica Inc CEO brings pedigree in top cult brands

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

Description: In naming Laurent Potdevin as its new CEO, Lululemon Athletica Inc. has found a seasoned fashion and sporting goods executive with a pedigree in top cult brands.

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Dec 10, 2013

Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2013/12/10/lululemon-laurent-potdevin/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think Laurent Potdevin can “save” the brand image?
  • What would you suggest that he do?