A NASA Engineer Builds a Better Halloween Costume

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

Description: Two years ago, Mark Rober was an engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., part of a team that worked on the Curiosity rover. For Halloween, he strapped an iPad to his chest and another to his back. Then he turned them on and used the devices’ cameras and screens to make it appear as if he had a gaping hole in the middle of his torso.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Oct 18, 2013

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-10-18/a-nasa-engineer-builds-a-better-halloween-costume#r=nav-f-blog

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are some product development ideas associated with this concept of smartphone or tablet imaging and clothing?
  • What sort of web site should the company have in order to encourage sales of costumes and apps?

Starbucks CEO: I could not be a bystander

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Howard Schultz is hoping customers will sign a petition calling on lawmakers to ‘demonstrate leadership, conviction and courage.’ He calls the government shutdown and debt ceiling debate ‘shameful.’

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 11, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/10/11/n-starbucks-ceo-howard-schultz-petition-washington-shutdown-debt-ceiling.cnnmoney

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think this is appropriate corporate behavior?
  • Do you think this effort could be seen as a marketing opportunity for the firm rather than socially responsible behavior?

Reinventing the Wedding Registry

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

Description: Zola Co-Founder discusses the company’s aim to reinvent the wedding registry with Emily Chang on Bloomberg Television’s “Bloomberg West.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Source: Bloomberg.com – video report

Date: Oct 10, 2013

Link: http://bloom.bg/19lZbEW#ooid=o2cXVuZjoUe7iCu8z6JCs1A7BSVGgRcl

Questions for Discussions:

  • Explain this business model?
  • Do you think the strategy can work?
  • Is there a social responsibility angle to the business?

What will be Wal-Mart’s next hot product?

Posted by & filed under Management.

Description: Wal-Mart’s ‘Get on the Shelf’ contest to find the best new products has drawn thousands of entries. Here are some of the top 20 finalists.

Source: CNNMoney.com

Date: Oct 11, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/gallery/smallbusiness/2013/10/11/walmart-contest/index.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What do you think of Wal-Mart’s ‘Get on the Shelf” strategy?
  • How can this help with planning for orders and inventory levels?

Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in business

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

Description: Nearly everyone on the list is striving to reinvent her business. Meet a group of executives who don’t sit still.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Oct 11, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/gallery/leadership/2013/10/10/50-most-powerful-women.fortune/index.html?iid=MPW13_lp_header

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are common characteristics shared by these corporate women?
  • What do you think this report says about who can succeed in the corporate world?

Boeing Unveils Its Jumbo Killer

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description: Boeing (BA) forever changed aviation in 1970 when it introduced its 747 jumbo jet, whose size and range revolutionized flying and became a cultural icon in the process. It’s since gone on to log orders for more than 1,500 of the humpbacked behemoth’s various models. But now the world’s No. 1 maker of commercial aircraft is poised to offer a model that may kill off its best-known creation.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Oct 10, 2013

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-10-10/boeings-new-777x-could-make-the-largest-jumbo-jets-obsolete#r=hpt-ls

Questions for Discussions:

  • Explain the strategic thinking at Boeing as management chooses how to compete in the market?
  • What are the primary factors driving sales?

Inside Etsy’s Brooklyn headquarters

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

Description: Etsy’s Brooklyn headquarters has the perks of an on-site school, live music and handcrafted art and furniture bought from the website.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 03, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/10/03/t-fortune-etsy-brooklyn-culture.fortune/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • How would you describe the corporate culture at Etsy?
  • How does this relate to the business model of the firm?
  • Which motivation model would best help explain why employees are motivated to work at the firm?

Robot bartender mixes it up

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

Description: Monsieur – the ‘robotic bartender’ – is an Android powered device that mixes quality cocktails at the swipe of a screen.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 01, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/10/01/t-ts-monsieur-robot-bartender.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think there is a market for this product?
  • Who is the customer?
  • What strategy would you envision for a successful launch?

Why productivity increased during the downturn

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

Description: FORTUNE — If you’re a manager in a locale where unemployment skyrocketed during the recession, you might already have noticed something you didn’t expect: The people under you who contributed the least in boom times suddenly started bringing their “A” game, in some cases even outshining your stars.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Oct 03, 2013

Link: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2013/10/03/why-productivity-went-up-during-the-downturn/

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the findings of the research into productivity gains.
  • Does it surprise you?

Do You Want Wine With Those Fries?

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

Description: Who says Big Macs can’t be gourmet? That’s the message McDonald’s pushed at a fancy invitation-only event last week. Abby Haglage on the charm offensive—and why it’s such a tough sell.

Source: TheDailyBeast.com

Date: Oct 01, 2013

Link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/01/do-you-want-wine-with-those-fries.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the PR strategy and intended goals envisioned by management at McDonald’s?
  • Why will it be difficult to succeed?
  • What would you advise management to do to improve its image?