Exclusive: Time for Gates to go, some top Microsoft investors tell board

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

Description: (Reuters) – Three of the top 20 investors in Microsoft Corp are lobbying the board to press for Bill Gates to step down as chairman of the software company he co-founded 38 years ago, according to people familiar with matter.

Source: Reuters.com

Date: Oct 01, 2013

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/01/us-microsoft-gates-investors-idUSBRE9901H320131001

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think Bill Gates should step aside?
  • Do you think it is best for all shareholders if he did step aside?
  • How would management of the firm be different without him in his current position?

Why Home Depot focuses on employees

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

Description: Home Depot CEO Frank Blake says that his company’s dedication to service and associate training keeps customers coming back.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Sep 25, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/09/25/f-leadership-home-depot-ceo-frank-blake-employees.fortune/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why would taking better care of employees be more important HR strategy for Home Depot than for say, a grocery retailer?
  • How would this strategy affect employee morale and motivation?

What it costs Apple to make the iPhone 5C

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

Description: Apple’s multi-colored iPhones retail for $549 off contract, but they cost a lot less to make thanks in part to the plastic shell.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Sep 24, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/09/26/t-ts-apple-iphone-5c-teardown.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Given the differences in costs to produce the original model 5, do you think Apple is pricing the new models correctly?
  • Would it have made more sense to reduce the price of the original model 5 until a model 6 was available?

A solution to skyrocketing CEO pay

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

Description: For several reasons, the SEC’s proposed rule to address the growing CEO-average worker pay gap will not work as intended. Here’s an alternative approach.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Sep 27, 2013

Link: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2013/09/27/ceo-pay-3/?iid=SF_F_River

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the new suggestion for controlling the pay-gap between CEO and average worker of the firm.
  • Do you think it is a good idea?
  • Do you think it will be adopted?

What 3-D Printing Could Mean for the World’s Factory — China

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

Description: It’s easy to get caught up in the buzz around 3-D printing. It allows everyone from hobbyists to aerospace engineers to create customized products — toys, prosthetics, even jet engine parts — from the convenience of their home or office.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: Sep 26, 2013

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-26/what-3-d-printing-could-mean-for-the-world-s-factory-china.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the likely applications for 3-d printing in the American market?
  • How might this technology disrupt manufacturing in China and the U.S.?

BlackBerry leaders, success paved way for failure

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

Description: (MoneyWatch) The history of American business is littered with the remains of once-dominant companies suddenly rendered obsolete by powerful new technologies. BlackBerry is not one of those companies.

Source: CBSNews.com

Date: Sep 25, 2013

Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-57604642/for-blackberry-leaders-success-paved-way-for-failure/?tag=nl.e713&s_cid=e713&ttag=e713&ftag=TRE4cf7aca

Questions for Discussions:

  • According to the report, why did BB fail?
  • How much blame does management rightfully share?

How Cinnabon reinvented itself

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

Description: At 880 delectable calories, the classic Cinnabon roll isn’t most people’s idea of an every day treat. President Kat Cole tells how the company has managed to expand its brand into smaller indulgences.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Sep 18, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/09/18/f-cinnabon-president-kat-cole.fortune/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the marketing strategy at Cinnabon that deals with the obvious unhealthy quality of their obviously delicious food products?
  • What do you think the consumer thinks about the purchase?
  • How important is the retail location?

Birchbox’s Sample Sale

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

Description: Birchbox co-founders Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp share the secrets behind the success of their rapidly expanding beauty discovery service.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Sep 18, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/09/18/f-birchbox-hayley-barna-katia-beauchamp.fortune/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe the business model?
  • Why has organic and word-of-mouth growth been so successful?
  • How does social media help the firm grow?
  • Are there other categories of products that you think could be marketed the same way?

Buffett’s 9% Heinz Dividend Means 3G Cutting Jobs, Mini-Fridges

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

Description: HJ Heinz Co.’s longtime leader Bill Johnson stood in the Veranda ballroom at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, addressing the ketchup maker’s top 50 executives for the last time. Around the corner in a smaller room, his successor as chief executive officer, Bernardo Hees, waited to tell some of the same managers whether they still had jobs.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: Sep 18, 2013

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-18/buffett-s-9-heinz-dividend-means-3g-cutting-jobs-mini-fridges.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe the changes brought about at Heinz and the reasons for them.
  • What does this say about Buffett’s managerial style and leadership in acquisitions?

Do Amazon’s Lockers Help Retailers? Depends on What They Sell

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

Description: With two national retailers, Staples (SPLS) and RadioShack (RSH), pulling the plug on Amazon.com’s (AMZN) Locker program, it’s easy to wonder why either decided to experiment in the first place.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Sep 20, 2013

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-20/do-amazons-lockers-help-retailers-depends-on-what-they-sell#r=hpt-ls

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages for retailers to associate with Amazon?
  • Which retailers would be served best with a locker?