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

Description:  After visiting Argentina and seeing the impact of poverty on some of its children, Blake Mycoskie was inspired to create a philanthropic “for-profit business that was sustainable and not reliant on donations.” The result was Toms Shoes, which promised that for every pair of shoes it sold, it would give away another pair to a child in need.

Source:  CNBC.com

Date: Mar 19, 2013

Link: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100568308

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe the the buy-one, give-one model of operation?
  • Why do you think it appeals to many people and not to others?
  • Is it the best choice for aspiring social entrepreneurs or can you present a better model?

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

Description: Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg talks to Fortune Senior Editor-At-Large Pattie Sellers about her book ‘Lean In’ and her advice for men in the workplace.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Mar 13, 2013

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/magazines/fortune/2013/03/13/news-sheryl-sandberg-men.fortune/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the highlights in Sheryl Sandberg’s advice for men in management?
  • Do you think these are goals that can be realized in today’s corporate cultural environment?

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

Description:   Inside the chase: Does working from home help or hinder productivity? BNN Chase Producer Zena Olijnyk examines the pros and cons of telecommuting. The image of people who telecommute is often one of them sitting around at home in their bunny slippers and pyjamas. But then there are studies that show people who work from home actually put in more time working at their jobs than their office colleagues who only put in time at the office. Still, there are studies that show 30 percent of the websites visited by employees while working have nothing to do with their jobs.

Source:  BNN.com

Date: Mar 15, 2013

Link: http://www.bnn.ca/News/2013/3/15/Homing-in-on-telecommuting.aspx

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the arguments surrounding the issue of telecommunting?
  • How should management weigh the decision to structure work environments?

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

Description:  It was an elite reception at a glittery Manhattan setting: prominent media figures like Gayle King and Lesley Stahl gathered on the 10th floor of the Time Warner Center on Monday night to toast Sheryl Sandberg, the Facebook executive who recently released a book about her life.

Source:  NYTimes.com

Date: Mar 13, 2013

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/business/media/spinoff-of-time-inc-rattles-employees.html?_r=0

Questions for Discussions:

  • Present what you consider are the key points in a SWOT analysis.
  • Do you think the strong brand recognition will allow the firm to build a new life in the digital media age?
  • How would you suggest management plan for the transition and development of digital editions?
  • Are the customers online going to be the same as those in the past who read the print editions?
  • What sort of new management is needed for the firm to succeed in a globally competitive marketplace?
  • What sort of individual or team would you be looking to hire for this challenge?

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description:  When Christina Wallace, then 25, started a job at a management consulting firm in 2009, she was assigned two mentors: one, a career counselor; the other, an office-culture guru. “It all felt very awkward and forced,” she says.

Source:  Businessweeek.com

Date: Mar 14, 2013

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-14/the-misery-of-mentoring-millennials#r=nav-fst

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does this report say about mentoring?
  • Do you agree with the recommendations?
  • Would they appeal to you?

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

Description:  If ecoATM founder Mark Bowles ever invites you to a board meeting, make sure to bring a wetsuit. You’ll be visiting a California beach, not a conference room.

Source:  Smartplanet.com

Date: Mar 14, 2013

Link: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/business-brains/disruptor-mark-bowles-ecoatm/26762?tag=nl.e662&s_cid=e662&ttag=e662

Questions for Discussions:

  • What did the reserach suggest were the reasons for poor recycling habits of consumers?
  • How has ecoATM’s business model answered these reasons?
  • Do you think other recycling models can be successful as well?

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

Description: Bloomberg Industries Anand Srinivasan reports on possible product developments at Apple. He speaks on Bloomberg Television’s “Money Moves.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Source: Bloomberg.com – video report

Date: Mar 05, 2013

Link: http://bloom.bg/13AKpu9

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the primary selling feature of iWatch that gives Apple competitive advantage?
  • What do you think are the key software development possibilities of iWatch?
  • What partnerships would you see as strong possibilities for development of new apps?

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description:  The founder and co-CEO of supermarket chain Whole Foods, John Mackey, is a staunch libertarian and a vegan. As his public profile rises, he becomes harder to pin down. He seems to embody competing philosophies in one affable, “aw-shucks,” yet entirely controversial package.

Source:  Fortune.com

Date: Mar 08, 2013

Link: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2013/03/08/whole-foods-john-mackey/?iid=H_L_News

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe the management style and thinking of John Mackey.
  • Do you think any other type of leadership would have made Whole Foods as successful as it has been?

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

Description:   The paperback of “Fifty Shades of Grey” is exactly like the digital version except for this: If you hate the paperback, you can give it away or resell it. If you hate the e-book, you’re stuck with it.

Source:  NYTimes.com

Date: Mar 07, 2013

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/technology/revolution-in-the-resale-of-digital-books-and-music.html?hpw&_r=0

Questions for Discussions:

  • How will the new sharing structures affect profitability at publishers?
  • How would you recommend restructuring pricing in order to mitigate the problems that will inevitably arise from the new sharing technology.
  • How else can publishers mitigate the loss of revenues from resellers?

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description:  In his eye-opening 1970 book, Future Shock, Alvin Toffler said that changes in technology and trends were happening so fast that people and society could no longer psychologically keep up. Now, even the most innovative and technologically advanced companies can’t keep up with the pace of change — markets are now being disrupted in a matter of days, versus months or years.

Source:  Smartplanet.com

Date: Mar 05, 2013

Link: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/how-to-be-the-8216disrupter-and-not-the-8216disrupted/14173?tag=nl.e662

Questions for Discussions:

  • What does this report say about the rate of disruption?
  • How should managers deal with with the phenomenon?