How Relevant Is Marissa Mayer’s Maternity Leave? Not Very

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

Description: New Yahoo! (YHOO) Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer gave birth to a boy on Sept. 30. When Yahoo hired her in July, she was already in her third trimester. “My maternity leave will be a few weeks long, and I’ll work throughout it,” Mayer said at the time. Now that the kid is here, she’s sticking with that plan, which Time referred to as “blink-and-it’s-over” maternity leave.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Oct. 18, 2012

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-18/how-relevant-is-marissa-mayers-maternity-leave-not-very#r=hp-ls

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the points made in the article about maternity leave.
  • What are the implications for businesses and society?
  • Do you think business attitude is changing in this regard?
  • Do you believe it should?

Small Players Seek an Alternative to the Expense of Pay-Per-Click

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description: When Tom Telford helped found a vacation rental management company, Blue Creek Cabins, in 2001, he wanted a quick and easy way to connect with people looking to rent the 20 cabins he and his partner managed in and around the mountains of picturesque Helen, Ga.

Source:  NYTimes.com

Date: Oct 17, 2012

Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/business/smallbusiness/as-pay-per-click-ad-costs-rise-small-businesses-search-for-alternatives.html?ref=smallbusiness

Questions for Discussions:

  • What are the suggestions to small business managers trying to build traffic at their websites and optimize spending?
  • Why has there been a shift to non-paid strategies such as blogs?
  • How else would you build traffic for Tom Telford?

 

The future of rechargeable batteries

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

Description: Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory are developing car and smartphone batteries that can hold 50 percent more energy.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 10, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2012/10/10/t-lithium-battery-volt.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • How do you think the development of this new technology will change the transportation and communications industries?
  • Which other industries are likely to be impacted by this innovation?
  • Why do you suppose there exists a co-operative business model in place at Argonne?
  • What other organizational features do you think would speed up development and adoption of this technology by other businesses?

The Car From Google That Drives Itself

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

Description: See one of Google’s self-driving cars, which the Internet giant has been developing since 2009. While the self-driving technology won’t be available for years, the company hopes such vehicles will revolutionize the way humans get around. (Photo & Video: Google)

Source: Marketwatch.com – video report

Date: Oct 11, 2012

Link: http://on.wsj.com/SUMHjd

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think this technology will be easily sold to consumers?
  • What are the benefits that could be emphasized in advertising and sales presentations?
  • Do you think businesses will find value in a driverless vehicle?
  • Why do you suppose Google – an Internet company –  is pursuing the development of this sort of technology?

 

For Some Drivers, an Electric Motorcycle Could Be the Best of Both Worlds

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

Description:  Zipping around on a motorcycle can be fun, but being in a downpour or an accident on one is not. Driving a car is safer and more comfortable, but traffic and parking can be annoying. What if you got rid of the bad parts of both?

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Oct 10, 2012

Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/technology/start-ups/for-some-drivers-electric-motorcycle-could-be-the-best-of-both-worlds.html?ref=business

Questions for Discussions:

  • Explain why you think this product could succeed or fail?
  • Describe the target market for this product?
  • How would you suggest management distribute this product?
  • How should management think about motorcycle and auto dealerships as part of the supply chain delivery to customers?

In Praise of Micro-Managers

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: Apple has been without Steve Jobs for one year now, and it has become clear that what the company misses most is not Jobs’s innovative thinking, but his micro-management.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Oct.11, 2012

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-11/in-praise-of-micromanagers#r=hpt-fs

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the points made in the article about micro-managers.
  • Do you agree with these sentiments?

Travel Apps Lead Industries in Usage Growth

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description:  Travel companies are digging deeper into mobile app development as they aim to connect with consumers at all points during the travel journey. That means providing mobile services that support everything travelers are doing during their excursions, from planning to booking to sharing their experiences.

Source:  eMarketer.com

Date: Oct 11, 2012

Link:  http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1009408&ecid=a6506033675d47f881651943c21c5ed4#jseAGHdmyeEv8qbu.99

Questions for Discussions:

  • Describe the types of travel apps that have emerged in the marketplace.
  • How has mobile technology changed these developments?
  • Develop an idea for a travel app that you would like to have.

 

3D printing buttons, jewelry and shoes

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

Description: 3D printers are becoming more powerful and more mainstream, with a retail store opening up to sell them.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 03 , 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/innovation/2012/10/03/3d-printing-buttons-jewelry-shoes.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why do you think this technology would be appealing to customers?
  • What consumer and small business applications do you think this technology can improve upon?
  • How would you promote this technology to a small business customer?

Carol Bartz’s advice to Marissa Mayer

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

Description: Ex-Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz’s advice to the current CEO Marissa Mayer – ‘changing culture is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.’

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Oct 03, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/magazines/fortune/2012/10/02/f-mpw-carol-bartz-advice-to-mayer.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the views presented by Carol Bartz.
  • What is your opinion of these positions?

How a Dashboard Can Set You Free

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

Description: Creating value in a business often starts with a change in the behavior of the owner. See if this sounds like you:

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Oct 04, 2012

Link: http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/how-a-dashboard-can-set-you-free/?ref=smallbusiness

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the Dashboard concept and how is it supposed to help managers?
  • Describe the specific problems faced by the author of this report and how his Dashboard helped solve managerial problems and decision-making.