Description:  When the federal government began providing billions of dollars in incentives to push hospitals and physicians to use electronic medical and billing records, the goal was not only to improve efficiency and patient safety, but also to reduce health care costs.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Sep 21, 2012

Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/22/business/medicare-billing-rises-at-hospitals-with-electronic-records.html?_r=1&hp

Questions for Discussions:

• What are the explanations in the report for rising health care costs?
• How can they be controlled better by administrators using the same technology that is generating the increases?

Description:  Kristen McAlister has moved up hiring timelines, increased administrative support, and written reams of instructions for her nine employees at Cerius Interim Executive Solutions, the staffing company she co-owns. Despite all the preparation, she worries how the Irvine (Calif.) business will fare when she gives birth in late December.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Sep 20, 2012

Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-09-20/when-moms-who-run-businesses-take-maternity-leave#r=nav-r-story

Questions for Discussions:

• What does this article say about entrepreneurial women and planning for maternity leave?

Description:  Nordstrom and Target are about to open stores in Canada, J. Crew and Tory Burch just did so, and Ann Taylor and Kate Spade are scouting locations.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Sep 14, 2012

Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/15/business/american-retailers-expanding-to-canada.html?ref=business

Questions for Discussions:

• Summarize the challenges facing American retailers entering the Canadian retail market.
• What are the factors that facilitate entry by these firms?
• What would motivate management to make this move?
• How well would you expect these retailers to do?
• How will these developments affect supply chains currently in place in Canada?
• Are there social responsibility issues for management to consider here?