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

Description: Three years after a spectacular financial collapse, Iceland is coming back, largely on the strength of its strong exports. Video and reporting by Charles Forelle from the island of Vestmannaeyjar.

Source: Marketwatch.com – video report

Date: May 18, 2012

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/fishing-industry-aids-iceland-recovery/E1ED2AC5-D98B-4760-844E-67F8BA64A136

Questions for Discussion:

  • What does this report have to say about economic recovery in Iceland?
  • How does the country’s currency help with business recovery?
  • What does this report suggest about recovery in Greece, Italy, Spain and other European countries?

 

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

Description: When Warren Buffett announced that his company, Berkshire Hathaway, was buying 63 newspapers from Media General on May 17, he issued a soaring statement about his belief in a beaten-down industry.

Source: Busineweek.com

Date: May 17, 2012

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-17/why-warren-buffett-really-likes-newspapers

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think this is a wise investment?
  • Did he get a great deal on these investments?
  • What are some other financial ratios you would consider before investing in media?
  • How could these investments become great internet properties as well?

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

Description: On a Friday morning not long ago, Mark Zuckerberg gathered his troops for a much-anticipated all-hands meeting at Facebook’s brand-new headquarters. It was billed as a not-to-be-missed event. Employees who were traveling were encouraged to return to the mother ship, and those in New York, Dublin, Hyderabad, and other satellite offices were told to watch via live stream.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: May 16, 2012

Link: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/05/16/inside-facebook-2/?iid=SF_F_Highlight 

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the description of management of Facebook.
  • In your opinion, which manager stands out as a leading influence on the culture of the firm?

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

Description: Disney CEO Bob Iger says a growing number of silver screens across the globe is helping drive the success of ‘The Avengers.’

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 09, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/05/09/n-co-avengers-iger.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussion:

  • What are the reasons for the success of this film and the company as a whole?
  • How are global marketing strategies becoming more important to the firm’s success?

 

Posted by & filed under Management, Organizational Behavior.

Description: For some small business owners in Sayville, New York, Main Street feels like a “ghost town.”

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 11, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/05/10/n-making-it-on-main-street.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussion:

  • What does this report have to say about economic recovery on Main Street?
  • How important is small business managerment to explaining why some businesses are coping better than others?

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

 

Description: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, is such a cliché that it has spawned its own cliché: If it ain’t broke, break it. Unfortunately, that’s just what many companies do unwittingly to their branding programs, playing into the hands of public enemy No. 1 in today’s marketing environment: fragmentation.

Source: Busineweek.com

Date: May 10, 2012

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-10/integrated-marketing-if-you-knew-it-youd-do-it

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the fundamental strategic issue addressed in this article?
  • How does the author suggest it can be resolved? Do you agree?

 

 

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

Description:  Bank’s loss is embarrassment for CEO, fodder for regulators

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: May 11, 2012

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jp-morgan-shares-slump-after-2b-trading-loss-2012-05-11?siteid=nwtwk 

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the reasons for the loss.
  • What do you believe this event will mean for the company, management, and regulators?

 

 

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description:   For anyone arguing recently that electric cars don’t stand a chance in the U.S. mass market, I would have offered one end-all example: the battery-powered Ford Focus at $40,000.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: May 11, 2012

Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/toyota-rav4-ev-will-anyone-buy-it-2012-05-11 

Questions for Discussions:

  • Who do you think is the likely customer for this product?
  • Is there a global customer?
  • How could Toyota rationalize the price gap between the electric and gas models?

 

 

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description: Delta Air Lines tries to take out the middle man by purchasing a Pennsylvania oil refinery, but it could prove to be a risky investment.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 01, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2012/05/01/n-delta-oil-refinery.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussion:

  • Why did Delta management do this?
  • What are the risks?
  • Do you think it was a good decision?
  • Has management changed Delta’s business model?

 

Posted by & filed under International Business, Management.

Description: Steven Rattner, former ‘auto czar’ for the Treasury Dept., says the government should hold its GM stake until the stock rises further.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: May 02, 2012

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/05/01/mkts-rattner-gm-government.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussion:

  • What is the basis for this evaluation of GM?
  • Do you agree with this assessment?
  • How will a shift away from government ownership affect the organizion?