Description: On Monday November 2, 2015, HP—valued at $50 billion—will split in two equally sized companies. The split is the latest rehabilitation effort to turnaround the company. However, this strategy is in contrast to the consolidation strategy prevalent in the IT sector Source: Financial Times Date: November 01, 2015 Video and Text Link: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/222a9a40-7f22-11e5-98fb-5a6d4728f74e.html#axzz3qHsXxPJR Questions for Discussion:… Read more »
Posts By: tonym
Should Quebec bailout Bombardier?
Description: Quebec will give $1 billion to bailout Bombardier. Bombardier reported a $4.9 billion loss in Q3. With this investment, Quebec is hoping that Bombardier’s CSeries jet airliners will eventually succeed. Source: CBC Date: October 29, 2015 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2678070928/ Questions for Discussion: Should governments bailout large corporations? Does Quebec have good reasons to invest taxpayers’… Read more »
The turnaround of Cirque du Soleil
Description: After several years of poor performances that resulted in substantial layoffs in 2013, Cirque du Soleil has rebounded admirably. It has had a fantastic 2015 thus far—breaking its previous sales records. Source: Canadian Business Date: October 13, 2015 Text Link: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/innovation/cirque-du-soleil-second-act/ Questions for Discussion: Discuss how Cirque du Soleil originated and became successful? What… Read more »
Toyota investing $421 million in Cambridge
Description: Toyota will invest $421 million in Cambridge, Ontario to work on the next generation of Lexus RX 350 and 450 vehicles. To support this investment, both the Federal and the provincial governments are making sizable investments—to the tune of $100 million. Source: Toronto Star Date: July 31, 2015 Text Link: Questions for Discussion: How… Read more »
Adopting cleaner cars: How can governments help?
Description: Should governments play a pivotal role in moving people to greener products? Norway sets an example of how governments can positively encourage its people to switch from gasoline and diesel cars to environmentally cleaner electrical cars. Source: The New York Times Date: October 16, 2015 Text Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/17/business/international/norway-is-global-model-for-encouraging-sales-of-electric-cars.html?ref=business Questions for Discussion: Discuss how Norway… Read more »
Volkswagen: From socially responsible to a social outcast
Description: Volkswagen represents an interesting case. It spent $77 million advertising its clean and environmentally friendly diesel engine in the American market, while its engineers were rigging these engines with software that tricked emission tests – a case of “greenwashing” the consumers. Source: The New York Times Date: October 17, 2015 Text Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/18/business/energy-environment/social-responsibility-that-rubs-right-off.html?ref=business&_r=0 Questions… Read more »
How will the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal impact Canada?
Description: A landmark free trade agreement in now in place with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Canada is a part of this partnership, which also includes 11 other nations. Source: CBC Date: October 5, 2015 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2676667858/?page=3 Questions for Discussion: Explain the TPP free trade agreement? Which sectors benefit the most from this deal? Which… Read more »
Offshore tax havens
Description: Many large corporations offshore their money in tax havens to avoid paying taxes in their country. Large accounting and consulting firms often help wealthy clients to hide their money in tax havens. Source: CBC Date: October 6, 2015 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2676746358/?page=2 Questions for Discussion: What are tax havens and how do they work? Is… Read more »
How can the price of a drug jump 2,000%?
Description: The price of a critical Tuberculosis drug shot up by 2,000% overnight—it seems this jump was for no apparent reason. This has alarmed the medical circle. Source: CBC Date: September 21, 2015 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2675886765/?page=2 Questions for Discussion: Why did the Tuberculosis drug price shoot up by 2,000%? What role should the government play… Read more »
Volkswagen in deep crisis
Description: Volkswagen (VW) may have landed itself in a crisis that is unprecedented in modern memory. Their act of installing a device to mislead regulators will surely result in a massive number of litigations. Source: CBC Date: September 22, 2015 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2675990932/?page=2 Questions for Discussion: Explain the sequence of events that led to VW’s crisis?… Read more »
