Description: Dr. William Schaffner, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, and Andy Challenger, of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, discuss how the flu affects the US economy and how people can avoid illness during a tough flu season. Flu season could cost employers $9 billion in productivity from CNBC. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 19, 2018… Read more »
Posts By: Brahm Canzer
What Could Kill the Bitcoin Boom
Description: Digital money has a very human vulnerability: psychology. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Jan 17, 2018 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-17/what-could-kill-the-bitcoin-boom Questions for discussion: What does the report say about what is driving Bitcoin valuations? Should Bitcoin be considered “investing”? Should managers use Bitcoin for payments?
T. Boone Pickens, a Texas-Size Businessman, Calls It Quits
Description: A cantankerous self-made tycoon, Mr. Pickens shook up the oil business, promoted the concept of shareholder value and evangelized for renewable energy. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 20, 2018 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/20/business/t-boone-pickens.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: How does the report describe T.Boone Pickens? What lessons are there for today’s businesspeople to learn from his legacy?
Who Owns the Online Experience? A Discussion of Net Neutrality
Description: In the latest episode of “Behind the Numbers,” eMarketer staffers consider recent regulatory changes covering internet access, and discuss the implications for platforms, marketers and consumers. Source: eMarketer.com Date: Jan 19, 2018 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/who-owns-the-online-experience-a-discussion-of-net-neutrality Questions for discussion: What are the arguments surrounding net neutrality? What is your opinion on the issue? Explain?
‘Right thing to do’: JJ Bean gives Ontario minimum wage to Vancouver staff
Description: The company increased the price of products to offset the cost of wage increases Source: CBC.ca Date: Jan 12, 2018 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/jj-bean-coffee-wage-increase-hike-1.4486070 Questions for discussion: How has this firm adjusted to minimum wage laws? Do you think this strategy will work or will business decline?
Canada’s top CEOs earn 200 times an average worker’s salary: report
Description: Average yearly compensation for top 100 CEOs is now $10.4 million Source: CBC.ca Date: Jan 02, 2018 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/ceo-income-pay-canadian-worker-1.4462496 Questions for discussion: What are the arguments about fair compensation for employees of companies? Do you believe the top CEOs are fairly compensated? How might this report affect employee relations at Canadian firms? Should government… Read more »
Blue-collar jobs are booming in America
Description: 2017 was a great year to be employed in the construction and manufacturing sectors. And if President Trump and Congress push for infrastructure spending, this year could be even better. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Jan 05, 2018 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2018/01/05/investing/jobs-report-construction-manufacturing/index.html Questions for discussion: What does the report say about business activity and the… Read more »
The Difficulties With Facebook’s News Feed Overhaul
Description: Imagine you’re a cookie mogul. You figured out a way to make lots of money by giving away delicious cookies for free, and in less than a decade, you created a global cookie behemoth. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 13, 2018 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/technology/facebook-news-feed-overhaul.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: What is changing at Facebook? Do you think this… Read more »
Millennials Favor Smartphones for Second-Screening Other age groups, not so much
Description: Despite TV’s widespread reach, the attention of its US audience is something that’s increasingly fractured across several devices. Source: eMarketing.com Date: Jan 12, 2018 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/millennials-favor-smartphones-for-second-screening Questions for discussion: What does the report say about device use? What does this mean for companies involved in delivering content to audiences?
How coworkers’ random coffee dates transformed this company’s culture
Description: Not knowing coworkers means coordination breaks down, information gaps develop, customers get a disjointed experience, and culture doesn’t get a chance to grow Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Jan 11, 2018 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/0109-biz-rh-ryan-fpe Questions for discussion: What sort of benefits have derived from this program? Why do you suppose this program has been successful? What sort… Read more »
