Toyota Plans Lexus SUV Investment for Canadian Plant

Posted by & filed under Decision Making, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Management, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy.

Description: Toyota Motor Corp. plans to begin building two more Lexus SUVs in Canada, according to people familiar with the matter, a major win for the nation’s otherwise-struggling auto sector. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Apr 26, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-26/toyota-is-said-to-plan-lexus-suv-investment-for-canada-plant?srnd=premium-canada Questions for discussion: How well is the Canadian auto industry doing these days, according to… Read more »

The pros and cons of breaking up big tech

Posted by & filed under Global Management, Management, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Strategy, Technology.

Description: Have tech companies gotten so big that it’s bad for the economy? Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Mar 20, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/20/fortt-knox-big-tech-breakup.html?forYou=true Questions for discussion: Summarize and evaluate the arguments presented in this debate. What do you think will happen? How would this affect these businesses and their customers going forward?

How a Halifax brewery is working to break down craft beer stereotypes

Posted by & filed under Change, Communication, Diversity, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Operations Management, Organizational Structure & Design, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: At Good Robot Brewing, diversity isn’t just found in the staff, it’s in the clients they try to attract Source: CBC.ca Date: Feb 24, 2019 Link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/good-robot-brewing-diversity-nova-scotia-microbreweries-1.5026356 Questions for discussion: What does the report say about efforts to increase diversity in the firm and industry? Why can diversity improve operations, according to the report?… Read more »

Dias says he’d shut down every GM plant to save Oshawa jobs

Posted by & filed under Chapter 11 - The Grievance Arbitration Process, Chapter 12 - Changes to the Union or the Employer, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts, Communication, Ethics, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Management, Negotiation, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams, Technology.

Description: The head of the union representing General Motors Co. workers in Oshawa, Ont. says he’s ready to do whatever it takes to save jobs amid the U.S. automaker’s global reorganization – even if it means mass walkouts in U.S. and Canadian plants. Source: BNNBloomberg.com – video report Date: Nov 28, 2018 Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/dias-says-he-d-shut-down-every-gm-plant-to-save-oshawa-jobs-1.1174140 Questions… Read more »

How Magic Johnson convinced Howard Schultz to partner with him and build more Starbucks stores

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Negotiation, New product, Operations Management, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: With five NBA Championships, an Olympic gold medal and various MVP awards to his name, Earvin “Magic” Johnson will go down as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But the former Laker may be remembered for his business skills as well as his signature hook shot. Source: CNBC.com – video report… Read more »

Reduced holiday temp hiring is a sign Amazon is turning to more automation and robots: Citi

Posted by & filed under Communication, Compensation & Benefits, Control, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Negotiation, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams, Technology.

Description: Amazon has reduced the number of temporary hires it needs this holiday shopping season as the company turns to more robots, Citi analyst Mark May told CNBC Friday. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Nov 02, 2018 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/02/citi-mark-may-amazon-relies-on-robots-less-temporary-holiday-hires.html Questions for discussion: What does this report suggest is happening to low-paying jobs like sorting and… Read more »

Now Is Not a Good Time to Skimp on Worker Training

Posted by & filed under Communication, Compensation & Benefits, Decision Making, Human Resource Management, Individual Behavior, Industrial Relations, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Teams.

Description: With unemployment near a record low, many businesses have no choice but to spend to upgrade employee skills. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Oct 26, 2018 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-26/now-is-not-a-good-time-to-skimp-on-worker-training?srnd=businessweek-v2 Questions for discussion: What does the article say about training in different countries around the world? How should managers interpret the suggestions in this article?

Tim Hortons parent sees Canadian growth as it works to fix franchisee relationship

Posted by & filed under Communication, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Strategy.

Description: The parent company of Tim Hortons saw sales growth at Canadian locations of the coffee-and-doughnut chain as executives say their work to mend fraught franchisee relations is paying off, though more work remains. Source: BNNBloomberg.com – video report Date: Oct 25, 2018 Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/tim-hortons-parent-sees-canadian-growth-as-it-works-to-fix-franchisee-relationship-1.1157210 Questions for discussion: Explain the expansion plans at Tim Hortons?… Read more »

10 Healthy Habits for People Who Work Remotely

Posted by & filed under Communication, Environment, Global Management, Management, Operations Management, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Teams, Technology.

Description: Stay focused and set boundaries. Source: Entrepreneur.com Date: Oct 22, 2018 Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/322119?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email Questions for discussion: Which item to you think is most useful? What else would you add to this list of suggestions? Do you think these suggestions should be any different for people working at a normal office?

How Target will try to crush Amazon and Walmart in toys this holiday season

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Negotiation, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Strategy, Teams, Technology.

Description:  The holiday season is approaching, and with it the holiday toy wars. Source: Yahoo.Finance.com – video report Date: Oct 18, 2018 Link: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/target-will-try-crush-amazon-walmart-toys-holiday-season-160044412.html Questions for discussion: What is the strategy Target is using for this toy buying season? Are they targeting kids or their parents? Do you think they will succeed with this seasonal… Read more »