Bit by Bit, Whole Foods Gets an Amazon Touch

Posted by & filed under Innovation/Creativity, Management, New product, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Strategy, Technology.

Description:  Some signs are subtle, like the “Whole Foods + Amazon” one near the bananas. Others are more obvious, like the kiosk with Amazon devices for sale. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Mar 1, 2018 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/technology/bit-by-bit-whole-foods-gets-an-amazon-touch.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: How has the transition strategy unfolded thus far? Do you think the firms are going about the… Read more »

Toys “R” Us plans to close more than 180 U.S. stores

Posted by & filed under Change, Control, Decision Making, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Strategy.

Description: Toys “R” Us is planning to shutter a fifth of its U.S. stores. Source: CNNMooney.com – video report Date: Jan 23, 2018 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2018/01/24/news/companies/toys-r-us-stores-closing/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom Questions for discussion: What does this report say about the reasons for the store closures? How can management deal with the challenges facing the firm?

Older Canadians forgoing retirement, working through golden years, census shows

Posted by & filed under Communication, Compensation & Benefits, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Human Resource Management, Individual Behavior, Industrial Relations, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: The latest census data show more and more Canadians are choosing to eschew the traditional retirement age, whether for their health, their finances or just for the fun of it Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Nov 29, 2017 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/retirement/older-canadians-forgoing-retirement-working-through-golden-years-census-2 Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights in this report. What should HR managers do with this… Read more »

Canadian companies should be more courageous about diversity, Deloitte report urges

Posted by & filed under Communication, Ethics, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Social Responsibility, Teams.

Description: MONTREAL — Canadian business leaders need to take “courageous” actions to make sure their companies are more diverse and inclusive in order to remain competitive amid demographic and technological changes in the workplace, according to a new report released Wednesday. Source: BNN.ca Date: Nov 22, 2017 Link: http://www.bnn.ca/canadian-companies-should-be-more-courageous-about-diversity-deloitte-report-urges-1.922556 Questions for discussion: What does the… Read more »

As ‘Ban the Box’ Spreads, Private Employers Still Have Questions

Posted by & filed under Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Decision Making, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Social Responsibility, Teams.

Description: Tight labor markets and simple compassion are among the reasons that small businesses are getting behind fair-chance employment, a movement to level the playing field for job hunters who have a criminal record. But even advocates acknowledge that, despite the momentum, there are hurdles beyond the expected concerns about public safety. Source: NYTimes.com Date:… Read more »

‘We absolutely have a problem’: Canada’s tech sector gender gap

Posted by & filed under Change, Communication, Decision Making, Ethics, Human Resource Management, Individual Behavior, Leadership, Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Social Responsibility, Teams.

Description: Canadian technology companies may be breaking new ground as innovators, but a landmark study published on Wednesday finds the sector is behind the times when it comes to finding a place for women in senior roles. Source: GlobeandMail.com Date: Oct 20, 2017 Link: https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/technology/we-absolutely-have-a-problem-canadas-tech-sector-gender-gap/article36789423/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com& Questions for discussion: Summarize the findings presented in this report?… Read more »

‘Fight the Man’ Ski Resort Leads Crowdfunding to Snub Vail

Posted by & filed under Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Global Management, Leadership, Management, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Technology.

Description: A tiny Canadian ski resort forged by Scandinavian miners chasing an 1890s gold rush has become the unlikely recipient of a record equity crowdfunding raise, tapping into powder hounds’ quest to fend off a wave of consolidation led by Vail Resorts Inc. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 01, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-01/-fight-the-man-ski-resort-leads-crowdfunding-to-snub-vail Questions for discussion: How is… Read more »

Airbus has no plans to buy out Bombardier after CSeries partnership, CEO says

Posted by & filed under Change, Global Management, Leadership, Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design.

Description: Airbus chief tells Montreal he believes aerospace analysts have underestimated demand and he can sell thousands of CSeries jets Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Oct 20, 2017 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/transportation/airlines/airbus-ceo-says-expects-to-sell-thousands-of-cseries-jets Questions for discussion: Using SWOT analysis, describe the deal between these companies. How will management at Bombardier have to change, as a result of this deal? Do… Read more »

How Rosalind Brewer, Starbucks’ First Woman COO, Got the Job

Posted by & filed under Management, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: Rosalind Brewer’s first step toward the COO job at Starbucks(SBUX, -1.55%) happened completely by chance. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Sep 07, 2017 Link: http://fortune.com/2017/09/07/rosalind-brewer-starbucks-coo/ Questions for discussion: Why is Rosalind Brewer a good choice for this job? What does the article say about corporate cultures for executive development?

Why 25% of the working women in America are struggling financially

Posted by & filed under Compensation & Benefits, Conflict, Control, Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Global Management, Leadership, Management, Organizational Structure & Design, Social Responsibility.

Description: They work in jobs that are growing fast, pay less than $15 an hour and are female-dominated Source: MarketWatch.com – video report Date: Dec 04, 2016 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-25-of-the-working-women-in-america-are-struggling-financially-2016-11-30?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: What are the managerial and social issues presented in this article? How should businesses, governments, societies and individuals be expected to deal with… Read more »