Description: Air Canada broke out of its sluggish performance and in 2014 posted a record annual profit of $531 million. Source: CBC Date: March 05, 2015 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2657291092/ Questions for Discussion: Discuss the growth and then the decline of Air Canada over the years? Which factors led to Air Canada’s recent surge in performance? In… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Change
Apple Working on an Electric Car
Description: Apple Inc. is pushing its team to begin manufacturing of an electric car by 2020. Apple seems set to get in to direct competition with Tesla Motors Co. and General Motors Co., who are scheduled to roll out their electric car costing less than $40,000 by 2017. Source: Business News Network Date: February 20,… Read more »
The McDonald’s Slump
Description: It seems one of the world’s most recognizable brand is in decline – McDonalds faces a severe challenge; it warned that business will be weak in the near future as it reported a 21 per cent drop in fourth-quarter earnings. Source: CBC Date: February 28, 2015 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/the-mcdonald-s-slump-are-golden-days-of-golden-arches-over-1.2975314 Questions for Discussion: Discuss the reasons for… Read more »
Wal-Mart spending $1 billion for pay increase
Description: With support from CEO Doug McMillon, Wal-Mart has initiated a pay increase for its employees. Wal-Mart intends to spend $1 billion to support this pay increase, which will include increasing hourly pay to at least $9 by April and $10 by next February. Source: Business News Network Date: February 20, 2015 Link: http://www.bnn.ca/News/2015/2/20/How-Wal-Marts-CEO-came-to-support-a-1-Billion-pay-increase.aspx Questions… Read more »
Bombardier bring in a new CEO
Description: In a move to halt the falling fortunes of Bombardier, the board of directors have replaced their CEO, Pierre Beaudoin, with an outsider, Alain Bellemare. Pierre Beaudoin will now be the Chairman of Bombardier in place of his father. Source: CBC Date: February 12, 2015 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2653563918/ Questions for Discussion: What were the… Read more »
Shoppers including fresh food in its stores
Description: In a pilot project across Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart has started to include a broad new range of fresh food in its stores. This comes after Loblaw’s acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart last year and may well signal a strategic change for the drug giant. Source: Financial Post Date: February 06, 2015 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2015/02/06/shoppers-drug-mart-prescription-for-food/ Questions… Read more »
Tim Hortons lays off 350 workers
Description: Tim Hortons confirmed that it laid off 350 people – these job cuts came mainly at Tim Horton’s headquarters and regional offices. Employees mentioned that they did not see these job cuts coming and were blindsided, especially because when Burger King acquired Tim Hortons last year, there were no indication of job cuts. Source:… Read more »
Rebranding of Second Cup
Description: Second Cup is facing increased competition from Starbucks, Tim Hortons and McDonald’s in the café market, and over the last few years has been losing market share. In an effort to regain their market share, Second Cup are rebranding their stores in Canada. Source: CBC Date: December 04, 2014 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2625880352/ Questions for Discussion: Discuss… Read more »
After Scotiabank, RBC too will lay off employees
Description: Following in the footsteps of Scotiabank, Royal Bank of Canada announced that its shutting down its international client-wealth-management business in the Caribbean along with some businesses in Canada and the United States. This will likely impact 300 employees. Source: Financial Post Date: November 21, 2014 Video and Text Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/11/20/rbc-restructuring/ Questions for Discussion: What are… Read more »
Scotiabank to cut 1,500 jobs and close 120 branches worldwide
Description: Scotiabank CEO, Brian Porter, announced several important changes to its operations. These changes include cutting 1,500 jobs (two-thirds of these in Canada) and closing 120 branches in foreign markets. Source: Business News Network Date: November 04, 2014 Video Link: http://www.bnn.ca/News/2014/11/4/Scotiabank-to-cut-1500-jobs-close-about-120-branches-amid-writedown-.aspx Questions for Discussion: Analyze the reasons that led Brian Porter to make these changes…. Read more »
