Kristen Bell and Her Cofounders Built a Company to Save Lives. But Growing It Wasn’t So Simple.

Posted by & filed under Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, New product, Planning, Social Responsibility.

Description: With an entrepreneurial can-do mindset, the four Hollywood vets have built a business with soaring sales and global impact. Source: Entrepreneur.com Date: Apr 09, 2019 Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/331237 Questions for discussion: Summarize the strategic decisions made to develop the company. How would this story be different if it was managed as a for-profit start-up? How… Read more »

Disney’s $6.99-per-month streaming immediately makes it a value winner over Netflix for families

Posted by & filed under Change, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, New product, Planning, Strategy, Technology.

Description: For Disney, the price is the story. Disney announced pricing for its new streaming service on Thursday, and it’s surprisingly low: $6.99 per month and $69.99 annually (or $5.83 per month). The service won’t include any advertisements. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Apr 12, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/12/disneys-6point99-per-month-price-immediately-makes-it-a-value-winner.html Questions for discussion: Why is pricing so critical in… Read more »

You can’t take anything home from Ikea’s new store

Posted by & filed under Communication, Control, Decision Making, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Management, New product, Planning, Strategy.

Description: The company’s first Manhattan store is nothing like any Ikea you’ve ever been to. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Apr 10, 2019 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90332083/i-went-to-ikeas-first-small-store-and-it-answered-all-my-prayers?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=6&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=04112019 Questions for discussion: Explain the change in thinking – by management and customers – that has led to this store design. Should Ikea develop this concept at its suburban stores as well?

Should You Compete With (and Potentially Kill) Your Own Business?

Posted by & filed under Change, Control, Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, New product, Planning, Strategy.

Description: Adam Schwartz’s t-shirt company was struggling. Instead of saving it, he built something new — and better. Source: Entrepreneur.com Date: Apr 12, 2019 Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/331231 Questions for discussion: What does the article say about creative thinking and business evolution? Could these businesses succeed without low-cost online advertising from companies like Google?

This new technical fabric replaces polyester with banana plants

Posted by & filed under Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Technology.

Description: The abacá plant grows without needing lots of water or pesticides, helps stop erosion, and is now being used to replace fossil fuels in clothes. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Apr 12, 2019 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90333645/this-new-technical-fabric-replaces-polyester-with-banana-plants?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=7&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=04122019 Questions for discussion: What are the major attributes that differentiate this new product? How should managers market this new product so… Read more »

Here’s the best Canadian city to start a small business in (no, it’s not Toronto or Waterloo)

Posted by & filed under Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Human Resource Management, Innovation/Creativity, Management, Planning.

Description: Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal don’t even make it into Canada’s 10 most entrepreneurial cities’ list Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Apr 03, 2019 Link: https://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/heres-the-best-canadian-city-to-start-a-small-business-in-no-its-not-toronto-or-waterloo Questions for discussion: What are some of the key criteria for identifying the “best” cities to start a small business in Canada? Why would businesses willingly pay higher taxes in… Read more »

Facebook sets its sights on housing. Should Zillow be worried?

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Technology.

Description: Americans may start to become more ‘social’ in the way they shop for homes, one analyst thinks Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Apr 03, 2019 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/facebook-sets-its-sights-on-housing-should-zillow-be-worried-2019-04-03?mod=mw_theo_homepage Questions for discussion: What are the competitive advantages favoring Facebook in the real estate business? Do you think consumers will respond to Facebook advertising for housing? Explain.

Inside Ikea’s plan to reinvent itself as a circular company

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Environment, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Planning, Social Responsibility.

Description: From rental furniture to modular couches, the company is finding more and more ways to limit its use of raw materials. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Apr 03, 2019 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90328244/inside-ikeas-plan-to-reinvent-itself-as-a-circular-company Questions for discussion: What is driving the new business model? What are the constraints the company will have to deal with? Do you think the… Read more »

Everything you need to know about the Apple credit card, TV Plus and news subscription launch 

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, New product, Planning, Strategy, Technology.

Description: Apple has today unveiled its secretive, decade-long effort to build a TV subscription service that will rival the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime. Source: Telegraph.co.uk – video report Date: Mar 26, 2019 Link: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/03/26/everything-need-know-apple-credit-card-tv-plus-news-subscription/ Questions for discussion: What are the competitive advantages for Apple in these markets? How well do you think Apple will be… Read more »

Reddit to Cross $100 Million in Ad Revenues in 2019

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Description: Following a cleanup of its platform and revamped ad model, online social blog reddit is on pace to more than double its ad revenues by 2021. Reddit’s ad business will grow nearly 55%, crossing the $100 million mark this year, according to eMarketer’s latest US ad forecast. Source: eMarketer.com Date: Mar 26, 2019 Link:… Read more »