G.M. Unveils Its Driverless Cars, Aiming to Lead the Pack

Posted by & filed under Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, New product, Organizational Change, Planning, Social Responsibility, Technology.

Description: SAN FRANCISCO — For more than a year, General Motors has tantalized investors with plans to build its future around self-driving cars. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 30, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/business/gm-driverless-cars.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=12&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: What do you think of the progress made at GM? Do you think GM can become a global competitor in the… Read more »

Amazon.com wants to be your new executive assistant at work.

Posted by & filed under Change, Decision Making, Human Resource Management, Innovation/Creativity, Management, New product, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Teams, Technology.

Description: Now Hiring? Amazon Says Its Voice Aide Alexa Is Ready For the Office Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Nov 30, 2017 Link: http://fortune.com/2017/11/30/amazon-voice-aide-alexa-is-ready-for-the-office/ Questions for discussion: How can Amazon serve as an executive assistant? Do you think this is the next big thing in technology for productivity in the workplace?

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 »

Self-Driving Trucks May Be Closer Than They Appear

Posted by & filed under Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Human Resource Management, Innovation/Creativity, Management, New product, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Technology.

Description: Trucks will someday drive themselves out of warehouses and cruise down freeways without the aid of humans or even a driver’s cab — about that there seems little disagreement. The question is how soon that day gets here. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 13, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/business/self-driving-trucks.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: What are the factors pushing… Read more »

WeWork Is Launching a Grade School for Budding Entrepreneurs

Posted by & filed under Communication, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Innovation/Creativity, Management, Strategy, Teams.

Description: The fast-growing co-working company joins a growing list of billionaires trying to reshape American education with their influence and investments. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 06, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-06/wework-hits-education-with-an-entrepreneurial-school-for-kids Questions for discussion: How would you best describe the vision for WeWork? Do each of the currently active strategic businesses reflect the vision well? What other… Read more »

Chinese-Owned Factory in Ohio Fights Off Unionization Plan

Posted by & filed under Chapter 7 - Defining and Commencing Collective Bargaining, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Communication, Decision Making, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Management, Negotiation, Strategy.

Description: A Chinese glassmaker beat back a unionization bid at a plant in Ohio on Thursday, winning a key victory in an important test of the way Chinese companies handle employee relations as they increase their holdings in the United States. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 09, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/business/union-ohio-plant-china.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=10&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: What does the… 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 »

Michael Oreskes Quits NPR Amid Sexual Harassment Accusations

Posted by & filed under Conflict, Diversity, Ethics, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Social Responsibility, Teams.

Description: Michael Oreskes, who led NPR’s news division and was formerly a high-ranking editor at The New York Times, resigned on Wednesday after being accused of sexually harassing women. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 01, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/business/media/mike-oreskes-npr-sexual-harassment.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=13&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion: How serious a problem is a charge of sexual harrasement for an individual and for… Read more »

How Sears could stir ‘a lot of instability’ in holiday season

Posted by & filed under Chapter 7 - Defining and Commencing Collective Bargaining, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Compensation & Benefits, Human Resource Management, Management.

Description: Sears Canada is poised to be an agent of chaos for the retail industry this holiday shopping season, as the the prospect of deep discounts looms large over competing big box stores. While the company’s planned liquidation is sure to reverberate through the industry heading into year’s end, a pair of retail experts say… Read more »