Description: Songwriters threaten to withhold their music if stations don’t give them a bigger share of revenue. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 22, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-22/your-favorite-radio-hits-may-go-silent Questions for discussion: Explain how the music industry pays royalties to artists. Do you think the artists can reasonably demand more from distributors? Is this a zero-sum game?
Posts Categorized: Control
Why French’s ketchup is here to stay (sorry, Heinz)
Description: Wrapping your product in the Canadian flag is typically a desperate measure, with short-lived benefits. For French’s, it’s working. Source: Macleans.ca Date: Nov 02, 2017 Link: http://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/why-frenchs-ketchup-is-here-to-stay-sorry-heinz/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the history in this situation. What lessons should managers learn from what happened and the current situation?
Wendy’s loses in burger wars
Description: Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Nov 08, 2017 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/08/investing/wendys-earnings-burgers-mcdonalds-burger-king/index.html Questions for discussion: What does the report say about Wendy’s competitive performance? Why is Wendy’s losing the burger wars? What can management do to better compete?
Are Honey Nut Cheerios Healthy? We Look Inside the Box.
Description: Honey Nut is America’s best-selling breakfast cereal, and by a comfortable margin. Roughly 151 million boxes and other containers of various sizes were sold over the past year, well ahead of the second best-selling breakfast cereal, Frosted Flakes, according to IRI, a Chicago based market research firm. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Nov 11, 2017 Link:… Read more »
Small businesses face perfect storm that can challenge growth
Description: BDC’s Small Business Week report finds 25% of respondents are already feeling the impact of demographic shifts Source: MontrealGazette.com Date: Oct 20, 2017 Link: http://montrealgazette.com/entrepreneur/1017-biz-dd-bdc/wcm/0e5640b0-7a59-4d2d-8b7a-92051097d281 Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights in the BDC’s report. What is the advice to small business managers? Given the research in the report, what would you also advise… Read more »
Check Out Amazon Key in Action
Description: Amazon shows off its the new delivery option. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Oct 26, 2017 Link: http://for.tn/2i7NWvV Questions for discussion: Who is the target market for this service? What promotional message is Amazon communicating to customers and how is it encoded in the video? Do you think this service will be successful?
Is Amazon getting into the pharmacy business? This is what you need to know
Description: Drugstore chains and pharmacy-benefit managers are likely at risk, Wall Street analysts say Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Oct 14, 2017 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/is-amazon-getting-into-the-pharmacy-business-this-is-what-you-need-to-know-2017-10-09?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: Do you think this move would be good for the firm? Why? What are the synergies already in place at Amazon that gives one confidence that the project would be… Read more »
Amazon Is Testing Its Own Delivery Service to Rival FedEx and UPS
Description: Amazon.com Inc. is experimenting with a new delivery service intended to make more products available for free two-day delivery and relieve overcrowding in its warehouses, according to two people familiar with the plan, which will push the online retailer deeper into functions handled by longtime partners United Parcel Service Inc. and FedEx Corp. Source: Bloomberg.com Date:… Read more »
Why Startup Founders Should Be Required to Sign a ‘No Go, Bro’ Clause
Description: The recent resignation of Social Finance CEO Mike Cagney, in the wake of allegations that he sexually harassed female employees, fostered a frat house culture, and misrepresented the firm’s finances to investors, raises the question of what boards and investors can do to check misconduct by startup executives. Source: Fortune.com Date: Sep 21, 2017… Read more »
Amazon Moves to Cut Checkout Line, Promoting a Grab-and-Go Experience
Description: SEATTLE — There is almost no aspect of retail that Amazon has not upended with online shopping. Now, the company is trying to computerize the experience of buying sandwiches and soda from the corner convenience store. Source: NYTimes.com – video report Date: Dec 05, 2016 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/05/technology/amazon-moves-to-cut-checkout-line-promoting-a-grab-and-go-experience.html?ref=business Questions for Discussions: Describe the operation and… Read more »
