SPOS #665 – Cal Newport On Digital Minimalism

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Environment, Management, New product, Planning, Social Responsibility, Technology.

Description: Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #665 – Host: Mitch Joel. Cal Newport is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University. In addition to researching cutting edge technology, he also writes about the impact of these innovations on society. Cal is the author of six books, including the recently published bestseller, Digital Minimalism and (a personal… Read more »

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 »

Google sister company wants a cut of Toronto’s property taxes for developing smart city

Posted by & filed under Communication, Conflict, Control, Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Ethics, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Negotiation, Operations Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Technology.

Description: Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs wants a cut of Toronto’s revenue to build out its vision of a futuristic data-driven smart city. Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Feb 15, 2019 Link: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/google-sister-company-wants-cut-torontos-property-taxes-developing-smart-city-164129521.html Questions for discussion: What are the managerial issues related to this thinking for the firms and for governments? Do you think firms should be pushing for… Read more »

Anheuser-Busch tries to make amends with corn farmers after Super Bowl ad

Posted by & filed under Communication, Control, Decision Making, Diversity, Environment, Ethics, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, New product, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: New York (CNN)Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of Bud Light, is looking to make amends with the National Corn Growers Association after the beer giant aired commercials with the slogan “brewed with no corn syrup” during Sunday’s Super Bowl. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Feb 04, 2019 Link: https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/04/business/anheuser-busch-corn-super-bowl/index.html Questions for discussion: Why was… Read more »

It’s not just Google or Facebook: The freezer aisle is ad targeting you now

Posted by & filed under Change, Communication, Control, Decision Making, Environment, Ethics, Innovation/Creativity, Management, Strategy, Technology.

Description:  Walgreens is using cameras, eye tracking, and motion sensors to show you real-time ads meant to influence which ice cream you buy. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Feb 06, 2019 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90302382/its-not-just-google-or-facebook-the-freezer-aisle-is-ad-targeting-you-too?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=2&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=02062019 Questions for discussion: How is technology gathering consumer information and thereby boosting marketing effort? Do you think consumers will reject efforts to collect information… Read more »

No joke: Comedy Central wants you to watch its new shows on cable, not online

Posted by & filed under Change, Decision Making, Environment, Global Management, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Planning, Strategy, Technology.

Description: The veteran network that’s been a go-to for South Park and Tosh 2.0 is pursuing a 3.0 strategy that veers away from chasing online views and embraces the strengths of both digital and linear video Source: FastCompany.com Date: JAN 31, 2019 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90295808/no-joke-comedy-central-wants-you-to-watch-its-new-shows-on-cable-not-online?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=5&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=01312019 Questions for discussion: How has Comedy Central’s strategies changed? Do you… Read more »

The Most Sustainable Companies In 2019

Posted by & filed under Environment, Ethics, Global Management, Management, Planning, Social Responsibility.

Description: As political and business leaders gather for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week, a roster of the most sustainable companies is also enjoying a moment in the spotlight. Source: Forbes.com Date: Jan 22, 2019 Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2019/01/22/the-most-sustainable-companies-in-2019/#8dd695e6d7da Questions for discussion: What does the report say about the meaning of sustainability today and… Read more »

Inside the $3 billion race to kill plastic

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

Description: These startups are capitalizing on consumer anxiety about climate change to market reusable straws, food wrap, and storage bags. Can they compete with plastic industry giants? Source: FastCompany.com Date: Jan 16, 2019 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90290048/inside-the-3-billion-race-to-kill-plastic Questions for discussion: How are startups challenging the giant consumer products companies in this arena? Why is this a particularly… Read more »

Inside Facebook’s ‘cult-like’ workplace, where dissent is discouraged and employees pretend to be happy all the time

Posted by & filed under Communication, Conflict, Control, Decision Making, Environment, Ethics, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Operations Management, Social Responsibility, Teams.

Description: At a company-wide town hall in early October, numerous Facebookemployees got in line to speak about their experiences with sexual harassment. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Jan 08, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/08/facebook-culture-cult-performance-review-process-blamed.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the managerial culture at FB. How are conditions affecting the company and its empoyees? How should management respond to… Read more »

This is why women leave jobs in tech

Posted by & filed under Communication, Compensation & Benefits, Decision Making, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Ethics, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Individual Behavior, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Organizational Change, Planning, Social Responsibility, Teams.

Description: Not only are there still very few women in tech jobs, the ones who are there leave at a much higher rate than their male counterparts. Here is why and what we can do about it. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Dec 06, 2018 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90274067/this-is-why-women-leave-jobs-in-tech?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=3&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=12062018 Questions for discussion: Why do women leave jobs in tech,… Read more »