Introducing Fortune’s 2017 Fastest-Growing Companies List

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

Description: Here are the top ten. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Sep 11, 2017 Link: http://for.tn/2eTKRSl Questions for discussion: What do the firms on this list have in common? Do they represent good investment opportunities at this time, or is it “too late” to get on board?  

How Rosalind Brewer, Starbucks’ First Woman COO, Got the Job

Posted by & filed under Management, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: Rosalind Brewer’s first step toward the COO job at Starbucks(SBUX, -1.55%) happened completely by chance. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Sep 07, 2017 Link: http://fortune.com/2017/09/07/rosalind-brewer-starbucks-coo/ Questions for discussion: Why is Rosalind Brewer a good choice for this job? What does the article say about corporate cultures for executive development?

Amazon Is Planning a Second Headquarters With 50,000 Jobs

Posted by & filed under Global Management, Human Resource Management, Management, Operations Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams, Technology.

Description: Amazon said on Thursday that it was searching for a second headquarters in North America, a huge new development that would cost as much as $5 billion to build and run, and would house as many as 50,000 employees. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 07, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/technology/amazon-headquarters-north-america.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news Questions for discussion: What criteria has Amazon… Read more »

Wattpad’s dreams of becoming the next Disney may be lofty, but then it’s come a long way in 10 years

Posted by & filed under Change, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Motivation, New product, Operations Management, Strategy, Teams, Technology.

Description:  A year after its launch, Wattpad — an app that allows contributors to upload and share their writing for public viewing — had just 1,000 users. Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Nov 30, 2016 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/growth-strategies/wattpads-dreams-of-becoming-the-next-disney-may-be-lofty-but-then-its-come-a-long-way-in-10-years Questions for Discussions: Describe this business model. What managerial services does it provide to creative artists? What other businesses could… Read more »

Amazon Moves to Cut Checkout Line, Promoting a Grab-and-Go Experience

Posted by & filed under Change, Control, Decision Making, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Management, Negotiation, New product, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Planning, Strategy, Teams, Technology.

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 »

How Business Governance Has Not Changed Since the Industrial Revolution

Posted by & filed under Decision Making, Ethics, Global Management, Leadership, Management, Organizational Change, Social Responsibility, Teams.

Description: Dov Seidman says leaders need to embrace emotion in a digital world. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Dec 02, 2016 Link: http://for.tn/2gPH5pT Questions for Discussions: What is Dov Seidman’s message to management about the culture of ethics and leadership? What do you think about this line of thinking?

Canada’s outstanding CEO of the year: Air Canada’s Calin Rovinescu

Posted by & filed under Leadership, Management, Organizational Structure & Design, Teams.

Description:  Cash-rich Japanese banks started becoming big players in the niche but lucrative aircraft financing market earlier this decade as it gets better spreads and is perceived to be safer than other corporate loans since a jet can be sold in the event of a default. Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Nov 01, 2016 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/financial-post-magazine/canadas-outstanding-ceo-of-the-year-air-canadas-calin-rovinescu Questions… Read more »

Bombardier cutting 7,500 jobs amid talks with Ottawa: ‘The timing is really unfortunate’

Posted by & filed under Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Communication, Control, Decision Making, Environment, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Management, Negotiation, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams, Technology.

Description: MONTREAL — A second large wave of job cuts is hitting Bombardier workers in less than a year as another 7,500 positions are to be eliminated around the world through the end of 2018. Source: BNN.com – video report Date: Oct 21, 2016 Link: http://www.bnn.ca/bombardier-cutting-7-500-jobs-amid-talks-with-ottawa-the-timing-is-really-unfortunate-1.589426 Questions for discussion: What is happening at Bombardier? What… Read more »

Laughter at the Top (of the Hockey World)

Posted by & filed under Teams.

The Vancouver Canucks, leading the Stanley Cup Finals 2-0 over the Boston Bruins, seem to have luck on their side. While the Bruins may come back and win the championship, things definitely seem to be going the Canucks’ way. Few knowledgeable people believe that the success of the Vancouver franchise hinges on luck. Other factors… Read more »

We’re Having a (Divorce) Party

Posted by & filed under Communication, Conflict, Teams.

The primary referenced article makes mention of summer of 2010 as the “the Summer of Divorce.” While that was disputed even within the article, recent months have seen one very contentious divorce – that of former Los Angeles Dodgers owners Charles and Bonnie Bronfman – as well as an announcement of the separation and impending… Read more »