Now Is Not a Good Time to Skimp on Worker Training

Posted by & filed under Communication, Compensation & Benefits, Decision Making, Human Resource Management, Individual Behavior, Industrial Relations, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Teams.

Description: With unemployment near a record low, many businesses have no choice but to spend to upgrade employee skills. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Oct 26, 2018 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-26/now-is-not-a-good-time-to-skimp-on-worker-training?srnd=businessweek-v2 Questions for discussion: What does the article say about training in different countries around the world? How should managers interpret the suggestions in this article?

Here’s the Skinny: For Lean Production Processes to Work, a Company Needs to Be All In

Posted by & filed under Communication, Control, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Management, Planning, Teams.

Description: For a company in Chesterfield, Mo., it involved something as seemingly simple as attaching a trash can to an employee’s chair. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Oct 11, 2018 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/11/business/heres-the-skinny-for-lean-production-processes-to-work-a-company-needs-to-be-all-in.html?rref=collection%2Fspotlightcollection%2Ffast-forward Questions for discussion: Summarize the main ideas that would be important to managers of firms interested in improving operations and efficiencies. Which idea for improvement… Read more »

The true cost of an iPhone over your lifetime: $300,000

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Ethics, Global Management, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Negotiation, New product, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Technology.

Description:  That’s how much you would make if you invested the money you spent on your smartphone from the age of 18 to 78 Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Nov 02, 2018 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-true-cost-of-an-iphone-over-your-lifetime-300000-2018-11-01 Questions for discussion: Do you think consumers understand the “cost” of owning an iPhone in these terms? What is the value received from… Read more »

A Match Made in (Business) Heaven: Why Startups and Corporations Need Cooperation

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

Description: Competition breeds excellence, innovation, success — right? Well, not always, especially in the modern landscape of business. Source: Entrepreneur.com Date: Nov 02, 2018 Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/322213 Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in this article. How can synergy work for managers, according to the writer?

Tim Hortons parent sees Canadian growth as it works to fix franchisee relationship

Posted by & filed under Communication, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Strategy.

Description: The parent company of Tim Hortons saw sales growth at Canadian locations of the coffee-and-doughnut chain as executives say their work to mend fraught franchisee relations is paying off, though more work remains. Source: BNNBloomberg.com – video report Date: Oct 25, 2018 Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/tim-hortons-parent-sees-canadian-growth-as-it-works-to-fix-franchisee-relationship-1.1157210 Questions for discussion: Explain the expansion plans at Tim Hortons?… Read more »

How Dara Khosrowshahi’s Iranian heritage shapes how he leads Uber

Posted by & filed under Entrepreneurship, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Individual Behavior, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Operations Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: As CEO Dara Khosrowshahi remakes Uber with an eye toward an IPO, his Iranian childhood and heritage are essential to understanding how he leads. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Oct 23, 2018 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90245381/how-dara-khosrowshahi-iranian-heritage-shapes-how-he-leads-uber?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=1&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=10232018 Questions for discussion: Summarize the entrepreneurial character and insight about Dara Khosrowshahi presented in the article. What is “bazaari entrepreneurialism” and how does… Read more »

Uber’s shot at replacing personal car ownership starts with Jump Bikes

Posted by & filed under Change, Communication, Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Ethics, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, New product, Operations Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Technology.

Description: E-bikes and scooters are a key part of the company’s pivot from ride-hailing giant to mobility platform–and integral to its future vision for cities. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Oct 23, 2018 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90254182/ubers-shot-at-replacing-personal-car-ownership-starts-with-jump-bikes Questions for discussion: How are the two business models good fits for each other? Which other businesses could share this space?

10 Healthy Habits for People Who Work Remotely

Posted by & filed under Communication, Environment, Global Management, Management, Operations Management, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Teams, Technology.

Description: Stay focused and set boundaries. Source: Entrepreneur.com Date: Oct 22, 2018 Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/322119?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email Questions for discussion: Which item to you think is most useful? What else would you add to this list of suggestions? Do you think these suggestions should be any different for people working at a normal office?

Mobile Ad Spending to Surpass All Traditional Media Combined by 2020

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

Description:  This year, mobile will surpass TV ad spending by more than $6 billion, according to our latest ad spending forecast. By 2020, the channel will represent 43% of total media ad spending in the US—a greater percentage than all traditional media combined. Source: eMarketer.com Date: Oct 16, 2018 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/mobile-ad-spending-to-surpass-all-traditional-media-combined-by-2020?ecid=NL1009 Questions for discussion: What… Read more »

SPOS #641 – Planet Funny With Ken Jennings

Posted by & filed under Communication, Entrepreneurship, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Negotiation, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #641 – Host: Mitch Joel. I’m a moron. I did not put two and two together. My buddy, Scott Stratten, let me know that a new book called, Planet Funny, had recently been published. I’m all-in on any non-fiction book that can bridge comedy, culture and things like… Read more »