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 the way in which these firms are advancing the effort?
  • Do you believe the effort is satisfactory thus far and what would you advise firms not listed?

Millennials may claim another victim: Harley-Davidson and the classic American motorcycle

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

Description: The supposed millennial penchant for “killing” industries gets thrown around a lot, but it could really be happening to one American icon: the Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Source: CNBC.com

Date: Jan 25, 2019

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/25/actually-young-people-really-could-kill-harley-davidson.html

Questions for discussion:

  • How have changes in demographics and attitudes affected the fortunes of Harley-Davidson in recent years?
  • What is management doing stratgically to meet the changes?
  • What advice would you offer?

Are You Ready for the Nanoinfluencers?

Posted by & filed under Decision Making, Diversity, Global Management, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Technology.

Description: By now you have probably heard of influencers, that group of internet-famous people who have more than a million social media followers and can make big money by plugging various brands. And you may have even heard of microinfluencers, who do the same thing for a still sizable but somewhat smaller social media audience — from the tens to low hundreds of thousands. Now get ready for the nanoinfluencers.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Nov 11, 2018

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/11/business/media/nanoinfluencers-instagram-influencers.html?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTURBMVlUZ3pZbVJpTm1VMSIsInQiOiJ2cVVteUJDVm9RZzhNVHE2eDFVN1VNZmFvWkt6SzJBZXU5cFZ0Zys4R1FuVUpuXC8rcVhRalpEWndPMzVEd3BmblJxeldNTjNib0RFR05lRUU3T1o1XC9Ua3psSHBvallMbFFseml4NWE1WTZibGZ5QW1PSUdpaTBRZnRUYU9Zb2dNIn0%3D

Questions for discussion:

  • What are nanoinfluencers and why do you think they are growing in popularity with marketers?
  • Which sorts of products or services would benefit the most with nanoinfluencers?

Alibaba and the Future of Business

Posted by & filed under Control, Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Planning, Strategy, Technology.

Description: Alibaba hit the headlines with the world’s biggest IPO in September 2014. Today, the company has a market cap among the global top 10, has surpassed Walmart in global sales, and has expanded into all the major markets in the world. Founder Jack Ma has become a household name.

Source: HarvardBusinessReview.com

Date: FROM THE SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2018 ISSUE

Link: https://hbr.org/2018/09/alibaba-and-the-future-of-business?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWWpnME9XSm1aVEEwT0dZMyIsInQiOiI0YXU4R3pJVitOejhSSXFcL3dJV21DbkltUTVEQnlTRTNxeG1LcjBGR0llOHl4QXd1bFdJTnhWc1NJdlNaMlIwYUhpam9zSUl5azNvZXNuWGtZS3BBXC9DVkFjNTlFOTZndmFVMFptS3B2UzcxZThYMk9MKzZTMGFERjlwblgzd2Q4In0%3D

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the highlights in this report.
  • Do you agree with the presentation?
  • What is the message that business managers should take away?

Podcast | How Kids Earn, Save and Spend

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Ethics, Innovation/Creativity, Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Technology.

Description:  Podcast | How Kids Earn, Save and Spend

Source: eMarketer.com – podcast

Date: Jan , 2019

Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-how-kids-earn-save-and-spend

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the discussion reveal about this demographic that would be useful to marketing managers?
  • Are you surprised by the data?

Could This Really Be The Beginning Of The End For WhatsApp?

Posted by & filed under Decision Making, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy.

Description: It seems that Facebook is about to reverse years of promises around the integrity and independence of its flagship WhatsApp messaging platform. And coming off the back of the worst year of PR for the social media giant, the implications for the future of WhatsApp could be game-changing.

Source: Forbes.com

Date: Jan 26, 2019

Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/01/26/could-this-really-be-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-whatsapp/#4ae62f0341ab

Questions for discussion:

  • What is changing strategically?
  • Why would management make this change?
  • Do you agree it is best for the firm?
  • What other options are there for monetization?

Terence Corcoran: Jerry Dias’s Oshawa GM battle can’t stop an auto-industry revolution

Posted by & filed under Chapter 4 - The Structure of Canadian Unions, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy.

Description: It’s hard to see what Unifor’s national president is hoping to achieve

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Jan 16, 2019

Link: https://business.financialpost.com/opinion/terence-corcoran-jerry-diass-oshawa-gm-battle-cant-stop-an-auto-industry-revolution

Questions for discussion:

  • What is the situation facing GM management, the union, and the governments?
  • What would you advise each of them, given the constraints?

Amazon is on a hiring spree in India, even as new restrictions on foreign sellers loom

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams, Technology.

Description: Amazon could soon face a tighter market in India, as new government restrictions are set to kick in next month. But the company remains undeterred in its India expansion based on at least one measure: job openings.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Jan 16, 2019

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/amazon-india-hiring-spree-new-restrictions-foreign-sellers-coming.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What is significant about Amazon’s management plans in India?
  • How does this approach to globalization help the firm grow?

Hedge fund billionaire Ray Dalio: ‘Capitalism basically is not working for the majority of people’

Posted by & filed under Communication, Compensation & Benefits, Control, Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Social Responsibility, Strategy.

Description: With just over $18 billion to his name, capitalism has been good to Ray Dalio: He started his hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, out of a two-bedroom New York City apartment in 1975 and it now manages $160 billion in assets and is the largest hedge fund in the world, according to Forbes.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Jan 16, 2019

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/bridgewaters-ray-dalio-capitalism-is-not-working-for-most-people.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the article say is failing in capitalism?
  • How does this compare to textbook discussion about different economic systems?
  • How can the limitations of capitalism be corrected, in your opinion?

Health care industry spends $30 billion a year on marketing

Posted by & filed under Communication, Compensation & Benefits, Conflict, Control, Decision Making, Ethics, Global Management, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Operations Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: Critics say patients are often misled by ads that advocate high-priced drugs, unapproved stem cell treatments or genetic tests.

Source: NBC.com

Date: Jan 08, 2019

Link: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/health-care-industry-spends-30-billion-year-marketing-n956251

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the criticisms leveled at the health care industry in this report?
  • Do you agree with the assessments?
  • How should the industry, governments, and the consumer deal with the issues raised?