ARTICLE SUMMARY: After 16 years, boxer Juan Manuel Marquez finally gets his shot at greatness. The Mexican fighter will face formerly retired champion Floyd Mayweather in a pay-per-view event. Mayweather has never lost a professional fight, but has been out of action for two years. Although the fight is a non-title bout, there is a lot at stake for Marquez. A win would place him in the company of other great Mexican boxers, including his hero Julio Cesar Chavez.
QUESTIONS:
Where would Marquez’ fight with Mayweather fall (for Marquez) on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Which of McClelland’s acquired needs best describes Juan Marquez’ motivation in this fight?
What would Expectancy Theory predict about the motivation levels of each fighter?
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Technology events often create quite a buzz as consumers and investors anticipate the release of new and improved products. However, the stir at a recent Apple public event was due more to the appearance of CEO Steve Jobs than announcements related to the company’s popular iPod and iPhone products. Jobs made his first public appearance since October 2008 and since a liver transplant.
QUESTIONS:
1. What aspects of observable culture does Steve Jobs represent and why is this important both for Apple, the company’s investors, and for customers?
2. Apple stock prices varied widely leading up to and following the event. Industry analysts suggest that Apple’s stock price, which closed slightly lower following the meeting, would have gone much lower had Jobs not made his public appearance. If true, what does this say about Jobs’ role as symbolic leader at Apple?
3. How is Jobs’ appearance consistent with visionary and charismatic leadership?
SOURCE: Y. I. Kane & J. Hodgson, “Jobs Takes Stage at Apple Event,” The Wall Street Journal (Retrievable online at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125250736905495705.html; for additional reference, see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/09/AR2009090902297.html)
Related video clip available at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125250736905495705.html#
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Technology events often create quite a buzz as consumers and investors anticipate the release of new and improved products. However, the stir at a recent Apple public event was due more to the appearance of CEO Steve Jobs than announcements related to the company’s popular iPod and iPhone products. Jobs made his first public appearance since October 2008 and since a liver transplant.
QUESTIONS:
What aspects of observable culture does Steve Jobs represent and why is this important both for Apple, the company’s investors, and for customers?
Apple stock prices varied widely leading up to and following the event. Industry analysts suggest that Apple’s stock price, which closed slightly lower following the meeting, would have gone much lower had Jobs not made his public appearance. If true, what does this say about Jobs’ role as symbolic leader at Apple?
How is Jobs’ appearance consistent with visionary and charismatic leadership?
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Kraft Foods initiated a buy offer for British candy maker Cadbury. The offer, valued at $17 billion, would give Cadbury shareholders cash and Kraft stock. The offer was rejected on the grounds that it undervalued Cadbury and that Kraft’s strategy was too conservative to capitalize on the full potential Cadbury offers.
QUESTIONS:
1. Defend Kraft’s offer for Cadbury from the standpoint of its mission and core values.
2. What are the different strategies represented by Kraft and Cadbury and on what basis (related to strategy differences) did Cadbury reject Kraft’s offer?
3. Considering strategic portfolio planning (and thinking about Cadbury’s reason for rejecting the bid), why would Kraft want to acquire Cadbury?
SOURCE: M. Carolan, “Cadbury Defends Rejection of Kraft Bid,” Wall Street Journal (Retrievable online at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125277260126106081.html)
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Kraft Foods initiated a buy offer for British candy maker Cadbury. The offer, valued at $17 billion, would give Cadbury shareholders cash and Kraft stock. The offer was rejected on the grounds that it undervalued Cadbury and that Kraft’s strategy was too conservative to capitalize on the full potential Cadbury offers.
QUESTIONS:
Defend Kraft’s offer for Cadbury from the standpoint of its mission and core values.
What are the different strategies represented by Kraft and Cadbury and on what basis (related to strategy differences) did Cadbury reject Kraft’s offer?
Considering strategic portfolio planning (and thinking about Cadbury’s reason for rejecting the bid), why would Kraft want to acquire Cadbury?
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Disney created quite a stir in the entertainment industry by acquiring Marvel Entertainment. While some analysts contend that Disney overpaid, many believe the fit is good and Disney is poised to create plenty of value provided it can work out existing licensing agreements. Proponents of the deal see this as an opportunity for Disney to capture a new age demographic.
QUESTIONS:
How do the concepts mission and core values explain and support Disney’s acquisition of Marvel as a good strategic move?
Which of the grand/master strategies does this acquisition represent?
One concern stemming from the acquisition relates to pre-existing licensing agreements Marvel made with other entertainment companies. Examine the concept of co-opetition. What are some ways Disney could turn these agreements into opportunities?
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer will pay $2.3 billion to settle a lawsuit brought against the drug manufacturer by the Department of Justice. The suit alleged that Pfizer engaged in unlawful practices to market its products to doctors. The penalty reflects the fact that Pfizer is a repeat offender. Allegations of wrongdoing were exposed by Pfizer employees, some of whom lost jobs and will share in a portion of the settlement.
QUESTIONS:
Off-label marketing involves promoting a drug for uses other than those approved by the Food & Drug Administration. The practice is illegal in the United States. Whistleblower Glenn Demott says “there’s a wide range in ethics in physicians” with respect to how they view off-label promotions. What are some of the factors that influence this range?
While Glenn Demott did call attention to wrongdoing at Pfizer, he was not the first to do so (i.e., he waited until after someone else spoke out). How might ethics intensity and moral development explain the decision to wait but to eventually speak out?
How did Pfizer sales representatives rationalize off-label promotions?
Do you believe what Demott did was the right thing to do? Why or why not?
ARTICLE SUMMARY: After a brief honeymoon period in which everything seemed to go his way, President Barack Obama finds himself in a fight to get healthcare reform approved. The rhetoric is strong on both sides of the debate and, apparently, words are carefully chosen for the impression they will create on those still considering the issues.
QUESTIONS:
Why would Democrats use information from focus groups to advise President Obama on how to present his health care reform?
In one notable town hall meeting, Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee was seen talking on her cellular telephone while a constituent asked her a question (note: video is available on www.youtube.com). What communication barrier does this represent?
One reason that Americans are upset about the healthcare reform process is that some congressional representatives indicate they plan to vote in favor of H.R. 3200 despite concerns from their constituents. What aspect of communication might this violate?
For additional discussion, consider having students take a look at the House of Representatives’ version of the bill (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3200ih.txt.pdf) then ask them to comment on the effectiveness and efficiency of this document. If students are familiar with the town hall meetings held during the summer congressional recess, have them talk about the best way to conduct these using Management Smarts 5.1 as a guide.
ARTICLE SUMMARY: On the four-year anniversary of the event, President Barack Obama reflected on how government, the Federal Emergency Management Agency in particular, responded to the crisis that emerged from Hurricane Katrina. He pledged that progress in the long, drawn-out recovery process would be more efficient. The lessons of Katrina offer an excellent opportunity to discuss the role of planning in organizations.
QUESTIONS:
Discuss the role of strategic, tactical, and operational plans in disaster preparation. Who should be involved in developing these plans? At what level(s) should each type be implemented?
While hurricanes have affected the United States for centuries, Hurricane Katrina was a once-in-a-century storm with unimaginable consequences. What are some planning tools/techniques that could be utilized to help governmental agencies and communities better prepare in the event major storms strike again?
New Orleans is a community that is vulnerable to natural disasters. As the Government looks to increase its effectiveness in responding to these events, why would participatory planning be needed?
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Oregon car salesman Kevin Lamson was fired by Crater Lake Motors. Company owner Jim Coleman claims Lamson was released for reasons related to performance. Lamson counters that his firing was because he refused to participate in a sales program he considered to be unethical. Lamson sued, claiming wrongful discharge, and won in trial court. The Oregon Supreme Court reversed the decision stating “there was no evidence Lamson had been ordered to violate any ethical standard or law.”
QUESTIONS:
The Oregon Supreme Court ruled that no ethical standard or law had been violated. Does this mean the practices questioned by Kevin Lamson are ethical? What alternative view(s) of ethics may have influenced Lamson?
Is Kevin Lamson a whistleblower? What are the arguments for and against calling him a whistleblower?
Looking at the stages of moral development, where would you place Kevin Lamson, Crater Lake Motors, and the Oregon Supreme Court (based on the ruling in this case)?
ARTICLE SUMMARY: This week the world mourns the passing of another television giant. Unlike Walter Cronkite, Don Hewitt worked behind the scenes at CBS. Those that knew him, claim that many standard practices in television news reporting were innovations introduced by Hewitt.
QUESTIONS:
What are some of the ways the environment at CBS might have allowed Don Hewitt’s creativity to flourish?
How would you classify the business innovations of Don Hewitt?
What type of change best describes the achievements of Don Hewitt? Referring to Figure 10.2, what are some of the characteristics that allowed Hewitt to be so successful?
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Four executives of Australian mining company Rio Tinto were arrested by the Chinese government and charged with bribery and corporate espionage. Chinese government officials claim the actions of the arrested gave Rio Tinto an unfair advantage in negotiating prices for the sale of iron ore. The case is causing many firms to rethink how they conduct business in China.
QUESTIONS:
In what ways might Rio Tinto representatives be guilty of corruption?
Considering Rio Tinto, what does this say about the political risks that come with doing business in a foreign country? What is the best way to minimize these risks?
Thinking back, how does the Rio Tinto case underscore the cultural issues in ethical behavior?
