Why do we have high youth unemployment concurrent with a national labour shortage?

Posted by & filed under Management, Operations Management, Social Responsibility.

Description: Job vacancies are on the rise in agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, and in jobs such as plumbing, mechanics and electricians. It’s time high schools starting teaching and promoting their value: CFIB

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Nov 02, 2018

Link: https://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/why-do-we-have-high-youth-unemployment-concurrent-with-a-national-labour-shortage

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the article say about the reasons for high youth unemployment and what businesses should do?
  • Do you agree with this assessment?

Facebook follows Google to end mandatory arbitration for sexual-harassment claims

Posted by & filed under Diversity, Ethics, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Social Responsibility, Teams.

Description: Facebook on Friday became the latest tech company to end a policy of requiring employees to settle claims of sexual harassment through private arbitration, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. It will now allow employees to take these types of claims to court.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Nov 09, 2018

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/09/facebook-ends-mandatory-arbitration-for-sexual-harassment-claims.html?__source=sharebar%7Cemail&par=sharebar

Questions for discussion:

  • Describe the change taking place in workplace relationships at the firms mentioned in this report?
  • What does this say about the power divisions between employees at various levels?
  • How do you think these events will affect management at these firms and at others who are watching?

How Magic Johnson convinced Howard Schultz to partner with him and build more Starbucks stores

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Negotiation, New product, Operations Management, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: With five NBA Championships, an Olympic gold medal and various MVP awards to his name, Earvin “Magic” Johnson will go down as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But the former Laker may be remembered for his business skills as well as his signature hook shot.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Nov 9, 2018

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/09/how-magic-johnson-got-starbucks-ceo-howard-schultz-to-partner-with-him.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the article say about the vision and broader business goals expressed by Johnson?
  • How is he affecting business development and attitudes amongst wealthy investors?

These 4 myths about the skills gap will hold your company back

Posted by & filed under Communication, Human Resource Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Planning, Teams, Technology.

Description:  “If companies really want to help employees gain new skills, there has to be a basic understanding of what learning is really all about.”

Source: FastCompany.com

Date: Nov 09, 2018

Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90261437/these-4-myths-about-the-skills-gap-will-hold-your-company-back?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=2&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=11092018

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the report say about approaches to learning and training?
  • Why do you think businesses approach training employees as they do?
  • What should learners do, given the opportunities available through technologies?

3 Key Strategies for Succeeding at Marketing on Mobile

Posted by & filed under Communication, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Management, New product, Strategy, Technology.

Description: Mobile devices are the next wave of marketing. By keeping a few critical issues in mind, you can enhance your brand and open up an important revenue channel.

Source: Entrepreneur.com

Date: Nov 06, 2018

Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/322350?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email

Questions for discussion:

  • Describe the key recommendation in this article.
  • Create an example for a consumer products firm of your choosing.

The 600-year-old history of the resume and its uncertain future

Posted by & filed under Communication, Human Resource Management, Management, Social Responsibility, Teams.

Description: This is how everyone ended up using resumes to get a job, and whether they’ll ever die out.

Source: FastCompany.com

Date: Nov 9, 2018

Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90261298/the-600-year-old-history-of-the-resume-and-its-uncertain-future

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the limitations to the traditional resume, according to the article?
  • How can technology and AI, in particular, help HR managers deal with these limitations?

8 concept cars that show how technology will dominate the drive of the future

Posted by & filed under Innovation/Creativity, Strategy, Technology.

Description: Concept cars have been a staple of the automotive landscape for decades. Manufacturers use them to pique consumers’ interest, but also to showcase new technology and features they hope to unveil in later production cars.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Nov 08, 2018

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/08/8-concept-cars-shaping-the-technology-dominated-drive-of-the-future.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What do these concept cars say about the future for these consumer products and transportation in general?
  • Why would providing a bed in which to sleep be in keeping with the future?

Canada Goose steps into footwear, as global expansion hits Vancouver

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

Description: Canada Goose Holdings Inc. is slowly expanding beyond its parka roots, entering the footwear realm on Thursday with a $32.5 million acquisition that comes as it continues to grow its roster of flagship stores around the world.

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Nov 02, 2018

Link: https://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/canada-goose-steps-into-footwear-as-global-expansion-hits-vancouver

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the Canada Goose brand represent in the marketplace?
  • Who are the target customers for Canada Goose and Baffin?
  • Is the acquisition a good decision?
  • How do both companies benefit by the acquisition?
  • Would you continue to brand separately or label the footwear using Canada Goose?

Google Walkout: Employees Stage Protest Over Handling of Sexual Harassment

Posted by & filed under Communication, Conflict, Diversity, Ethics, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Individual Behavior, Industrial Relations, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Organizational Change, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: Employees at Google offices around the world held a wave of walkouts on Thursday to protest the company’s handling of sexual harassment.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Nov 01, 2018

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/01/technology/google-walkout-sexual-harassment.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbusiness&action=click&contentCollection=business&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the issues that precipitated the action by employees.
  • What does this action say about the changing culture in this company?
  • Do you think the action and publicity will affect other businesses?
  • What would you advise management and employees at this time?

Reduced holiday temp hiring is a sign Amazon is turning to more automation and robots: Citi

Posted by & filed under Communication, Compensation & Benefits, Control, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Negotiation, Operations Management, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure & Design, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams, Technology.

Description: Amazon has reduced the number of temporary hires it needs this holiday shopping season as the company turns to more robots, Citi analyst Mark May told CNBC Friday.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Nov 02, 2018

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/02/citi-mark-may-amazon-relies-on-robots-less-temporary-holiday-hires.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this report suggest is happening to low-paying jobs like sorting and handling packages at Amazon?
  • How is the decision by Amazon both good and bad for the economy?