Canadian vs American perspective on Energy

Posted by & filed under Environment, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Technology.

Alex Wood, Senior Director, Policy and Markets for Sustainable Prosperity, compares Canadian and American perspectives on energy. He explains that Canada treats its energy as a commodity and relies on its existing natural resources to prosper in the world market. U.S., on the other hand, focuses on innovation and technology and believes its traditional advantages in developing new technology will lead to prosperity.

Questions:

  1. Whose perspective do you agree with and Why?
  2. In your view, how long can Canada continue to rely on its natural resources to gain comparative advantage in the world market?
  3. Suggest another parallel strategy for Canada?

SOURCE: Alexander Wood, “Canadian vs. American perspective on energy”Financial Post (Retrievable online http://business.financialpost.com/2012/01/30/canadian-vs-american-perspective-on-energy/?__lsa=f5772e0b)”

RIM’s New Marketing Campaign

Posted by & filed under Change, Communication, Environment, Global Management, Management, Strategy, Technology.

Research In Motion Ltd.’s new chief executive, Thorsten Heins, discusses his ideas on how he plans to revive his firm. He does not rule out the possibility of licensing BlackBerry Messenger technology to other platforms. Mr. Heins mentions that RIM needs to take some dramatic steps to regain its lost market share in the U.S. One such step is the aggressive marketing of its new “Be Bold” campaign.

Questions:

  1. On seeing the advertisement, do you think the new “Be Bold” campaign will be effective?
  2. Suggest a few strategies to RIM to increase its U.S. market share?
  3. Performs a SWOT analysis for RIM in the U.S. market.

SOURCE: Matt Hartley, “Comment: RIM’s ‘dramatically different’ recycled marketing campaign”, Financial Post (Retrievable online at http://business.financialpost.com/2012/01/30/rims-dramatically-different-recycled-marketing-campaign)

Caterpillar to close locomotive plant

Posted by & filed under Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 2 - Theories of Industrial Relations, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Caterpillar Inc. has announced it will close its London, Ont. Electro-Motive locomotive plant, where workers have been locked out since the beginning of the year.

Source: The Montreal Gazette

Date: 02/03/2011

Link: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Caterpillar+Electro+Motive+plant+London+close/6099000/story.html

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • Why does Caterpillar say it must close the plant?
  • What has been the union’s reaction?
  • What do you think about this situation?
  • Review the Related Links above. What is the connection between this closure and recent events in Indiana?
  • Which of the columns listed under Related Links above do you think makes the strongest arguments? Why?
  • What effect do you think this will have on other contract negotiations?

Social media and collective bargaining

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues.

Description: Social media carry both risks and benefits for unionized workplaces.

Source: The Calgary Herald

Date: 01/28/2012

Link: http://www.calgaryherald.com/jobs/Navigating+social+media+maze/6066665/story.html

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • What does Wayne Benedict mean when he describes social media as “a double-edged sword”?
  • Do you agree?
  • Can you think of some ways in which unions could use social media?
  • How would you feel about such practices if you were an employer?
  • What, if any, social media policies do you think employers and unions should develop?
  • Would you work for a company that banned access to social media?

Learning from Kodak’s Collapse

Posted by & filed under Change, Environment, Management, Planning, Strategy.

Larry Keeley, consultant at tech.fortune.cnn.com, advises how firms must focus on innovating and developing new platforms. He suggests that the entire focus of the firm must not be on trying to grow in familiar ways. Even though Kodak knew about the rise in digital technology, it failed in its existing strategic approach to combat the change.  It tried to use its existing strength in organic chemistry and optics to create some excellent products. It lost when the new businesses did not generate much revenue.

Questions:

  1. What can we learn from Kodak’s Collapse?
  2. What would you suggest firms do in order to keep innovating?
  3. Can you name other firms that failed because they neglected new market trends?

 

SOURCE: Harvey Schachter, “Lessons learned from Kodak’s collapse” The Globe and Mail (Retrievable online http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/management/morning-manager/lessons-learned-from-kodaks-collapse/article2318054/)

Growth in Canadian Manufacturing

Posted by & filed under Environment, Global Management, Management.

Over the past ten years, Canadian manufacturers have been able to boost employment, increase production and subsequently grow exports. This growth has been possible because manufacturers built more specialized and value added products and also because the Canadian and international markets experienced high growth. Small firms have been more successful than their larger counterparts; a trend that is prevalent even in very competitive sectors like clothing. Despite a strong hit in European imports, the world imports as a whole have not suffered a lot due to the growth in emerging economies.

Questions:

  1. Where do you foresee Canada in terms of manufacturing in the next ten years?
  2. In which Canadian manufacturing sectors, do you think we will we see the highest growth?
  3. In terms of the world economy, do you think the emerging economies would take over North America and Europe?
  4. Would you agree that the US growth in manufacturing sector is short-lived? Why?

SOURCE: Bertrand Marotte, “Canadian manufacturing makes gains despite headwinds”, The Globe and Mail (Retrievable online at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/features/at-the-bell/canadian-manufacturing-makes-gains-despite-headwinds/article2318806/

‘A moment of truth for Canadian labour’

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 12 - Changes to the Union or the Employer, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 2 - Theories of Industrial Relations, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement, Chapter 4 - The Structure of Canadian Unions.

Description: As two of Canada’s largest unions explore a merger, a confidential union report says that labour must become more relevant to Canadians.

Source: The Toronto Star

Date: 01/26/2012

Link: http://www.thestar.com/article/1121505–unions-must-change-quickly-to-survive-says-secret-report-by-cep-caw

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • Why do you think these two unions are thinking about merging?
  • What do you think would be the advantages of such a merger?
  • What do you think would be the disadvantages of such a merger?
  • If you were a member of one of these unions, how would you vote on a merger proposal?
  • The confidential report referred to in the Toronto Star story recommends creating a “brand” and “visibility for a new kind of national Canadian industrial unionism.” What do you think about this advice?

Toronto paramedics ask to be declared essential service

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process.

Description: About 250 — some reports said 350 — Toronto paramedics held a rally asking that they be declared an essential service.

Source: CBC

Date: 01/24/2012

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/01/24/toronto-paramedics-protest-essential-service.html

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • In industrial relations terms, what is an essential service?
  • Who would make the final decision on whether Toronto paramedics are an essential service?
  • Describe the process by which an application for an essential service designation would be made in this case.
  • What reason is the city giving for not making an immediate decision?
  • What effect would an essential service declaration have on the paramedics?
  • Why do you think they are asking to be declared an essential service?
  • What is binding interest arbitration? Why do you think the paramedics favour it?

Employers ‘have warmed to work stoppages’

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Jim Stanford, an economist with the Canadian Auto Workers union, writes that employers, who once opposed work stoppages, are now eager to lock out unions.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Date: 01/20/2012

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/management-has-warmed-to-work-stoppages/article2308417/print/

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize Jim Stanford’s argument.
  • What is his solution?
  • Do you agree with his analysis?
  • Why or why not?
  • Do you think the current situation requires government action?
  • Why or why not?

Halifax transit workers reject offer

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process.

Description: Halifax transit workers have voted nearly unanimously in favour of striking if an agreement with the city cannot be reached by Feb. 2.

Source: The Halifax Chronicle Herald

Date: 01/23/2012

Link: http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/54722-transit-workers-vote-strike

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the issues in this dispute.
  • What is the key issue?
  • What did the employer do almost immediately after contract negotiations began?
  • What is the meaning of this move? (Consult your text.)
  • Why do you think the employer took that action at that time?