Posted by & filed under Communication, Control, Decision Making, Diversity, Environment, Ethics, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, New product, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: New York (CNN)Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of Bud Light, is looking to make amends with the National Corn Growers Association after the beer giant aired commercials with the slogan “brewed with no corn syrup” during Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Feb 04, 2019

Link: https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/04/business/anheuser-busch-corn-super-bowl/index.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Why was the adversting considered offensive by some observers?
  • Do you believe Anheuser-Busch was surprises by the reaction or that possibly, it was expected?
  • How could this follow-up publicity add value to the original message in the adverting?

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

Description: On Friday shares of Mattel continued to soar after a strong earnings beat on Thursday, while shares of rival Hasbro sank, the result of a poor earnings showing before the bell. But there is more going on than these stock moves show.

Source: CNBC.com

Date: Feb 08, 2019

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/08/a-tale-of-two-toy-makers-mattel-soars-hasbro-sinks.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Why did Mattel stock price recover so dramatically?
  • What are the differences between these toy companies?

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Negotiation, Organizational Change, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams, Technology.

Description: New York (CNN Business)The Apple Store is at a crossroads. Its CEO is stepping down, and the iPhone, its most important product, is in a major slump. That’s bad news for Apple in the near-term — but a major opportunity for the Apple Store to take on an even bigger role for the company.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Feb 07, 2019

Link: https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/08/business/apple-stores-angela-ahrendts-iphone/index.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What was the retail strategy and why was it so successful for Apple?
  • What should Apple do in the future, according to the report?
  • What sorts of specific advice would you send to Apple management?

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Ethics, Global Management, Individual Behavior, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy.

Description: In the latest episode of “Behind the Numbers,” we’re talking about consumer trust in brands and digging into data from a survey by data platform Jebbit. We’re joined in the studio by Jebbit co-founder Jonathan Lacoste to discuss which brands have succeeded in winning customer trust, which have failed, and why.

Source: eMarketer.com – podcast

Date: Feb 08, 2019

Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-how-much-trust-do-consumers-give-brands?ecid=NL1001

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this interview say about brands and trust? Are you surprised?
  • What should managers do with this research?

Posted by & filed under Communication, Conflict, Control, Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Leadership, Management, New product, Planning, Social Responsibility, Technology.

Description: Facebook acquired Maria Giudice’s design firm in 2013. Today, she’s an independent consultant and an advocate for “designing for unintended consequences.”

Source: FastCompany.com

Date: Feb 08, 2019

Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90303374/early-facebook-designer-sometimes-you-dont-know-somethings-wrong-until-its-too-late?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=5&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=02082019

Questions for discussion:

  • What has changed online to make design so important to firms like Facebook?
  • Why do you think Facebook acquired the firm, rather than award contracts?

Posted by & filed under Management, Negotiation, Operations Management, Strategy.

Description: What can a business do if the setback doesn’t qualify for insurance coverage?

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Feb 05, 2019

Link: https://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/blindsided-when-even-the-best-laid-business-plans-come-up-against-catastrophe?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Financial%20Post%20-%20Entrepreneur%202019-02-06&utm_term=FP_Entrepreneur#comments-area

Questions for discussion:

  • Why do you suppose Jason Fisher made such a large down payment?
  • Why should this have been a warning that the supplier was cash shy?
  • What lessons should entrepreneurs take away from this story?

Posted by & filed under Change, Communication, Control, Decision Making, Environment, Ethics, Innovation/Creativity, Management, Strategy, Technology.

Description:  Walgreens is using cameras, eye tracking, and motion sensors to show you real-time ads meant to influence which ice cream you buy.

Source: FastCompany.com

Date: Feb 06, 2019

Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90302382/its-not-just-google-or-facebook-the-freezer-aisle-is-ad-targeting-you-too?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=2&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=02062019

Questions for discussion:

  • How is technology gathering consumer information and thereby boosting marketing effort?
  • Do you think consumers will reject efforts to collect information in this way?
  • What are the ethical and social ramifications for society?

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

Description: Shares of video game makers slid on Wednesday after Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive Software delivered disappointing results. Those two stocks, as well as shares of rival Activision Blizzard, were down more than 10 percent.

Source: NYTimes.com

Date: Feb 07, 2019

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/business/dealbook/electronic-arts-take-two-fortnite-earnings.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this report say about the sources of revenues for this industry?
  • How would you expect video game producers to respond?

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

Description: In 2018, esports captured the attention of nearly 400 million viewers worldwide—and cable and OTT platforms took note, with media rights revenues topping $180 million.

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: JAN 31, 2019

Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/esports-disrupts-digital-sports-streaming?ecid=NL1001

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize what is happening in this industry.
  • What advice is being presented to marketers?
  • Do you agree with this advice?

Posted by & filed under Communication, Decision Making, Diversity, Ethics, Global Management, Human Resource Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, New product, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy.

Description: Inuit invented the first parkas. With its new collection, Canada Goose highlights the work of Inuit seamstresses keeping their heritage alive.

Source: FastCompany.com

Date: Feb 07, 2019

Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90302431/these-incredible-canada-goose-parkas-were-created-by-inuit-designers?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=1&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=02072019

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the social and economic benefits derived from this program for all parties involved?
  • Do you think design is a critical component for sales of these garments?
  • How else can the firm build on the success of this program?