Spanx Founder Sara Blakely Has 99 Pages of Business Ideas

Posted by & filed under Communication, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Negotiation, New product, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy, Teams.

Description: She’s CEO of a billion-dollar brand, but she’s always looking to invent the next big thing.

Source: Entrepreneur.com

Date: Nov 28, 2018

Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/322936?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email

Questions for discussion:

  • Why do you suppose Sara Blakely has been so successful as an entrepreneur and manager?
  • Why is it important to “know your limits”, according to Sara Blakely?

Whatever Apple’s Tim Cook decides to do with video ‘could explode’: Discovery CEO

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

Description:  Discovery CEO David Zaslav told CNBC that Apple’s video streaming service “could explode” when it launches next year, because CEO Tim Cook and video head Eddy Cue have the connections they need: subscribers.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Nov 23, 2018

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/28/tim-cooks-plans-for-apple-video-could-explode-discovery-ceo.html

Questions for discussion:

  • What distinguishes the Discovery business model from scripted television?
  • Do you think this model will succeed?
  • What sort of programming would you watch via this non-scripted streaming model?
  • Why does Apple have a competitive advantage?

How to create a compelling video for your brand

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

Description: Mike Pritchett, CEO of Shootsta, says don’t spend too much money on it. Keep it simple, straightforward, easy and authentic.

Source: Entrepreneur.com – video report

Date: Nov 28, 2018

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EMq53-W6jM&feature=youtu.be

Questions for discussion:

  • What does Mike Pritchett say about video production techniques?
  • How would you rate this video in terms of the advice he presents?

How Dollar Shave Club Approaches Podcasting

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

Description: The podcast ad market is taking off as people increasingly tune in. But large brand advertisers still want better measurement and analytics before they really buy in.

Source: eMarketer.com

Date: Nov 27, 2018

Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/how-dollar-shave-club-approaches-podcasting?ecid=NL1001

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the research data say about the growth in podcasting?
  • Why do you think this medium is growing in popularity?
  • Which advertisers should be most interested?

SPOS #646 – Healthier Networking With Karen Wickre

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

Description: It’s a pretty amazing life. Karen Wickrehas been involved in the communications space for a very long time. She’s based in Silicon Valley, sits on many boards and has even been written about quite a few times (check out Chip Conley‘s latest book, Wisdom @ Work for more about her abilities to be an executive whisperer and EQ guide)..

Source: SixPixels.com – podcast report

Date: Nov 23, 2018

Link: https://www.sixpixels.com/podcast/archives/spos-646-healthier-networking-with-karen-wickre/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SixPixelsOfSeparation+%28Six+Pixels+of+Separation+-+Mitch+Joel%29

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the highlights presented in this interview.
  • What else would you suggest to managers hoping to build their networks?

Robots in the field: farms embracing autonomous technology

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

Description:  Faced with seesawing commodity prices and the pressure to be more efficient and environmentally friendly, farmer Jamie Butler is trying out a new worker on his 450-acre farm in England’s Hampshire countryside.

Source: Finance.Yahoo.com

Date: Nov 25, 2018

Link: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/robots-field-farms-embracing-autonomous-124224230.html

Questions for discussion:

  • How is technology changing agriculture?
  • How is offering a robotic service contract to farmers different from selling them equipment?
  • Why is it easier to sell a service contract?

Wrongful dismissal payouts compensate strictly for economic loss for period of time

Posted by & filed under Chapter 11 - The Grievance Arbitration Process, Chapter 7 - Defining and Commencing Collective Bargaining, Communication, Compensation & Benefits, Conflict, Decision Making, Ethics, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Management, Negotiation, Operations Management, Social Responsibility, Teams.

Description: Cheeky employers may offer less-desirable working notice as negotiating tool to reduce severance package: Howard Levitt

Source: FinancialPost.com

Date: Nov 20, 2018

Link: https://business.financialpost.com/executive/wrongful-dismissal-payouts-compensate-strictly-for-economic-loss-for-period-of-time

Questions for discussion:

  • What does the article say about how managers should handle dismissal of employees?
  • What does the article say about managerial relations with employees during conflict periods related to dismissal?
  • How would you advise managers to deal with dismissals?

Small Business Saturday isn’t a novelty anymore – independent retailers depend on it

Posted by & filed under Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Strategy.

Description: For Mackenzi Farquer, Small Business Saturday is a big deal.The owner of Queens, New York-based Lockwood gift shop, which sells kitchenware, clothing and paper goods, says there’s often barely room to stand in her locations on the retail holiday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Nov 23, 2018

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/23/small-business-saturday-is-a-big-deal-to-independent-retailers.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Why do you think this promotional strategy works so well?
  • How can small businesses build on the customer experience during this period and carry it forward into the rest of the year?

China Chopstick Debacle Puts Dolce & Gabbana’s Future at Stake

Posted by & filed under Communication, Diversity, Ethics, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Management, Planning, Social Responsibility, Teams.

Description: Dolce & Gabbana’s Chinese marketing scandal is fashion’s biggest faux pas since former Christian Dior designer John Galliano’s anti-Semitic rant in 2011, and it’s potentially far more costly.

Source: Bloomberg.com – video report

Date: Nov 23, 2018

Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-23/china-chopstick-debacle-puts-dolce-gabbana-s-future-at-stake

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the issues facing management.
  • What are the lessons to be learned by managers of international brands?
  • How should the company handle the situation?

$9 million and a lifetime of bragging rights are on the line for Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson

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

Description:  It’s golf, but not as we know it. Friday sees two of the game’s greats go head to head, with no trophy or major title to be won.

Source: CNBC.com – video report

Date: Nov 23, 2018

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/23/9-million-and-a-lifetime-of-bragging-rights-on-the-line-for-tiger-woods-and-phil-mickelson.html

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you think this format will succeed? Explain why.
  • Would it succeed in other sports? Explain why.
  • Even though Phil won, did Tiger lose?