A cracking business lesson video on my favourite product - Jaffa Cakes!
Wow - oh wow. They’ve only gone and made a video to explain how Jaffa cakes are made. Best of all - the video is packed full with little business studies nuggetts, as well as a really useful supporting article in the Telegraph!
read more...»Marketing analysis: the UK supermarket battleground
Once again the BBC have posted up a clip that clearly and concisely (in two and a half minutes) neatly sums up the marketing challenges faced by the main UK supermarket chains: store locations, types of store, products, promotions, target markets … and prices.
On that point, there’s also more detailed news published recently about Waitrose matching Tesco prices, getting marketing mileage out of the John Lewis ‘never knowingly undersold’ pledge.
read more...»A detailed look inside Apple’s Foxconn factory
A fascinating and detailed look here at working conditions at Apple’s main supplier in China. This 15 minute video raises a lot of issues which students can develop; particularly useful for any discussion around CSR, but also excellent for operations and HRM. In the video, ABC News Nightline goes behind the scenes of the FoxConn factory - the operation which makes iPads and iPhones.
read more...»Takeovers and Mergers: Facebook & Instagram in News Clips
The Facebook takeover of Instagram for $1bn has generated a huge amount of media interest. The takeover is a great topical example for A2 business students looking at takeovers, and these video clips provide all they could possibly need in terms of looking at the motives for the deal and also the potential revenue synergies for Facebook.
read more...»Costs, Cashflow and Closure - the Last French Beret Maker
France boasts some of the most famous fashion houses in the world, but there are few items of clothing more synonymous with the country than the beret. However, the nation’s last surviving factory that produces the item is now facing closure due to financial problems. With cheaper production costs, the iconic hat may in the future be made in Asia. A great example of the impact of emerging markets on the competitiveness of firms in developed economies. Some nice comments too in the video about the type of cash flow problems experienced by small manufacturers.
read more...»CSR - Ethics and Pay Day Loans
A downside of the prolonged economic downturn in the UK in recent years has been the rise of the pay day loan companies, particularly in locations that suffer from relatively low incomes and higher unemployment. In most countries, pay day lending is banned, but not in the UK where financial services of this kind are largely deregulated. This video examines the issue and asks some important questions about whether the activities of pay day loan companies are ethical - even if they are legal.
read more...»Enterprise, Location and Culture - Inside the new Google Campus in London
Google Campus, a building designed to offer technology start-ups desk space and mentoring in east London, was opened to much fanfare by UK chancellor George Osborne. But is the government right to look to the tech sector for economic growth? In this excellent FT video Daniel Garrahan reports from inside Google Campus. Some good teaching points here, including:
- The role of government support for technology startups
- Non-financial benefits of a suitable location for startup entrepreneurs and their employees
- Use of a location to bring together entrepreneurs and venture capitalists
- The cost savings for startups of locating in a venue like Google Campus
Strategy & Technological Change - Whatever Happened to BlackBerry?
The revenues achieved in 2011 by RIM, the owner of BlackBerry, fell by 25% compared with 2010. It looks like customers have fallen out of love with BlackBerry. Apple, HTC, Samsung and other operator have grabbed a large share of BlackBerry’s customer base, so it must be that BlackBerry has seen its competitiveness deteriorate.
This excellent video from the FT examines some key strategic issues facing Rim and its BlackBerry brand. Could the business be a takeover target now that the firm is trying to achieve a turnaround? But, if so, who would want to buy it? Can new product development save BlackBerry before it loses further market share in key markets like the US? A fantastic lesson resource for A2 students…
read more...»Sony - Hirai’s Turnaround Strategy - in Video Clips
At our A2 Business revision workshops in March we predicted that Sony would quickly become an essential research case study for students in 2012 and perhaps beyond, as we anticipated the strategic review being carried out by Hirai Kazou as he took over as CEO of Sony from Sir Howard Stringer. Events over recent days have supported that view. Sony’s plight - and proposed turnaround strategy - is packed full with fantastic business strategy materials. Perfect for comparing and contrasting with the likes of Apple, Samsung, Google & HTC.
Hirai’s announcement has been well covered in all the business media, particularly the online business television channels. Here is a selection of clips which help explain the strategy and also provide some examples of experts analysing and evaluating the likely success of the turnaround:
Update: BBC news, May 2012: Sony shares tumble to 31-year low amid record losses
read more...»The Co-operative model - a retail format that should thrive in a recession?
An excellent video here - part of Al Jazeera’s recent series on co-operatives, Sonia Gallego reports on a grassroots movement in the north of England, that provides an alternative to the dominant grocery supermarket and convenience store chains. Its goal: to provide fairness for both buyer and supplier, since it opened 15 years ago, this co-operative store has turned out profits and fair business practices as well.
read more...»Do Apple Customers Turn a Blind-eye to CSR in their Pursuit of Innovation?
Apple’s customer base is incredibly loyal, as demonstrated by the long queues outside Apple stores and other retail distributors for the launch of the new iPad. Are Apple’s consumers willing to overlook the many concerns that observers have about Apple’s track record of manufacturing in emerging markets? This short video addresses that question.
read more...»Two Lesson Videos on Nokia - Will their Strategy Work?
A superb 6-minute video here from the BBC technology team which analyses and evaluates the likely success of Nokia’s product and market strategy in mobile phones. Lots of details about mobile phone segments and operating platforms / ecosytems, but explained in a way that should certainly be accessible for students. I have also added a recent video interview with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop in which he explains his strategy further.
read more...»Lesson Video on Patent Protection - the Battle for Smartphone Advantage
Don’t try this at home - but watch this expert open up his smartphone to illustrate the use of patents and patent protection…
read more...»Sony - All Change at the Top with a new CEO
After seven pretty disastrous years as CEO, Sir Howard Stringer is passing the baton of Sony’s CEO to Kazuo Hirai. Stringer will remain with Sony as Chairman. Will the new CEO achieve the turnaround in Sony’s fortunes that Stringer has been attempting in recent years? It’s a tough ask - but it will be fascinating to see how Hirai goes about things…
read more...»Quality control and assurance - the Trabant Way
A huge hat tip to James Hazeldine for spotting this truly extraordinary 4-minute video on YouTube which illustrates quite beautifully the process of quality control…at the old Trabant car factory…
read more...»Apple’s new CEO and a new iPad - A Change in Leadership
For those of you who watched the recent Apple special event (7 March 2012), you were witnessing an event which involved too kinds of leadership. First, Apple was aiming to secure its leadership of the global tablet computer market with the launch of the “new iPad”. Secondly, the event was a showcase for a new kind of leadership at Apple. It provided quite a few clues to the leadership style of Tim Cook, leading the presentation for the first time since the death of Steve Jobs.
read more...»Can we learn lessons in business organisation from the mittelstand model
A business studies lesson gem from an unusual source here - the politics team at the BBC! Germans use the word “mittelstand” for the millions of middle-sized companies that form the backbone of their booming economy, and some in Britain reckon the model could teach UK industries a few lessons…
read more...»Pampering - demand booms as consumers seek an affordable treat
Consumers might be feeling the pinch, but despite the downturn, demand for nail treatments is booming. Is having a nail and other spa treatment an affordable luxury what some of us simply can’t do without in times of austerity? This great BBC video looks at the history of products that have boomed in tough economic times.
read more...»International expansion and culture - doing business in the UAE
The importance of understanding and adapting to the business culture in international markets is illustrated well in this new short video from the Telegraph. Some great insights packed into this short piece, including issues that you might find surprising!
Start-ups - the Wooden Smartphone?
If smartphones have become mass-market, then is there now a gap in the market for a niche phone - perhaps one made from bamboo? This excellent video examines the innovative idea of Kieron-Scott Woodhouse, a final year Product & Design student at the Middlesex University in London. He’s just turned 24 and is already running his own company. This is his debut design - the world’s first smartphone made from wood….
read more...»Lesson video : Franchising for beginners
A wonderful topical video clip here from the BBC which introduces pupils to the pros and cons of setting up a Franchise. Four minutes long, the video is perfect as a lesson starter for just about every business course that requires students to develop their understanding of business startups.
read more...»Takeover insights: Kraft & Cadbury - The Story in Video Clips
The Kraft Foods hostile bid for Cadbury received extensive coverage in the media and many of the issues and well covered in this series of short news clips which help tell the story of the deal. Plenty in here for students, including issues around takeover pricing, strategic rationale, the impact of the deal on shareholders and other stakeholders.
read more...»Video case study - finding success in an engineering niche
This excellent short BBC video looks at a case study of success in UK manufacturing. Granada Material Handling has addressed the issues raised the recession and international competitors. They have focused on a niche market of making lifting equipment for offshore wind farms. Is there a role for government to help UK manufacturers exploit these niche market opportunities? Or is it really about the entrepreneurial spirit of firms like Granada that is the key?
read more...»Video starter - Inside the iPad factory
The first time that any reporters have been allowed inside the iPad factory in China - and what an insight! This clip has it all for superb business studies lesson starter. Technology in production of course; but much more interesting is the issue of people management. Thought-provoking…
read more...»The Strategic Challenges Facing International Airlines Group - Interview with Willie Walsh
A superb interview here absolutely packed with relevant topics for all A2 business students. Willie Walsh, CEO of IAG (the merged firm that brought together British Airways and Iberia) provides a wide-ranging overview of the strategic issues facing IAG and the airline industry. He talks at length about the strategic rationale for the BA/Iberia merger and the benefits that the merger (as part of a broader process of airline industry consolidation) is starting to generate.
This interview is perfect for students preparing for AQA BUSS4 2012 on Takeovers and Mergers. Take a look at the section starting at about 5 mins 45 seconds, where Walsh talks about the difference between mergers and acquisitions.
Walsh also explains his view on what is meant by leadership in business and explains something about what is involved in being a CEO. He talks about the need to address stakeholder concerns.
BUSS4 gold dust!
read more...»Video resource: Do bonuses work as an incentive for better performance?
A timely short video here from the BBC looks at the way that a simple activity-related bonus improves productivity in a small drilling business. Employees and management seem happy at D-Drill. But, can the use of much larger-scale bonuses in financial services be justified in the same way? A great starting point for discussion with students…
read more...»The history of Apple’s product innovation - in 30 seconds
Short and sweet - this 30 second video that showcases the progression of Apple’s product portfolio. A journey that takes us from the very first Apple prototype computer through to the iPad. Great for illustrating the process of product innovation. You can always pause the video (if you’re quick) to look at the individual products.
read more...»Starter activity - Contingency Planning (Japanese Style)
When it comes to contingency planning, no-one does it better than Japan. And here are two humorous videos that demonstrate the extents to which you can go to prepare for risky events…
read more...»Cadbury’s Law - Should UK Firms be Protected from Takeover?
Back in 2010, the effect of the Kraft takeover of Cadbury’s brought business into the realms of politics as the unhappiness felt by some stakeholders spilled directly into the UK’s General Election.
One proposed response from the Labour Party was the so-called Cadbury’s Law, whereby new legislation would attempt to protect UK firms from takeover by foreign companies. Was this a good idea?
read more...»Leadership - Howard Schultz on the importance of leading an innovative culture
I’m a big fan of Starbucks as a case study for business students which provides some great examples of linkages between the different aspects of business strategy. In this clip from a recent business conference (London 2011), Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz discusses the importance of innovation in a competitive environment where businesses that stand still face defeat.
read more...»
