Chapter 3: Globalization - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

Foreign Retailers Cease Operations in Russia

March 4, 2022

The appalling invasion of Ukraine has convinced many companies to halt their operations in Russia during this catastrophic event. Last week, for instance, the clothing company H&M announced that it would close its 170 Russian stores while Nike shuttered its 116 retailers in the country. Other big brands like Apple, T.J. Maxx, and Ikea followed with announcements that laid out similar plans to close stores during this frightening time.

“The devastating war in Ukraine is a human tragedy, and our Continue reading →

Retail, Russia, Supply chains, Product Distribution, Global, Ukraine, Ethics

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 15: Distribution

Supply Chain Delays and Inflation Continues to Hurt Small Businesses

February 23, 2022

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Last year, we looked at how rising inflation and supply chain delays caused by the pandemic were taking a big toll on small businesses, a situation that has not improved in 2022. In fact, small-scale entrepreneurs have struggled for years at this point while their corporate counterparts have thrived thanks to the advantages brought on by huge reserves of capital. “Larger firms have been able to weather rising costs and labor shortages better than smaller firms, which is likely Continue reading →

Global, Transportation, Ethics, Product Distribution, Entrepreneurship, Crisis management, Pandemic, Supply Chain, Forms of Business. Operations Management

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 5: Forms of Business Ownership, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 15: Distribution

[VIDEO] What Insects Can Learn From Lobsters About Rebranding

February 18, 2022

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Chowing down on a big bowl of crickets probably doesn’t sound very appetizing, does it? According to a range of experts interviewed in the video below, though, our disgust at the thought of eating insects might just be a matter of perception. This extensive report from the New York Times shows how lobsters went from disgusting to delicious in the eyes of American eaters, a branding journey that bugs might also take in the near future.

Questions:

What are some Continue reading →

[VIDEO] How Do the Olympics Make Money?

February 11, 2022

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

With the 2022 Winter Olympics in full swing, this video looks at how the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earns billions of dollars through brand partnerships. Along with providing benefits for both major companies and the IOC, these big-time deals have also led to some challenges during this current edition of the games.

Questions:

Do you think it is worth it for companies to spend billions of dollars on brand partnerships at the Olympics? Why or why not?
Why are Continue reading →

Olympics, Sports, Marketing, Branding, Global, Promotions, Ethics, Entertainment, China, Advertising

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Videos

Avocado Prices Soar in Lead-up to Super Bowl

February 8, 2022

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

With Super Bowl LVI less than a week away, football fans around the country are stocking up on snacks and drinks for Sunday’s big game. In fact, each year Americans eat more than 112 million pounds of snacks during the Super Bowl, with the most popular items being potato chips, pretzels, and tortilla chips. Although these items will be available and affordable as ever this year, economists at Wells Fargo estimate that the cost of fresh items like salsa and Continue reading →

Pricing, Global, Product Distribution, Super Bowl, Food & Drink, Supply & Demand, Sports, Entertainment

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion

[VIDEO] The Rise and Fall of BlackBerry

January 25, 2022

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

While iPhones and various Android smartphones dominate the current mobile market, in the early days of these devices no brand was bigger than BlackBerry. This video looks at the history of this once ubiquitous gadget that captured early market share but failed to keep pace with its high tech competitors.

Questions:

What features made BlackBerry so appealing to businesspeople when it first hit the market?
How did BlackBerry’s resistance to change lead to the downfall of its mobile business?

Product Development, Smartphones, Marketing, Product Distribution, Global, Mobile, Blackberry, iPhone

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Videos

Omicron Variant Brings New Problems to Backlogged Supply Chain

January 20, 2022

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Although heavy traffic in U.S. ports did not end up canceling Christmas last year, the supply chain crisis still led to some empty shelves and expensive items as companies struggled to obtain needed inventory. Now that the holiday shopping season is long over, however, some officials are optimistic that the worst has passed as ports in Southern California work through their backlogs and shipping costs drop from their September 2021 highs. But like so many other aspects of American Continue reading →

China, Global, Supply chains, Manufacturing, Transportation, Labor Relations, Product Distribution, Shipping, Supply & Demand, Collective bargaining

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Chapter 15: Distribution

Apple’s Valuation Soars over $3 Trillion

January 4, 2022

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

In August 2018, Apple made history by becoming the first publicly traded company to reach a $1 trillion valuation. Although it took the tech giant 42 years to reach this milestone, its value doubled to $2 trillion just two years later. Then to ring in 2022, Apple’s share price climbed over $186 per share, which turned the iPhone maker into the world’s first $3 trillion company. That’s more than the combined worth of Walmart, Disney, Netflix, Nike, McDonald’s, Exxon Mobil, Continue reading →

Global, Product Development, Ethics, Apple, Manufacturing, Supply & Demand, Silicon Valley, Stock Market, Stock valuation

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

AAA Forecasts a Busy Thanksgiving Travel Week

November 18, 2021

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Last year’s Thanksgiving was an unusual one: with travel restrictions largely in place and mass vaccinations still months away, fewer people traveled home to see their families for the holiday. According to AAA, however, that will not be the case in 2021 as the transportation agency expects 6.4 million more people to travel than in 2020. Lifted restrictions as well as clearly defined safety procedures for air travel have made many Americans confident about taking a trip for Turkey Day, Continue reading →

Travel, Air Travel, Thanksgiving, Holidays, Supply & Demand, Global, Automotive, Transportation

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management

[VIDEO] How the ‘Great Resignation’ Is Reshaping the American Workforce

November 16, 2021

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

The pandemic completely upended the concept of work in the U.S., resulting first in mass layoffs as companies closed down followed by mass resignations when businesses returned. This video looks at how the first problem may have led to the “Great Resignation” as workers continue to leave their jobs and companies struggle to attract talent.

Questions:

Why have employment rates in travel and hospitality struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels?
What are some of the causes of the Great Resignation? Continue reading →

Hiring, Motivation, Travel, Global, Human Resources, Supply & Demand, Labor Relations, Compensation

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Videos