Videos - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

[VIDEO] Inside American Trucking’s Largest Bankruptcy

August 18, 2023

The trucking company Yellow filed for bankruptcy in July after struggling for years with mounting debts and slim profit margins. The video below looks at how this low-cost carrier butted heads with unions while also failing to integrate acquisitions into its existing business, leading to the collapse of this century-old company.

Questions:

What are some factors that led Yellow to declare bankruptcy last month?
Why is it difficult for low-cost carriers like Yellow to operate in the competitive trucking industry?

Operations Management, Unions, Labor Relations, Product Development, Transportation, Product Distribution, Bankruptcy

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law, Videos

[VIDEO] How McDonald’s Crafts Its Country-Exclusive Menus

August 11, 2023

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More than 60 percent of McDonald’s sales come from outside the U.S., making foreign markets just as important to Mickey D’s bottom line as its domestic operations. This video looks at how the fast food giant develops items for its global customers, who often enjoy flavors that can’t be found under the Golden Arches anywhere else in the world.

Questions:

Why does McDonald’s develop menu items for specific global markets?
How does “transplanting flavors” from one market to another Continue reading →

Marketing, Global, Product Development, Promotions, Fast food, McDonald’s, Product Distribution, Food & Drink

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, Videos

[VIDEO] Why Primark Is Thriving As Other Retailers Struggle

August 2, 2023

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Experts estimate that as many as 80,000 American retail stores will close over the next five years as companies like Forever 21, JCPenney, and Neiman Marcus struggle to stay afloat. That’s not the case for the British retailer Primark, however, which has 18 locations in the U.S. with plans for a lot more to come. This video looks at how the company became a multibillion dollar brand in Europe by sticking to brick-and-mortar stores stocked with high quality items at Continue reading →

[VIDEO] How Economists Use Working Hours as a Recession Indicator

July 21, 2023

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American companies have been hiring lots of new employees this year, making economists hopeful that the country will not experience a recession anytime soon. Still, other experts claim that increased hiring is not as reliable of an economic indicator as some think. The video below explains how total working hours can provide a more detailed picture of the country’s economic health and why fears of an incoming recession could be justified.

Questions:

How do economists use “hours worked” as Continue reading →

Economics, Operations Management, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Compensation, Recession

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Videos

[VIDEO] How Tabasco Fills Up To 700,000 Bottles A Day

July 14, 2023

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Since 1868, Tabasco has produced hot sauce by aging a spicy mash of peppers, vinegar, and salt in oak barrels for five years. The video below shows how the company makes this iconic condiment through a combination of time-tested methods and modern assembly line efficiency.

Questions:

Why does Tabasco still depend on using old bourbon barrels to create its hot sauce?
Do you think Tabasco should relocate its Avery Island facilities in favor of a place that is more Continue reading →

Operations Management, Global, Manufacturing, Product Development, Product Distribution, Agriculture, Food & Drink, Tabasco

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Videos

[VIDEO] The Business Model Behind Buy Now, Pay Later Apps

July 6, 2023

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Retailers have long relied on credit cards and companies like Paypal to provide payment options for customers, but recently these services have faced some new competition. Firms like Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay offer “buy now, pay later” models that can be an appealing alternative to credit cards. As the video below shows, though, these services could potentially be dangerous to consumers while also failing to maintain steady profits for investors.

Questions:

What are the potential advantages and disadvantages of using Continue reading →

Ethics, Retail, Currency, Money, Credit, Payment services, Paypal, Ecommerce

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Chapter 17: Accounting, Chapter 20: Money and Financial Institutions, Videos

[VIDEO] The High Stakes of Spotting Fakes in the Luxury Watch Market

June 23, 2023

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From 2011 to 2021, the value of Rolex watches outperformed real estate and stock markets as well as commodities like gold. This video looks at the risks and rewards of the $20 billion used watch industry, from soaring demand and big price tags to small margins and extensive counterfeiting.

Questions:

Why are counterfeit products harmful to luxury brands like Rolex?
How does high demand for Rolex encourage counterfeiters to produce knockoffs?

[VIDEO] How Streaming Changed the Business of TV Writing

June 15, 2023

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The Writers Guild of America has been on strike for more than a month and a half as they continue to demand better working conditions in modern Hollywood. This video takes an in-depth look at how streaming services like Netflix and Hulu completely changed the business of writing for television, from shorter schedules and smaller residual checks to depriving writers of vital experience by keeping them off set.

Questions:

How does spending time “on set” allow writers to gain Continue reading →

Operations Management, Ethics, Training, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Compensation, Entertainment, Streaming, Television, Product Distribution

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Videos

[VIDEO] How T.J. Maxx Prices Products to Move

June 7, 2023

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The parent company of T.J. Maxx earned more than $50 billion last year, more than Nordstrom and Macy’s combined. This video shows how the retailer lives up to its promise to give customers “the max for the minimum price” through ever-changing inventory and eye-catching deals.

Questions:

What is “price-anchoring,” and how does T.J. Maxx utilize it to drive sales?
Why does T.J. Maxx continuously restock its stores with new inventory?

Marketing, Branding, Promotions, Retail, Pricing, Product Distribution, Supply & Demand, T.J. Maxx

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

[VIDEO] Why Hitting the Debt Ceiling Would Be ‘Catastrophic’

May 11, 2023

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Lawmakers are once again butting heads about raising the debt ceiling, a limit on the total amount of money that the federal government is authorized to borrow. This video looks at the potential economic consequences that could follow if legislators fail to reach an agreement and default on the nation’s debt.

Questions:

How does debt help drive the U.S. economy?
Why are U.S. bonds traditionally seen as reliable investments? How could that change if the country defaults on its debt?

Economics, Global, Ethics, Regulation, Debt ceiling, Federal Reserve, Bonds, Securities

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 19: Securities Markets, Chapter 20: Money and Financial Institutions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law, Videos