Pandemic - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

New Players Flocked to Golf and Tennis in 2020

March 16, 2021

The pandemic took a major toll on entertainment and recreational facilities as everything from theaters to gyms were forced to shut down or drastically alter their operations. Although golf courses and tennis courts initially closed in March and April 2020, they soon reopened and welcomed all sorts of new players looking for socially distanced outdoor activities. From June to December 2020, rounds of golf in the U.S. grew by 75 million compared to the same period in 2019, representing a Continue reading →

Pandemic, Contactless service, Product Development, Marketing, Sports, Promotions, Entertainment, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

Looking Back on a Year of Covid-19 in the U.S.

March 11, 2021

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One year ago, the World Health Organization designated the coronavirus as a pandemic. Soon after that announcement, life in the U.S. changed utterly as offices, airlines, and professional sports leagues all came to a halt. And while the U.S. economy is beginning to recover as the vaccine rollout gains momentum, the coronavirus pandemic has had a seismic impact upon America and the rest of the world that will be felt for years to come.

More than 118 million cases of Continue reading →

Health, Product Distribution, Economics, Coronavirus, Global, Stimulus, Ethics, Pandemic

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

Millions of Americans Face Tax Bills on Unemployment Payments

March 2, 2021

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The coronavirus pandemic caused millions of people to lose their jobs last year and file for unemployment benefits, which were expanded several times through federal legislation. Now, many Americans are discovering that they owe taxes on these payments that were vital for them to make ends meet. For example, Erika Rose of Los Angeles has been on unemployment insurance since the start of the pandemic and has spent the winter stretching every penny to pay rent and utilities. When she Continue reading →

Coronavirus, Stimulus, Pandemic, Ethics, Human Resources, Unemployment

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

[VIDEO] How Regulators Are Investigating GameStop’s Stock Volatility

February 19, 2021

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The recent frenzy surrounding GameStop stock caught even the most careful market observers by surprise as shares in the struggling retailer skyrocketed to unbelievable levels only to fall again soon after. This video looks at how regulators at the SEC are looking into the matter and the possible consequences that could fall on companies like Reddit and Robinhood.

Questions:

Why is the SEC investigating the recent stock market volatility surrounding GameStop and other companies?
Do you think federal regulators Continue reading →

Stock Market, Coronavirus, Ethics, Pandemic, Regulation, Stocks, GameStop

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 19: Securities Markets, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

Shopify Sales Skyrocket as More People Start up Side Businesses

February 16, 2021

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After millions of Americans either lost work or saw their incomes drop during the pandemic, many started side businesses as a way to make up for lost revenue. In fact, last year new business applications increased by 24 percent compared to 2019, reaching their highest level on record. The retail sector comprised 54 percent of new businesses as many people used platforms like Shopify to sell products online. Founded in 2006, Shopify provides entrepreneurs with e-commerce tools that can handle Continue reading →

Marketing, Shopify, Entrepreneurship, Product Distribution, E-commerce, Coronavirus, Pandemic

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

Companies Keep Pushing Back Their Office-Reopening Plans

February 11, 2021

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As last year came to a close and news about Covid-19 vaccinations became more optimistic, companies across the country hoped that a quick vaccine rollout would allow them to reopen offices as early as spring 2021. That rapid rollout still has not come to pass, though, causing many businesses to push back their office-reopening plans until September at the earliest. In the meantime, millions of employees will continue to work remotely until the pandemic is finally under control.

For example, Continue reading →

Human Resources, Work Environment, Coronavirus, Organizational Structure, Remote working, Ethics, Pandemic

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

GDP in 2020 Dropped to Lowest Point Since World War II

January 28, 2021

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Last year, the U.S. economy shrank by 3.5 percent as Americans had their lives turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic. This made 2020 the worst year for growth since 1946 when the economy contracted by more than 11 percent in the immediate aftermath of World War II. It’s also the first time since 2009 that GDP has contracted over the course of an entire year, although the economy did begin to recover in the latter half of 2020.

“There Continue reading →

GDP, Product Distribution, Federal Reserve, Coronavirus, Pandemic

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 20: Money and Financial Institutions

Budweiser Will not Air Ads During this Year’s Super Bowl

January 26, 2021

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For more than 30 years, the Budweiser clydesdales have marched across millions of American television screens during the annual Super Bowl broadcast. This year, though, the horses will stay in the stable as Budweiser instead donates a portion of its marketing budget to a public service campaign. The Anheuser-Busch company has joined a $50 million effort by the Ad Council to combat misconceptions about Covid-19 vaccination.

Other major brands like Coca-Cola, Audi, and Hyundai are also choosing not to Continue reading →

Sports, Promotions, Entertainment, Advertising, Super Bowl, Marketing, Coronavirus, Pandemic

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

[VIDEO] How 715,000 Pounds Of Cargo Moves Through DFW Airport

January 22, 2021

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Even during the pandemic, the nation’s airports still manage to move tons of cargo across the country every day. This video takes a close look at how Dallas Fort Worth International Airport transports everything from live animals to human remains in this challenging, fast-paced environment.

Questions:

How has the pandemic changed transportation and cargo procedures at American Airlines?
Do you think cargo-only flights will continue after the pandemic? Why or why not?

Transportation, Travel, Airlines, Pandemic, Operations Management, Global

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 15: Distribution, Videos

Taco Bell Brings Back Potato Items after Customer Outcry

January 21, 2021

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At the start of the pandemic, fast food chains like Taco Bell suddenly had to close their dining rooms and serve all customers via drive-thrus. Many of these companies altered their menus to increase efficiency so that the lines of cars would move as quickly as possible. For instance, Taco Bell got rid of items like the Mexican Pizza and Nachos Supreme to reduce its packaging needs while also ditching all potato items so that it could keep its ingredients Continue reading →

Fast food, Marketing, Taco Bell, Operations Management, Product Distribution, Social Media, Partnerships, Food & Drink, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Product Development

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 5: Forms of Business Ownership, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution