First, we had individual offices, that morphed into cubicles and open floor plans. And now we have a “palette of places,” according to the New York Times. Questions: 1. What is the reasoning behind these new desk places? 2. How could these be tweaked as needs change? 3. Where are the most aggressive makeovers happening?… Read more »
Posts By: LuAnn Bean
Netflix is all about Attracting New Subscibers
According to Bloomberg, for Netlix, Inc., the third-quarter customer gains and a positive outlook for investors is all about new subscribers. Questions: 1. What is Netflix doing to attract new subscribers? 2. What is the company’s target price for its stock? 3. How many new subscribers are they projecting? 4. What makes big increases in… Read more »
Hong Kong’s Duty
According to Bloomberg, even though Hong Kong’s stock market hit record highs this month, the turnover is too low. Now the exchange operator is considering asking the government to remove or reduce a tax on stock transactions. Questions: 1. What is the current stamp duty on both sides of the trade and what does that… Read more »
Sifting through the numbers
According to Bloomberg.com, General Electric (GE) Co.’s last quarter earnings were 28 cents a share. They were also 13 cents a share, 19 cents a share and 15 cents a share — all at the same time. How can this be? Questions: 1. What do the numbers include or exclude? 2. What are the new… Read more »
It all depends on you!
According to the New York Times, Disney has decided to commit to a legacy move by doubling down on the concept of streaming. At its side will be a little-known company known as Bam Tech. Questions: 1. Describe Bam Tech’s record of service and why it is so attractive to Disney. 2. From a strategic… Read more »
Risky Takeover?
According to Reuters, Qualcomm, a U.S. smartphone chipmaker, has offered concessions in an attempt to allay EU antitrust concerns over its $38-billion bid for NXP Semiconductors, the largest ever in the semiconductor industry. Questions: 1. What are Qualcomm’s chips used for? 2. What is the EU Commission’s greatest concern about this merger? 3. What was… Read more »
Poor EDGAR!
According to Reuters, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Wall Street’s top regulator, has discovered a vulnerability in its corporate filing database that could cause the system to collapse. Questions: 1. What type of risks did the internal memo detail? 2. When was the discovery made? 3. What types of entries could bring the… Read more »
Change Afoot?
According to the Guardian, fathers and adoptive parents are demanding more paid family leave similar to that paid to new moms. Executives were confronted at the annual meeting of Starbucks shareholders in March by a barista claiming unequal family leave for some. Questions: 1.What group is going to pressure the company to be more equal… Read more »
Email Attack!
According to the Guardian, one of the Big Four accounting firms, Deloitte, has been targeted by a sophisticated hack that compromised the confidential emails and plans of some of its blue-chip clients. Questions: 1. What sectors did the hackers attack? 2. How many clients have currently told Deloitte that they have been impacted by the… Read more »
Where in the world is Catalonia?
Under a separatist plan, the Catalan government has claimed a mandate for independence. Two million votes or so have been counted in support of a split with Spain. Questions: 1. Where is Catalonia located? 2. What is the history of this separatist plan? 3. Why should accounting and business students know about this? 4. According… Read more »