March 2011 Monthly Newsletter: Top Business Stories & Analysis

1. * March 2011 * Monthly Newsletter Quick Links: Video Index Abstract Index

2. * * VIDEO INDEX • An Organic Milk Experiment in Maine • Microbrews Gain in Bud’s Hometown

3. * * • Union Uproar in Wisconsin • Egypt and the Credibility of Social Media • Wal-Mart’s Virginia Battleground • The 21st Century CEO • Managed to Death: Japan’s Economic Decline • The Cola Wars in India • App-Gate at the University of Missouri • Groupon’s Tight Walk Towards a Rich Future • Dark Days at USPS • A New King of Beers in St. Louis ABSTRACT INDEX

4. * * • Unions in Wisconsin are protesting a bill that would significantly reduce take-home pay and collective bargaining rights for public workers. • Gov. Walker claims the cuts are necessary due to a $137 million deficit and potential $3.6 billion hole in the next two-year budget. • Unions across the country have joined forces against the bill, which they see as an outright attack on organized labor. Union Uproar in Wisconsin Article indexVideo index

5. * * • Should public employees be permitted to unionize? What do you think? • Why has the number of unionized workers declined significantly today? Photo courtesy of Mark Danielson Article indexVideo index

6. * * • Twitter provided a stream of on-site appraisals of the uprising in Egypt from dangerous locales inaccessible to traditional media. • Though the barrage of tweets abounded with information, it’s nearly impossible to verify if all were true. • With no filters or fact checking, Twitter’s massive data streams can create confusion or distribute false information on a mass scale. Egypt and the Reliability of Social Media Article indexVideo index

7. * * • What’s an important fact to remember about the information spread on Facebook and Twitter? What do you think? • Did Facebook and Twitter play some role in the Egyptian revolution? Photo courtesy of Charlie Trotter Article indexVideo index

8. * * • Wal-Mart came under fire from historians for its plans to build a Supercenter near a Civil War battle site. • Preservationists argued the proposed store would sit on what was the Union’s “nerve center” during the battle. • Faced with a lengthy lawsuit, Wal-Mart eventually dropped its plans for the new store. Wal-Mart’s Virginia Battleground Article indexVideo index

9. * * • Why did Wal-Mart give up the fight to build near the historic site? What do you think? • What type of research does Wal-Mart do before picking a site for a new store? Photo courtesy of Mary Harrsch Article indexVideo index

10. * * • As business starts to turn around at America’s biggest companies, many are hiring a new generation of CEOs. • Many outgoing execs got their start in finance and manufacturing and often spent their whole careers at the same company. • The new generation comes from a background in marketing and sales and has gathered a wealth of experience from travel abroad. The 21st Century CEO Article indexVideo index

11. * * • What are the key experiences new CEOs will need to succeed? What do you think? • Will stricter corporate governance inhibit CEOs’ ability to perform effectively? Photo courtesy of Gideon Malias Article indexVideo index

12. * * • Last year Japanese companies accounted for 11.2% of all revenues on Fortune’s Global 500 list, down from 35.2% in 1995. • Unbending, homogenous leadership from the nation’s corporations failed to engage with other cultures while they expanded globally. • Emerging economic powers like India and China are susceptible to the same backlash as they branch out across their borders. Managed to Death:Japan’s Economic Decline Article indexVideo index

13. * * • What did the Japanese fail to consider as they expanded globally? What do you think? • Have American managers adapted well when working in global markets? Photo courtesy of Zack Lee Article indexVideo index

14. * * • Pepsi beat out Coke as the premier cola in India when it arrived on the scene first in 1990. • Coke is establishing an Indian presence by acquiring non-cola brand drinks like juices and teas. • Pepsi is countering by pushing its non-drink brands like Frito Lay snacks and Quaker Oats cereals. The Cola Wars in India Article indexVideo index

15. * * • Why is the battle for soft drink dominance so intense in India? What do you think? • What’s the major advantage of having a well-established brand name? Photo courtesy of Meena Kadri Article indexVideo index

16. * * • An undergraduate at the University of Missouri created a successful iPhone app that attracted thousands of downloads. • The college then demanded a 25% ownership stake and two-thirds of all profits from the student-made app. • The school eventually withdrew its claim and established a new policy that would keep the college’s hands off future student ventures. App-Gate at University of Missouri Article indexVideo index

17. * * • Are universities justified in seeking profits from student-created ventures? What do you think? • What do universities gain by creating environments of individual initiative? Photo courtesy of Dylan B. Connell Article indexVideo index

18. * * • Google recently offered to buy Groupon for $6 billion, which CEO Andrew Mason rejected. • Though it has an established brand, competition from other discount sites doesn’t make Groupon the only game in town. • A failed ad campaign that premiered on Super Bowl Sunday faced much criticism and was eventually pulled by Mason. Groupon’s Tight WalkTowards a Rich Future Article indexVideo index

19. * * • Will Groupon’s Super Bowl ad disaster cause permanent damage to the brand? What do you think? • What’s the major challenge for Groupon going forward? Article indexVideo index

20. * * • USPS reported losses in 14 of the last 16 quarters and is mired in more than $12 billion of debt. • Since the agency can’t be deeper than $15 billion in debt, it may need a government bailout by the end of the year. • Resistance from outside sources to close stores or cut employee benefits is preventing USPS from making any real changes. Dark Days at USPS Article indexVideo index

21. * * What do you think? • Should the federal government provide needed funds to the USPS? • Can USPS become more efficient like FedEx and UPS? Photo courtesy of Paul Lowry Article indexVideo index

22. * * • Local loyalty to Anheuser-Busch faltered in its home city of St. Louis after In-Bev acquired the company in 2008. • Of the 1,400 jobs InBev slashed just weeks after acquiring the company, 75 percent of those layoffs occurred in St. Louis. • Small brewers like Schlafly Beer saw surges in sales after the takeover as St. Louis bars and consumers shed their allegiance to A-B. A New King of Beers in St. Louis Article indexVideo index

23. * * • What does Schafly’s success in the St. Louis market prove? What do you think? • Why were microbreweries able to penetrate the beer market? Photo courtesy of Joe Holst Article indexVideo index