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November 5, 2009

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The Big Idea

Outsourcing luxury
Four-fifths of the world's luxury goods are sold to Western and Japanese consumers -- but that could be about to change. Asian consumers are becoming more affluent, and that means they're more inclined to splurge on aspirational brands that allow them to show off their new-found wealth. Brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton are increasingly relying on growth in Eastern markets to offset sluggish sales figures in the West. The Big Money (11/3)

Strategic Management

Why Amazon and Wal-Mart went to war
Price wars normally hurt all the retailers involved, driving prices and profits lower across entire industries, but Amazon and Wal-Mart's decision to go to war over online book prices is different, writes James Surowiecki. The two companies are fighting over a limited list of best-sellers that they can afford to sell cheaply, he notes, with the aim of poaching customers not from one another, but from other book retailers. "Wal-Mart and Amazon have figured out how to fight a price war and win: make sure someone else takes the blows," Surowiecki notes. The New Yorker (11/9)

Mission statements don't have to be dumb
Most mission statements are the corporate equivalent of Hallmark cards, writes Nancy Lublin -- warm, cuddly sentiments that don't mean much. Companies would be better off using their mission statements to set clear, tangible and specific goals. "Employees, vendors, and clients don't get stoked by fuzzy mission statements," Lublin writes. "They will line up behind concrete goals." Fast Company (11/2009)

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On Leadership

Why Liz Claiborne's chief got his contract renewed
Liz Claiborne has posted seven consecutive quarterly losses -- but the company's board just renewed CEO William L. McComb's contract for another three years. That's not altogether unusual, experts say, the recession means many executives are hanging onto their jobs despite disappointing earnings reports. Experts suggest the key to keeping a high-level post during a down market is keeping the lines of communication open, so that board members know what's being done and what kind of results they can expect. The Wall Street Journal (11/3)

Stop dithering and get the job done
People work more effectively when they're planning how to implement decisions they've already made than when they're they're making those decisions in the first place, notes Nick Tasler. By focusing on implementation rather than deliberation, business leaders can help their workforce achieve goals more efficiently, he writes. "If you're an executive trying to clear the recession malaise from your corporate climate ... it's time to implement," Tasler writes. BusinessWeek (11/3)

Innovation

How Pitney Bowes puts innovation front and center
Innovation is an essential part of mail-and-documents company Pitney Bowes' business model, explains David Dobson, the firm's strategy and innovation chief. Pitney Bowes is investing heavily in research and development and is seeking to involve every member of its workforce in the process by using online forums to canvass opinions about new strategies and products. Strategy+Business (free registration) (10/26)

Daily Diversion

Why Google still feels lucky
Since Google's "I'm Feeling Lucky" button bypasses the search engine's results page, where users are shown ads, it costs the company $110 million in lost ad revenues every year. The feature persists just because the company's founders worried the site would start to feel to corporate. What else would you expect from a company that built its first computer storage from LEGO, has a "first dog" and uses a tricycle for official business? Neatorama (11/3)


CFO - Chief Financial Officer	LAMBDA LEGAL	New York, NY
Chief Operating Officer (COO)	Neighborhood America	Naples, FL
Chief Financial Officer	Members First Credit Union - Manchester NH	Manchester, NH
VP Technical and Professional Services	ezRez Software	San Francisco, CA
Vice President Sales, North America	Claddagh Resources	Boston, MA
Vice President of International Sales	CPP, Inc.	Mountain View, CA
SVP & CMO	Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.	Arlington, VA
Director, Business Development	Aloha Air Cargo	Honolulu, Hawaii