Fast bucks: how Porsche made billions

It is fascinating to read how a company can prosper within a financial crisis period. Porsche is definitely an interesting case study and at the same time it provides good examples on the appointment of a leader, without any relevance and capabilities in the sector (think our 'leadership expertise'), has created unexpected sources of income.


Fast bucks: how Porsche made billions
By Emily Hughes BBC Money Programme

Porsche is world famous for its iconic sports cars.
But car manufacturing isn't the only thing the company is good at.
Last year it made six times as much on the stock market as it did making cars.

Read the whole article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7843262.stm

Fiat and Chrysler create alliance

Example of strategic alliance. It is interesting to note how the two companies seek to get different types of benefits from this collaboration: access to knowledge (efficient engines) and access to the largest market.

Fiat and Chrysler create alliance

Italian carmaker Fiat and US giant Chrysler have agreed to create a global strategic alliance, the companies said in a statement.
Under the terms of the deal, Fiat will get a 35% stake in Chrysler. In return, the US firm will get access to Fiat's fuel-efficient vehicle technologies.
It is hoped the agreement will lead to "substantial" savings for Chrysler.

Read the whole article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7839542.stm

Waitrose to add 4,000 positions

'Supermarkets are one of the few sectors creating rather than shedding jobs'. It is interesting to note how the sector of supermarkets deals with economic crisis through expansion and economies of scale.

Waitrose to add 4,000 positions

Supermarket chain Waitrose says it will add 4,000 new jobs as it embarks on an expansion drive.
The chain has entered an agreement with The Co-operative Group to buy 13 stores and Waitrose said it would open a further nine new branches.

Read the whole article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7833065.stm

Citigroup to split as losses grow

That's an interesting 'portfolio approach' management example, for two SBUs which in theory had could develop synergies.


Citigroup to split as losses grow

Citigroup was bailed out by the US government in November
Struggling US banking giant Citigroup has announced plans to split the firm in two, as it reported a quarterly loss of $8.29bn (£5.6bn).
It said it would realign into two new firms, Citicorp and Citi Holdings.

Read the whole article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7833090.stm

Aldi moves into holiday market

One could think that this is an unrelated diversification: holiday packages by a supermarket chain. But this is not the first retailer to have such a SBU (Co-op has been offering similar services with a different business platform though). It is interesting to note how retailers can develop synergies across completely different SBSs.

Aldi moves into holiday market

Cut-price supermarket Aldi has begun to offer beach holidays and city breaks to cash-strapped consumers.
The move comes as the travel industry enters its busiest period of the year, with 20% of summer holidays usually booked before the end of the month

Read the whole article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7820008.stm

JD Sports and Jessops sales rise

Good strategies?

JD Sports and Jessops sales rise

JD Sports and the camera chain Jessops have bucked the trend on the High Street, reporting that sales during the Christmas period were up on last year.
JD Sports said that in the five weeks to 3 January sales in stores open more than a year were up 2.8%.

Read the whole article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7819452.stm