Reference no: EM133084663

Critical thinking

1. Anecdotally, it seems a no-brainer that companies that provide perks such as free food, discounts, and generous vacation as well as maternity leave would attract top-notch talent. But more than perks, leadership expert Carmine Gallo claims in a Forbes article,27 employees love work that seems meaningful to them. The happiest workers are engaged because they believe they have purpose.28 Reflect on what work means to you and which companies you would like to work for. Do you agree with Gallo? What lends his claims credibility?

2. Information graphics, also called infographics, are popular online for reporting and illustrating complex data. Why do you think infographics continue to be popular? How could infographics be useful in your field?

3. Why do researchers often trust the reliability of information obtained from scholarly journals, major newspapers, and well-known magazines? Why should researchers use caution when accessing information from Wikipedia, online forums, and blogs?

4. Some people say that business reports never contain footnotes. If you were writing your first report for a business and you did considerable research, what would you do about documenting your sources?

Zooming activity

1. Howard Schultz is betting on constant reinvention of his company. He said, "Innovation is in our DNA." What kind of information should Starbucks gather to help it decide whether and how to introduce a new product to avoid pitfalls such as the failed Sorbetto beverage?

2. How could Howard Schultz test his assumption that the intimate communal coffee-drinking experience is intact at Starbucks?

3. How can collected information be transmitted to Starbucks' decision makers?