Reference no: EM133370398

Questions

1. Explain how Information Technology and the Internet is important to Starbucks in Italy's survival keeping in mind that Information technology is important to global business because it can bring the competitive advantage to its users. How can the company use social networks and media technology to enable innovative ideas to be shared?

2. Consider the following questions and apply it to the expansion of Starbucks into Italy. 1) What are the benefits to a centralized marketing organization to the business expansion? 2) Should managers prefer to make centralized or decentralized marketing decisions for the company? Why? 3) Is a global brand or multi brand strategy for your company? Why? 4) How should managers use the web to promote a global brand while at the same time localizing it?

3. What three strategies are there for introducing Starbucks coffee to the international market? Should management adapt products/services to Italy or do a straight product extension? Why?

4. When making a sourcing decision, should management choose to sole source, or multi-source?

5. What strategic choices do managers have about where to locate production operations? What makes most sense for Starbucks in Italy? Why?

6. What are some ways to manage HRM based on factors that might impact the U.S. and Italy?

7. What steps should managers take to align HRM to the company's strategy and goals?

8. How can managers align the elements of HRM-selection, placement, job design, and compensation with the Starbucks strategy, so the right employees are hired for the right jobs and rewarded properly for their contributions to furthering the company's goals?

9. How might management go about identifying the skills that the company will need in the future?

10. How should managers attract and recruit talented workers to your Starbucks in Italy? How would they retain them?