Tag: business and business english

Canva Hits Massive US$40 Billion Valuation after Latest Funding Round

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Canva is free graphic design app for everyone. For premium features, paid subscriptions for pros and enterprises are also available. The start-up was founded in 2013 by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams. At the time of writing, Canva is valued at $40bn (£29bn), making it one of the world’s biggest tech companies in the world. 

Read this article about Canva’s valuation soaring.

https://cfotech.co.nz/story/canva-hits-massive-us-40-billion-valuation-after-latest-funding-round

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about Canva’s success?
  2. What is your impression of this company and their business model? 
  3. What are your thoughts on the company’s “simple” two-step plan?
  4. What do you think about Canva CEO’s plans to give their wealth away?
  5. Have you ever used Canva? What do you think of it?

Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos Scandal, and Silicon Valley

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Elizabeth Holmes was once a trailblazing woman in business and medical technology in the Silicon Valley. She founded the start-up health technology company called Theranos. With promises of revolutionary blood tests that are performed using small automated devices and only very small amounts of blood are needed to be extracted from the patient, investments came pouring in. Now, Holmes is under trial for fraud.

The technology sounded amazing. Except, it was just make-believe. One might ask, so if it seemed nonsensical, why did so many people still fall for her hook, line, and sinker.

The Theranos scandal highlights the systemic problems with start-up culture on secrecy and the aggressive use ofNon-disclosure agreements (NDAs). 

Read the article about Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos, the problems with the start-up culture and what the Silicon Valley has learned from this scandal.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58469882

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on Holmes and Theranos’ fraud and how they were able to get away with it for years?
  2. What do you think about the product they were developing?
  3. Talk about the thin line between fraud and fake it til you make it culture.
  4. Is it really “fake it until you make it” in business? Explain your point.
  5. What are your thoughts on this: “Secrecy is important for these companies to succeed – but that culture of secrecy can also be used as a smoke screen”?
  6. How important are NDAs in your job/industry or for your company?
  7. What are things you would consider if you were to invest in a start-up?

How Buffet Restaurants Make Money

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Buffet restaurants typically offer all-you-can-eat (AYCE) food for a fixed price.

The good thing about buffet themes is that the customers can immediately see all the food being served and then choose which dishes they prefer to eat. They can also control how much food they put on their plates.

This dining style is usual in events like business conventions or big parties.

Watch the video below and find out how this kind of restaurants make profits.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the tricks buffet restaurants apply to make money.
  2. What are your thoughts on this type of restaurants?
  3. Have you ever experienced going to a buffet restaurant? Share about it.
  4. How can you get the most out of a buffet?
  5. Talk about your favorite restaurant and its strategy on getting people in the door.

Viral Marketing

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In recent years, virtual marketing has shaped the e-commerce world. Let’s get a grasp on how viral marketing works.

Watch the video to learn more about viral marketing.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word  “virus”?
  2. What’s the difference between viral marketing and spamming
  3. What kinds of viral marketing strategies are you aware of?
  4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of viral marketing?
  5. What kind of online marketing does your company have or do?

“The Customer Is Always Right” Is Wrong

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We have heard the  slogan  “The Customer is always right”  several times and often, this attitude that the customer is always right negatively affects the company as it goes to great lengths to meet customers’ needs. But what if the customer isn’t always right? 

Read the article below and know the reasons this old adage isn’t always right.

https://www.hatchwise.com/resources/the-reasons-why-the-customer-is-always-right-is-wrong

Discussion Questions:

  1. What could happen if a company adopted the “customer is always right” policy?
  2. What are the effects of this policy to the company and to the employees? Do you think the advantages outweigh the drawbacks? Share your insights.
  3. Share your insights on this statement, “Businesses should abandon ‘The Customer Is Always Right’ once and for all — ironically, because it leads to worse customer service.“
  4. What can companies do to give customers good service, but at the same time, keep their own employees happy?
  5. What can you say about this, “You can’t treat your employees like serfs. You have to value them … If they think that you won’t support them when a customer is out of line, even the smallest problem can cause resentment.“

Effective Customer Service during Mergers and Acquisitions

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When a company goes through transition after a merger and acquisition, there are some negative impact on the business’s operations and in some cases, customer relations.

Read more to find out about how to provide effective customer service during M&A.

https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/how-can-you-provide-effective-customer

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain the three challenges companies face during an M&A transition.
2. Have you ever worked for a company that underwent re-organization? Talk about this period.
3. Give some ways on how to ensure smooth M&A transition.

Steve Jobs Talks About Managing People

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Steve Jobs was one of the most famous CEO in the world. Ever wonder how he did it? How did he manage his people and build a successful multinational company?

Watch as Steve Jobs talks about managing people.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the interview, how is the company organized?
  2. What kind of organization is set up in this company?
  3. According to Steve Jobs, why did Apple become successful? Share your thoughts on this.
  4. Explain your company’s management style. Is there anything that you would like to change?
  5. What do you think is the best way to manage people? Elaborate.

Protesters Ransack South African H&M Stores Over Racist Ad

B2 –  Upper Intermediate

H&M, a Swedish multinational clothing-retail company, faces a backlash when an image of a black child models a sweatshirt with the slogan “coolest monkey in the jungle” came out.

This led to protesters running amok in some H&M stores in South Africa to express their anger.

Read the article to know more.  

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/protesters-ransack-south-african-h-m-stores-over-racist-ad-n837506

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on H&M’s advert?
  2. What are your thoughts on the protesters action?
  3. Speak about another company that was involved in a similar controversial.
  4. H&M already issued an apology for the racist advert. How do you think this kind of advert or controversy can affect a company like H&M?
  5. Share your thoughts about protests over corporate wrongdoing turning violent in South Africa. Has there ever been a similar incident in your country? Talk about it.

Cities Face a Surge in Online Deliveries

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Online delivery service is very popular and a convenient way for customers to receive items right at their doorstep but to what extent? Will this continue to keep the streets busy and congested.

Read the article to know what the growth of online shopping looks like on the ground in America’s largest cities.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42245367

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about some problems associated with growing deliveries brought about by skyrocketing online shopping.
  2. What can be done to address these issues?
  3. Do you think it is the same problem in the city where you live in? Why is this so?
  4. How do you feel about online shopping deliveries overall?
  5. How important is online shopping for you?

Instant Gratification as a Marketing Tactic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Humans are naturally inclined to have desires for things. In the business setting, whoever provides these desires in the best way and timely manner possible, gets ahead of the competition.

With this in mind, instant gratification can offer a wide array of benefits for digital marketers.

Get a deeper understanding of instant gratification, how it works to a company’s advantage in marketing, and ways to provide it to customers.

Leveraging Instant Gratification as a Winning Marketing Tactic

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain why people expect immediate responses now.

2. What are your thoughts on the ideas presented in this article?

3. What are some other ways to handle customer’s desire for instant gratification?

4. Does the company you work for use instant gratification? In what ways?

5. Do you agree that instant gratification provides benefits for businesses?