Our most requested book

This is currently our most requested book title at University of Bedfordshire. Unfortunately it's not available electronically as an e-book.

I have ordered 4 more copies of the latest edition . This will mean we have 10 altogether.

If you are waiting patiently try searching for journal articles on some of the areas it covers such as :

• business systems design
• business intelligence
• e-business

Luxury Brands and the recession...

Conflicting views about BMW. FT reports that pre-tax profits increased by 17.7 % in 2009 . Mary Portas is less than impressed with the company's customer care at dealerships she visits for this week's Daily Telegraph Magazine.

A two page ad in the same mag is keen to stress the company's green credentials...

Less emissions. More driving pleasure ....

Could make an interesting case study for a number of different projects ?

Schafer, D (2010) BMW profits beat forecasts, Financial Times, Friday 12th March

Portas, M (2010) Shop !, Daily Telegraph Magazine, 17th April.

A British Brand ?

Whilst struggling to think of British brands the other day the Doc Marten Boot came to mind.

An iconic brand, worn by policemen and pop-stars alike.

The Griggs Family who own the company are among Britain's most wealthy ( worth £220 million in 1999 )

But how British are the boots these days ? Apart from some of the more prestigious lines several are manufactured in Thailand rather than Northampton...

Business Ethics

Available through the Credo database, an excellent source for defining Business ethics. A pithy reminder of recent UK scandals on which you can do more research :

• Guinness
• Maxwell
• Polly Peck
• Barings Bank

Having done this, you might follow up by looking at some material on the Anthony Nolan Report on Standards in Public Life, and see how this affected :

• Codes of Conduct
• Corporate Social Responsibility

Mums Repositioning the Brand

I think that Mary Portas has been a bit harsh on Iceland in her Shop! column this week ( Telegraph Magazine 3rd April 2010 ).

Recent initiatives such as their stance on organic vegetables are barely mentioned.

Whilst there's no online service, the home delivery service seems entirely succesful ( in Luton at least ! )

www. telegraph.co.uk/maryportas

to see if you agree.....