Cost Drivers

Number of words: 141 During the strategic planning process, I learned that at United, as at many companies, management has been intensely focused on controlling and containing labour cost. That is important, of course, but it overlooks the fact that for an airline, and probably many other companies, only a third of the total cost … Read more

Lessons Learned from Chrysler’s Production Strategy

Number of words: 331 Chrysler built its cars on speculation. The company would forecast what car buyers and dealers would want” which colours, which options, which models. Then Chrysler would make the cars, hoping that their sales would match up with dealer orders before the car moved out of the end of the production line.But … Read more

Cultural Significance of Dung Beetles Through History

Number of words: 1,652 Nothing is wasted in nature, not even poop. The faecal matter produced by all the planet’s animals put together is an enormous resource that makes life possible for innumerable other creatures. Many species depend entirely on this one resource for their sustenance.Perhaps the most famous poop lovers are the dung beetles … Read more

Designing Engaging yet Focused Reading Experiences for Young Learners

Number of words: 586 Reading is the gateway for learning, but one-third of elementary school students in the United States do not read at grade level. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are exploring how the design of reading materials affects literacy development. They find that an overly busy page with extraneous images can draw the … Read more

A Historical Perspective on Economic Trends

Number of words: 52 In 19th century America, saloons offered free lunches with drinks; alcohol sales subsidised food. Over time, freeloaders grew so large that restaurants found the deal unviable. Economists have documented how Chicago became the place where both “free lunches” and “there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch”, or TANSTAAFL, movements … Read more