Poll: What Was the Hottest Business Topic of 2011?

Posted by: Danielle Wells | December 7, 2011 - 4:30pm

It's been a year of jaw-dropping headlines, from Occupy Wall Street, to the European debt crisis, to the passing of Steve Jobs. What was the hottest business topic of the year? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Comment, and you could win a free ticket to the 7th Annual McCombs Alumni Business Conference, Hot Topics in Business. One McCombs alumna/us will be selected in a giveaway on Thursday, Dec. 15.

If you haven't already, register today for the Alumni Business Conference on Feb. 23-24, 2012!

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Comments

#1 The hottest topic in Business

Submitted by Carla Matteck Schreiber on December 8, 2011 - 11:56am.

The hottest topic in Business in my opinion has to be the upcoming Presidential Election. With our national economy, the international economy, Occupy Wallstreet protests and the dissatisfied citizens of the US, the Presidential Election is a key factor in Business of today. The "media circus" seems to promote the Hollywood hype of the candidates however, the real focus for Business and our economy needs to be addressed. In addition to being an informed voter we need to add prayers for a good election result.

This election will effect Business and lives for future years. Definitely a Hot Topic!

Thanks you-
Carla Matteck Schreiber BBA 1979
my daughter is now there at McCombs in BHP Class of 2014
Hook Em!

#2 There are many interesting

Submitted by Scott Firth on December 9, 2011 - 3:57pm.

There are many interesting topics from which to choose; European currency meltdown, customer blunders by Netflix and other firms, etc. It's easy to rank doom and gloom topics at the top. However, I think the business topic with the most impact was the resurgence of technology businesses in 2011 and their pervasive effect on society. Facebook, Google, Apple, Twitter and other firms are significantly influencing the average person in many ways not only changing buying habits but how individuals interact with each other. Occupy Wall Street nor Arab Spring would have happened without the use of social media tools.

Proving that I actually did listen to Sandy Leeds while in school, we now see for the first time none other than Warren Buffett investing in tech companies such as IBM and Intel. We should not under-emphasize this major change in the market.

Scott Firth MBA 2003

#3 "we now see for the first

Submitted by TC on December 10, 2011 - 12:43am.

"we now see for the first time none other than Warren Buffett investing in tech companies such as IBM and Intel."

Those and other recent BRK investments have the hallmarks of Todd Combs, not Buffett...

#4 The European sovereign debt

Submitted by Varun Kerof on December 14, 2011 - 11:38am.

The European sovereign debt crisis and its implications for survivability the Euro in the long-term and the continuous stream of jitters it has been sending to the rest of the world.

#5 The hottest business topic is

Submitted by Kathryn on December 15, 2011 - 1:09am.

The hottest business topic is the trillion dollars in cash corporations have sitting on the sidelines as we await the 2012 election. No one knows where the country is headed with out-of-control government spending and an unclear regulatory future. We are seeing an odd situation with the economy remaining stagnant and unemployment at high levels, and yet corporations are far from broke. Rather, corporations are simply not investing due to the uncertainty that lies ahead, leaving money markets flush and investors speculating as to when all those dollars will enter the market.

#6 It all depends on your

Submitted by Ms. Jennifer Emmons, MBA 2005 on December 15, 2011 - 11:04am.

It all depends on your vantage point. As an American living in Seoul, the hottest business topic I've seen in Korea this year is Samsung vs. Apple.

(PS: I'm moving back to Austin in January 2012 and would love to attend the conference!)

#7 Social and micro

Submitted by Roland Galang on December 15, 2011 - 11:08am.

Social and micro entrepreneurship; social media in the corporate world; and the emerging consumer classes in China and India

#8 Can the Republicans get to

Submitted by Chuck Malesky on December 15, 2011 - 11:47am.

Can the Republicans get to the White House and the Senate fast enough to save American businesses from Obamacare, the DOJ and the NLRB.

#9 PIIGS

Submitted by Sean on December 15, 2011 - 12:49pm.

PIIGS

#10 Congratulations to our

Submitted by Danielle Wells on December 15, 2011 - 5:31pm.

Congratulations to our winner Scott Firth, MBA '03!

Thanks to everyone who participated in our poll. Great comments all around. I hope to see you all at the Alumni Business Conference in February!

#11 The most talked about, and

Submitted by Tyler Beas on December 16, 2011 - 9:59am.

The most talked about, and probably most interesting business topic to the public at large is the business of college athletics. We were inundated with talk of conference re-alignment this past year, and while schools claimed to be acting "in the best interest of its student-athletes" at the end of the day it all came down to what made the most financial sense.

Tyler Beas
B.B.A., Marketing '08

#12 In a year with many

Submitted by Cork Van Den Handel on December 20, 2011 - 7:41am.

In a year with many extraordinary events, the ongoing slow-motion train wreck that is the Eurozone is the most compelling and has the greatest implications for the future. The leaders of the European countries are totally clueless about basic macroeconomics, and are providing the world with a brutal lesson on the ills of over-regulation and over-spending.

#13 While the Eurozone train

Submitted by Chris McDougall, MBA '02 on February 28, 2012 - 12:04pm.

While the Eurozone train wreck is low hanging fruit, a positive is the opportunities provided low cost natural gas for both industrial and transportation use.

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