Corporate Disasters

These almost 100 entries analyze retail, manufacturing, and finance companies that have failed—and in some cases rebounded—after exhibiting bad decisions in management, marketing, or strategy. The material covers recent debacles such as Bernie Madoff's investment Ponzi scheme and AIG's post-bailout payout of executive bonuses, but also delves into historical accounts of the U.S. Stock Market crashes of 1929 and 1987, and explanations of early investment schemes such as the 18th-century South Sea Market Bubble. One entry offers a fascinating glimpse into Mark Twain's inventive patents on an adjustable clothing strap to replace suspenders, a scrapbook with adhesive-ready pages, and a historical board game. Essays of interest to high school and undergraduate marketing classes include "Enron Corporation's Bankruptcy," "McDonald's French Fry Controversy," "Napster and RIAA Go to Court," "Toyota Vehicle Recalls," "Kodak Film Company Bankruptcy," and many more. A thematic table of contents steers readers to articles on commonly sought subjects such as mergers and acquisitions, lawsuits, accounting irregularities, and consumer health concerns. While the entries are not individually authored, contributors include business journalists and researchers who have an accessible writing style, and have chunked information using subheadings and included bibliographies at the end of each article.