The opening story described the dramatic effect that investment bulletin boards are having on the investment world. This exercise will allow you to evaluate a bulletin board discussing a company of your choice.

Address: http://biz.yahoo.com/i (or go to www.wiley.com/college/kimmel)

Steps 1. Type in a company name, or use the index to find a company name. 2. Choose Msgs or message Board. (for messages). 3. Read the ten most recent messages.

Instructions Answer the following questions.

(a) State the nature of each of these messages (e.g., offering advice, criticizing company, predicting future results, ridiculing other people who have posted messages).

(b) For those messages that expressed an opinion about the company, was evidence provided to support the opinion?

(c) What effect do you think it would have on bulletin board discussions if the participants provided their actual names? Do you think this would be a good policy?

DECISION MAKING ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION =