TRSM - Like Nobody's Business

TRSM - Like Nobody's Business

Thought leaders and business innovators share their insights directly with students at Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Management in Toronto.

  1. 08/28/2023

    The future of retail: in-store vs online experiences

    Online shopping, as a habit, has carried over into the present day, leaving in-store shopping to catch up and close that gap. Extravagant in-store experiences are what some businesses are turning to as incentive to bring in consumers. Examples like the Canada Goose freezer change rooms to test out winter jackets and the Apple Store, where customers have access to the newest technology as soon as they walk through the door, as well as individual user-training sessions. These engaging customer experiences encourage people to make the trip to their local mall, and potentially even make the jump with a purchase.  So how should businesses be approaching this landscape? Is it more important to invest resources into online experiences, or in-store ones? Where should businesses be meeting their consumers– in an online space, while they’re in the comfort of their own homes, or in a store, where they can have a face-to-face conversation? Is it possible to invest in both of these areas of retail and have it be successful for brands and businesses? Joe Aversa, an Assistant Professor in Retail Management, has experience in retail planning and big data analytics. He explains where the retail landscape currently sits, and what businesses are going to have to do in order to keep pace with the demands of online and in-store retail spaces. Dr. Joanne McNeish from Marketing Management shares her thoughts on what the customers may be thinking and what this type of marketing accomplishes for companies.

    32 min
  2. 08/09/2023

    The ethics of AI technology and business

    In March of this year, over a 1,000 technology leaders and researchers signed an open letter, urging artificial intelligence labs and researchers to pause their efforts in training AI systems stronger than ChatGPT. Included in signing the letter were Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Tesla & Twitter; Steve Wozniak, a co-founder of Apple; and Rachel Bronson, the president of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which sets the Doomsday Clock.  The suggested pause is in an effort to create safety protocols for AI systems as the technology progresses into new territories. Experts worry that without a pause, the systems in place could be mishandled, resulting in a spread of disinformation at a speed that has never been possible before.  On this episode of Like Nobody’s Business, we’ll answer questions like: When looking at ChatGPT and AI technology through a business lens– what ethics are necessary to consider? How can they get ahead of situations with the potential for misuse of the technology? What should businesses keep in mind when applying this technology to systems and processes, and what touchpoints should they be relying on to ensure it’s been executed ethically? We’ll speak with Dr. Chris MacDonald, an associate professor at TRSM, Director of the MBA program and speaker and consultant on ethics. He explains what aspects of ChatGPT and AI technology businesses should be aware of and taking into consideration.

    20 min

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Thought leaders and business innovators share their insights directly with students at Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Management in Toronto.