May 2001
Don't Trust Anybody Under Thirty-Three
There isn't a mid-manager under age 32 who has ever worked in a recession like the country experienced in the 1980s. While some people may feel that's a sign of the strength of the U.S. economy, employees who graduated from college and began their careers anytime after 1992 have thus far only learned what it takes to succeed when economic times are good.
Image Matters To Employees, Too
Most media-savvy CEOs know that image matters. That's why companies are willing to put millions into carefully crafted public relations, marketing and advertising campaigns to sell an image to potential consumers and investors. Is that all that matters? Heck no. Image is critical to keeping and motivating current employees.
Emerging Technologies And Practices That Will Help Companies Remain Open And Flexible
Developing an open, flexible and scalable e-business information system solution is no easy task. For a business interested in developing only simple, stand-alone solutions, it may not be worth the effort.
Smeal College Researchers Push The Digital Frontier
Ten faculty members and researchers in Penn State's Smeal College of Business have contributed chapters to the new book, Pushing the Digital Frontier: Insights into the Changing Landscape of E-Business.
Study Sheds Light On Executives To Keep During A Merger
Research by a Penn State associate professor of management may offer insights into why many acquisitions fail and suggests that executive retention strategies should be an important part of the implementation process.
Steel Merger Bill Could Be A Step In The Wrong Direction
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va) introduced a bill Thursday that would provide incentives for steel companies to merge. Under the "Save the American Steel Industry Act," steel companies that submit merger proposals to the Department of Justice will be eligible to apply for grants of up to $200 million to help defray the cost of environmental mitigation and restructuring.
New Department Chair Named For Management Science & Information Systems
W. David Kelton has been named chair of the nationally ranked Department of Management Science & Information Systems in Penn State's Smeal College of Business Administration.
Firestone's New Ad Campaign May Be Too Little Too Late
Thirty days ago, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. launched an ambitious advertising campaign in a bid to salvage one of America's oldest and most storied tire brands. The Nashville, Tenn.-based tiremaker had to recall 6.5 million.
How to Find The Right Staff For Your E-Business
E-business is not about delivery technology. It is all about getting closer to the customer.
Students' Pledge Enhances "Vernis Welmon Endowment For MBA Minority Affairs And International Programs"
Nearly three years ago, Bebago Lugogo was attending Penn State's Smeal College of Business' Diversity Appreciation Weekend when he heard an alumnus say: "The greatest ambition in life is not to stand on top of the world. It is to reach down and lift up your people."
Smeal College Team Takes First Place In "Big 10 MBA Case Competition"
A team of first-year MBA students from Penn State's Smeal College of Business took top honors in the "Big 10 MBA Case Competition."
Smeal College MBA Students Take Honors In New Venture Championship
Three second-year MBA students from Penn State's Smeal College of Business took the honor of "Best Digital Solution" at the "Tenth Anniversary New Venture Championship."
Pepsi-Quaker Merger Could Reduce Pepsi's Flexibility
PepsiCo's proposed $13.4 billion takeover of Quaker Oats is another example of major companies giving up products to competitors in order to get approval for mergers.
Ford Learns Valuable Lessons From Tire Recall
The Ford Motor Company recently concluded that there are safety problems with a number of Firestone tire models beyond those recalled last year, and ordered a recall today of more than 50,000 Explorers. This seems like a reasonable course of action for Ford to take, especially given Firestone's history of reticence to act, explains Dennis Gioia, professor of organizational behavior in Penn State's Smeal College of Business and a former recall coordinator with Ford.
Managing The online Children of Off-Line Parents
In managing a successful bricks-and-clicks enterprise, e-business leaders must attend not only to the obvious issues of marketing, finance, and technology, but also to the arguably more important issues of managing organizational identity tensions as well as differences in organizational learning styles.
Cultivate An Alumni Network Early And Often
You just lost your job, or your best employee joined the rival firm. Who do you turn to? Where are your friends when you need them? If you haven't cultivated your alumni network since you graduated from college, you may be missing out on the best net to capture the job you have always aspired to or to land the employee who will make an immediate impact for your company.
The Dreaded Performance Appraisal
Next to having to tell employees that they are fired, what do managers most dislike? No, it's not filling out expense reports. It's conducting proper performance reviews.
Telecommuting - - one size fits all?
Telecommuting is becoming increasingly popular: it enables broader coverage of work hours, with some employees beginning work early, and some remaining late; reduces the gridlock nightmare that people often encounter in high congestion areas by enabling varying travel times; serves as a lifesaver for complex family situations in which parents need flexibility to juggle schedules; and reduces employers' cost of real estate, by housing fewer people in company offices.
Dr. Olian's Graduate School Commencement Speech
Dean Judy Olian was the commencement speaker for the University's Graduate School ceremony, which took place 1 p.m., Sunday, May 13, in Eisenhower Auditorium. Below is a copy of her speech.
Stagflation Could Be A Time For Entrepreneurs To Shine
Many economists are suggesting that the U.S. could be heading into stagflation--higher inflation coupled with slower economic growth-but this is a time when entrepreneurial skills really shine, says Dr. Anthony Warren, Director of the Farrell Center for Entrepreneurship in Penn State's Smeal College of Business and the Farrell Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship.
Penn State Researcher Receives Honorary Chair Professorship
Xian Statistical Institute in China has appointed Dr. Dennis Lin of Penn State's Smeal College of Business as "Honorary Chair Professor."
Bruce Ellis Names Big Ten Advisory Commission Representative
Bruce Ellis, Administrative Director of Undergraduate Programs in The Smeal College of Business Administration, has been named to represent Penn State on the Big Ten Advisory Commission.
Tough Times - - Cut Training?
With many companies experiencing some belt tightening, managers are looking for cost savings short of more draconian measures like layoffs. There are just so many company picnics, or luxury travel as sales awards, that can be cut out of the budget.
Overly Generous Retirement Assistance May Influence Other Workers To Quit
Businesses that are overly generous with their assistance to early retirees may be influencing other workers to quit.
