December 16, 2004

Open Source Software: Are you using it?

Google, IBM and other industry leaders are using it. Why is open source software being used more frequently in today’s marketplace? Who is downloading open source software for free? In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up we’ll discuss, what some say, are the advantages of having many developers collaborate on the software simultaneously? Joining us is Katherine Stewart, a Smith School Assistant Professor of Information Systems in the Decision and Information Technologies Department who recently received a National Science Foundation grant to study open source software.

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December 2, 2004

MBA buzz words

Business buzzwords not only describe external competitive challenges but have also become instruments of change in the corporate world. What are today’s MBAs talking about? And what buzz words are they using more and more frequently?

In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up with the university’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, we’ll discuss the catch phrases and business lingo today’s MBA students are using with Janet Wagner, associate chair of Smith’s marketing department and a recognized expert in the field of service marketing.

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November 18, 2004

Big Box Backlash

This edition of Smith Business Close-Up  looks at the continued expansion of large discount retailers into metropolitan areas. Chains such as Wal-Mart, Target and other “boxes” encounter growing resistance for a host of reasons. Charles Olson, Smith school professor and an expert in managerial economics and industry strategy, talks about this growing concern.

Video will be available shortly, please check back soon.

November 11, 2004

How to Avoid the Winner’s Curse

This edition of Smith Business Close-Up discusses what happens when companies overvalue a good or service—oftentimes referred to as the “Winner’s Curse.”

Anand Anandalingam, Chair, of the Decision and Information Technologies department, and Hank Lucas, Professor of Information Systems, co-authors of the recently published book, Beware The Winner’s Curse: Victories That Can Sink You and Your Company discuss approaches to decision making that can reduce the chances of encountering the Winner’s Curse.

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September 30, 2004

Executive Coaching

Businesses today are turning to executive coaching more and more frequently. For years Fortune 500 companies and other industry leaders have groomed future executives for senior roles within their organization. Recently, companies are turning to executive coaching to fine-tune the leadership and communication style of an elite group.

In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up with the university’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, we’ll discuss executive coaching with Dr. Joyce Russell, professor and a recognized expert in organizational behavior and human resource management.

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September 16, 2004

Intellectual Property: How to Avoid Costly Business Mistakes

The number of patents filed in the U.S. has increased by over 100% from 1985 to 2000. Overlooking intellectual property can be a major mistake, costing firms millions of dollars or the loss of major business opportunities. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up with the Robert H. Smith School of Business, we’ll discuss intellectual property. Assistant Professor Deepak Somaya discusses why awareness at the management level (and not just within the legal department) is critical.

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September 2, 2004

Order Promise and Fulfillment

Customers demand ever-shorter lead times, on-time deliveries, greater flexibility in delivery terms, and variability in product mix. To meet those requirements, businesses need a demand fulfillment system that can provide enterprise-wide visibility and tight integration with other supply chain systems.

In tonight’s edition of Smith Business Close-Up we’ll discuss order promise and fulfillment—how companies estimate consumer demand and how the consumers’ orders are produced—with Michael Ball, Orkand Corporation Professor of Management Science and Director of Research.

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August 5, 2004

What do firms need to know in order to be truly innovative?

How do organizations know if they possess the talent and resources to stay ahead of the competition? In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up, we'll discuss innovation with Professor Susan Taylor, co-director of the Center for Human Capital, Innovation, and Technology.

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July 22, 2004

Intra-Firm Trade

In today's global economy, the "internationalization" of production increasingly involves trade between different divisions of the same companies across many different countries. This increased trade within the firm is changing the nature and scale of international trade. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up we'll discuss intra-firm trade. Susan Feinberg, assistant professor of international business and a recognized expert on international trade and the strategies of multi-national corporations, talks about what intra-firm trading is, how it is impacting the U.S. and countries around the world, and how it affects outsourcing. Professor Feinberg recently testified before a congressional commission about the significance of intra-firm trade in the U.S. trade deficit.

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July 8, 2004

New Product Development

With the advent of the Internet, many information products such as printed books, videos and CDs and DVDs are now available digitally over the Internet. What does this mean for consumers and retailers?

In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up with the university’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, we’ll discuss new product development with Dr. P.K. Kannan, Harvey Sanders Associate Professor of Marketing, Associate Director of the Center for Excellence in Service and a recognized expert in the field of e-Commerce and New Product Development; specifically, price information, online product development, marketing and online consumer loyalty.

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June 24, 2004

Switching Costs

In today's competitive marketplace, client retention is more important than ever. Consumers are constantly inundated with attractive promotional offers to switch service-whether it is for cellular phone service, frequent flier miles, or a better interest rate on a credit card. What can companies do to keep their valued customers from jumping to a competitor? In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up we'll discuss "switching costs" with Judy Frels, assistant professor of marketing, and a recognized expert in the field of high-technology marketing strategy.

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June 10, 2004

Service Failures

In today's competitive marketplace customer service is more important than ever. And the manner in which firms respond to "service failures" is increasingly seen as a factor that may separate successful, thriving companies from the others. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up, Janet Wagner -- associate chair, associate professor and a recognized expert in the field of retail and service marketing -- discusses "service failures" and customer loyalty.

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May 27, 2004

Trends in E-commerce

E-commerce sales over the Internet rose over 28% in the first quarter compared with the same period a year earlier as consumers increasingly relied on the Internet to make purchases. Purchases via the Internet, e-mail, or other electronic networks--referred to as e-commerce--have held steady at 1.9% of all retail sales, the Commerce Department recently reported. Sales over the Internet have gradually increased from 0.7% of retail sales since the government began publishing the data in 1999. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up with Joe Bailey, professor of business and an expert in field of electronic commerce, we’ll discuss e-commerce trends.

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May 13, 2004

Trends in Executive Education

Nearly every leading business school in the world, including those in the greater Washington, D.C., area, offers a variety of executive education programs ... from company-specific custom programs to the Executive MBA. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up with Steve Feld, executive director of the Smith's Office of the Executive Education, we'll discuss trends in executive education.

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April 29, 2004

Executive Compensation

Recent corporate scandals have kept top-level executive compensation in the news. Should companies be allowed to expense stock options for senior level executives? In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up we'll discuss compensation standards for today's corporate leaders with Lemma Senbet, finance department chair.

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April 15, 2004

Trends in Electric Supply Rates

Electric bills are expected to jump about sixteen percent (16%) says the Maryland Public Service Commission, the Maryland state body that regulates utility prices. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up we'll discuss what is happening with electric supply rates with Charles E. Olson, Professor of Business and a recognized expert in the field of energy economics.

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April 1, 2004

Women and Leadership

Eleanor Roosevelt's remarkable ability to confront and overcome hurdles-be they political, personal, or social-made her one of the greatest leaders of the last century. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up we'll talk to Robin Gerber, a University of Maryland senior fellow and author of Leadership: the Eleanor Roosevelt Way. Gerber highlights Roosevelt's struggles and accomplishments and offers women ways to develop their leadership skills.

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March 18, 2004

The Future of Electronic Markets

Hank Lucas, co-director of the university's Center for Electronic Markets and Enterprises and Robert H. Smith Professor of Information Technology, discusses the future of electronic markets and the center's Fourth Annual Netcentricity Conference, to take place April 23.

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March 4, 2004

New Markets Growth Fund

In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up Mark Grovic discusses the New Markets Growth Fund, the $20 million dollar venture capital fund which was started at the Smith School. Mark Grovic, deputy director of the The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship and the fund's founding partner and managing director, explains what has happened with the fund this past year.

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February 19, 2004

How to Ensure an Ethical Business Environment

With an increasing number of corporate scandals in recent years, it is more important than ever to establish a code of corporate ethics. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up Joshua Newberg, who teaches business law and ethics at the Smith School, discusses corporate ethics and how companies can ensure an ethical environment.

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February 5, 2004

The Government's Role in Cyber Security

Though cyber security has improved since the September 11 attacks, threats of terrorism, the war in Iraq, and an increasing number of computer hackers make computer networks vulnerable. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up Lawrence Gordon, Smith School Professor of Managerial Accounting and Information Assurance, discusses whether or not the government should play a greater role in securing computer networks from these threats.

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January 22, 2004

The State of the Economy in 2004

With economic growth strong during the second half of 2003 and many forecasters predicting robust growth in 2004, many experts are puzzled by the slow pace of jobs creation. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up Peter Morici, Robert H. Smith Professor of Logistics, Business and Public Policy, discusses the economic outlook for 2004.

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January 8, 2004

The Promise of e-Markets

Most companies are using electronic markets for buying and selling goods and services. In fact, some analysts predict that by 2005, this so-called "e-market" activity will top $6 billion. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up Anand Anandalingam, co-director of the Smith School's Center for Electronic Markets and Enterprises, discusses the promise that e-markets hold for businesses and consumers.

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