Pioneer of International Programs at Smith Recognized with Landmark Award

"To be a top-class business school you must have a top-class international component," said Martin Gannon, professor of management and founding director of the Smith School's Center for Global Business, as he received the university's prestigious Landmark Award.

Gannon, who has been with the university for more than two decades, can take much of the credit for developing the Smith School's distinguished international program. In recognition of his exceptional long-term contributions as an international scholar Gannon was presented with the Landmark Award on November 21, 2002 at the university's International Awards Ceremony. The award is given each year by the universitys Office of International Programs for outstanding contributions in international relations.

Saul Sosnowski, director of international programs at the university, calls Gannon an outstanding contributor to international understanding, saying, "The Landmark Award is given to people who have had a long and distinguished career that promotes interaction, understanding, and close collaboration between academic institutions. It is given to scholars who as part of their work have gone beyond the immediate boundaries of the campus to promote new knowledge around the world."

Gannon sees the management of intercultural differences as a critical skill for 21st century managers. "American organizations stress high performance and reward it, regardless of the cultural background of individuals, yet even under such ideal conditions, small cross-cultural differences in interpersonal communication, negotiation, and understanding frequently lead to major failures."

In addition to founding the Center for Global Business, which pioneered international study trips, exchange programs, and lecture series at Smith, Gannon has taught many MBA-level international business classes and has authored a dozen books on the subject. His best known, "Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys Through 23 Nations" (Sage Publications), was recently republished in a new edition.