Spotlight: Smith MBAs Win National Case Competition

A team of four Smith MBA students took first place in the MBA case competition at the 2005 Reaching Out MBA Conference in Boston, on February 4-6. The Smith team successfully competed against students from Berkeley, Thunderbird, Vanderbilt, Iowa, and Kellogg in a case that addressed the effects of high HIV/AIDS rates on workforce and overall productivity for a large South African mining conglomerate.

The Smith team included Michael Carney and Catherine Sheehy, both first-year MBAs, and Ivan Cayabyab, and Christina Nichols, who are second-year MBAs. All four are members of the newly-formed Smith Pride Alliance, which was created to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues in the workplace, encourage dialogue within the community, build alumni relations and promote progressive diversity within Smith. [Full Story]

Human Resources

Welcome New Hires!
Please offer a friendly welcome to the following new Smith School employees, who recently started:

►Nikia Andrews, Marketing Coordinator, Office of Marketing Communications
►Rosetta Clay, Director of Special Events, Office of External Relations
►Laura Miller-Guenin, Employer Development Manager, Office of Career Management

Net Payroll Calculator
As the new calendar year approaches you may find this helpful if you plan to change your deductions. The net pay calculator can be used for estimating taxes and net pay. Although only an approximation, it gives a good idea about your take home pay. You will need a copy of your pay stub before you begin.

Energy Conservation
The campus reports that energy costs at Maryland have increased dramatically this year, and are predicted to continue to increase in the near future. It is anticipated that energy costs at UM (including electricity and natural gas) will exceed the $43M FY05 budget by about 10 percent. A recent message to deans briefly outlined some actions they have taken and plan to take to reduce costs, and how we – faculty and staff at Maryland -- can help in this effort.

A variety of energy-saving measures have already been put in place at Maryland. The campus has central heating and air conditioning controls that allow building engineers to monitor many building systems and turn them off overnight and on weekends. Energy-saving lamps, fixtures and motors have been installed in most buildings. Most of us are familiar with the campus policy that strives for indoor temperatures of 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer. On a typical work day these temperatures are generally comfortable, and only on occasion do they go uncomfortably below or above these settings. Current initiatives include expanding the use of software that puts computers in standby mode when not in use, and installation of room occupancy/motion sensors.

Assistant Dean for Administration Christine Stewart would like the Smith School to do their part by helping to reduce the demand for energy. She suggests that each of us develop some simple, voluntary behaviors, which can easily become a good habit. For instance, by shutting down computers and other equipment when not in use, turning off the lights when you leave your office, keeping a sweater in your office if it gets chilly, and closing blinds to keep the cold and heat out, you can help reduce the university’s energy bill.

Christine would like to hear feedback from faculty and staff and would like to receive some other simple energy-saving tips, which can help the school and the campus save money on energy. [cstewart@rhsmith.umd.edu] 

A Great Information Resource
A document formerly known as the “Guide for Academic Administrators” that was not typically available to the general campus community has now been expanded, given a new title and put on the Web as a resource for everyone. With the name “Who’s Where and What’s When – Spring 2005,” it promises to be a tremendous resource for academic support staff, faculty and administrators. The cover page carries the subtitles of “How do I get information about . . . ? Which person handles . . . ? Where do I call for . . . ? Who can help with . . . ?" A review of the document shows numerous organizational charts for campus departments and colleges including names, e-mail addresses and names of administrative assistants. The topic listing includes Web sites and telephone extensions. This 50-page document is available online [pdf]. A printed paper copy is available for reference at the front desks in 2570 and 3570 VMH.

Faculty Up Front

Compelling new research suggests that it’s not a love of risk  but self confidence that separates entrepreneurs from the rest of us

►Anne Marie Knott, visiting assistant professor of management

If entrepreneurialism has a motto it should be “I think I can.” Entrepreneurs are no more likely to want to stick their necks out than wage earners, they just have an unusual amount of self-confidence, according to results of a recent research paper, Entrepreneurial Risk and Market Entry. Study findings debunk a common stereotype about entrepreneurs – namely that they are inherently more comfortable with risk.

The paper received the Best Doctoral Paper award from the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy in January. It was written by Brian Wu, a doctoral candidate at Wharton, and his advisor Anne Marie Knott, visiting assistant professor of management at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

“Everyone assumes that entrepreneurs are these cliff-jumpers – able to take a leap of faith and confront unknowns that would deter the rest of us from even trying,” said Knott. “In fact, it is more likely that they are skilled hang-gliders, with confidence that they can tackle any conditions.”  [Full Story]